Genealogy Chat

I thought somebody would already have put up a tip about this, but I don't see one, so see below for an extract from the email they sent me...

This is what they say: We have just launched important new datasets acquired from popular family history website National Archivist, and for a limited period you can view any of these valuable records for just one unit per view. The collection includes four major sets of original records licensed from The National Archives: Death Duty Registers Divorce Records Births, Marriages and Deaths at Sea Passport Applications We've also added a new easy-search collection of professional and military records, including the Waterloo Roll Call, various editions of Harts Army Lists, records relating to the British in India, and lists of medical and dental practitioners and clergy. (It is the datasets that they acquired from the National Archivist, and there is a special offer on till the 5th of May one credit per view. Don't know what it will go up to on the 5th of May! 'Death Duty Registers' should presumably be 'Death Duty Register Indexes' if it is what they used to have on the National Archivist, but still can be very useful in saving you from spending money on the wrong will) Kate.

Thanks, Kate.........very useful Reg

Thanks - I've been meaning to follow that up. There was just this one record about my father's stepfather - I'd spotted it when it was on National Archivist - not worth a sub there, but intriguing. I've just picked it up on special offer and found his brother as next in the list, as well. cheers Christine

Very interesting, thanks Kate. I didn't find the rellie I expected to in the Army list or the Waterloo roll, but I did find two in the death duty index. Can anyone tell me where I go from there? The index doesn't give any information, just a reference to a volume number.

Mary you need now to go back to National Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/search.asp put the ref in the search box and the details of the document will be shown. or go to http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk put the name you have found in the search box. This will bring up a list of categories , ie death duties, army records etc. click on the one you are interested in and search within. when you find the record you may be able to buy a copy online or it will tell you where the record is held kat

That's what I thought, but only one of the two names turned up. The information available was a will, but I didn't find anything about death duties.

Mary, the death duties index includes estates which went to administration as well as probate, i.e. some where there was no will but there was enough money in the estate to require death duties to be paid. So you won't find a will for all the entries. The National Archives website does have the actual death duties register entries for 1796 to 1811 but not after 1811 (not sure if they are coming sometime later). I believe you can view the death duties register on microfilm at the Family Records Centre in London for post-1811, though. But you do get the name and address of one of the executors on the index that is on 1837 online, which I think is pretty useful! Kate.

Ah, thanks, mine were after 1811, which is why I didn't find the register entries - I hadn't noticed that. But as you say, the indexes are useful for finding details of the executors. Thanks a lot for your help.

This is brilliant and complimentary to the CWGC site for casualty identification. By doing a free search I've just been able to identify a rellie on the 1837 which I wouldn't have been able to do just by using info on the CWGC site. The CWGC gave me the initals only whereas the 1837 site gave me the full names AND place of birth By puting the two together I can now go and visit the grave of my gg uncle in Baileul - just 30 mins from where I live! Oooh - what a turnup! Hope this is of use to someone else! Carole