FHL Film Number and Reference ID

[Tony Baynes]

Can anyone guide me? I use ancestry.co.uk a lot, but I also keep a paper copy of everything. I am surrounded by 17 ring binders by Family name. My objective is to have a birth, marriage and death certificate for each individual backed up with the Census for every year they were alive. I then add military, emigration and other data files. It frustrates though when I make a print of, for example England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. It's a great document, it gives Name, Gender, Baptism date, Baptism place, Father, Mother and then FHL File Number and finally Reference ID.

Can anyone tell me what these last two items are and what I can do with them? Is it possible to obtain copies of the original documents instead of just a print out of the record for example?

Tony

[BumbleB]

England Select Births and Christenings 1538-1975 has, I believe, been compiled by Family Search, i.e. the Mormon Church, and the FHL (Family History Library) file number and the Reference ID are indications of where they retrieved their information.

[Tony Baynes]

Thank you for this BumbleB.
That suggests that these people, Mormon Church and FHL has photographed and probably digitised the records. Which in turn implies that if I were to sign up to their programmes i.e. FHL I may be able to purchase copies of the data?

[philipsearching]

Some websites have images of original registers or transcripts (Bishops' or Archdeacons').

On the FamilySearch search page, part-way down on the lefthand side under Find a Collection there is a click option BROWSE ALL COLLECTIONS.  Click on this to bring up a page listing every collection.  Use the index on the left to narrow down your search to a country, then choose a county (or region).  Some counties are fully indexed by parish, others have FH file numbers.  If you are lucky, the place you are looking for may have images.

NOTE - on FamilySearch some files can only be viewed at a FH Centre, but the images viewable on your pc have a download option, or you can use the Ctrl PrintScreen option using your keyboard. 

Hope this helps
Philip

[Tony Baynes]

This is great information. Many thanks. Meanwhile, I have subscribed and made a request to FHL Remote Access service. I gave them the required info including the FHL number and reference. I received a reply to the effect that they will get back to me withing 2 weeks.  Let's see.

[Tickettyboo]

It frustrates though when I make a print of, for example England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. It's a great document, it gives Name, Gender, Baptism date, Baptism place, Father, Mother and then FHL File Number and finally Reference ID.

Can anyone tell me what these last two items are and what I can do with them? Is it possible to obtain copies of the original documents instead of just a print out of the record for example?

Tony

That database is an 'index record' usually transcribed from a film of an original register. The original record very often gives more info than has been indexed.

If you have signed up for a (free, just register) account with Family Search at https://www.familysearch.org/
Depending on the time frame and area some of these original records 'may' be viewable from home.

If you can give an example (name, place and date of baptism, parents and FHL Film ref) I will try that here and walk you through how to find out if the images are available via the web or not. At the very least you should find out which church the event took place at, rather than just a town or city.

Boo

[Tony Baynes]

Thanks for that advice. I will give it a go now.

[mckha489]

If you have a film number it’s easy.

In Familysearch, select Search
Then Catalog. 
Then select   Search for:
Call Number Film/Fiche/Image Group Number (DGS)

Once you get a list of results if there is a camera icon over to the right, you can click on it and view the film.
If there is a key above the camera, it is only viewable at a familyhistory centre or an affiliate library. (Most genealogy societies are affiliates I think).

[Tony Baynes]

Found it. Brilliant. Unfortunately all records for South Shields, St Hilda's Chapelry are only available in Salt Lake City! But I have figured out how to get free copies of the record from them. So I have come a long way in a wet afternoon!

Thanks for your help