Genealogy Chat

I need to 1. Strip wallpaper from spare bedroom, take out what is left of old cupboard (partially demolished when central heating boiler put there), build new cupboard and bookshelves, decorate and get a carpet fitted. 2. Build shelves in shed for all recycling boxes etc. 3. Get a ruthless person to help me to go through my wardrobe to make room for new clothes. 4. Get my PC fixed so I can go on broadband at home, then I can spend more time researching my family history instead of only having a maximum of one hour at a time online when I can get onto a PC at the library. 5. Rearrange this list so number 4 is at the top because it is more interesting than the others. And I didn’t put have a holiday and make my Christmas cards on my list. Janet PS questions to follow.

So…… If I get myself organised, and get broadband, what is my next step? As far as great grandparents go I have all the census information on them and all but two BMD certificates. 2Great Grandparents and above I have some info but gaps in both census and registration information. However with these I am getting towards pre 1837 and need parish registers rather than civil registration. My local library has excellent parish registers for the local churches, but my ancestors didn’t arrive here until late 19th / early 20th century. I know where the Yorkshire ones were but some of the others I only know that they were in Gloucester, Somerset and Wiltshire (different branches of the family), they did move around and so I can’t say which specific parish I would need to search. Question one is - would a subscription to ancestry be of use to me? (I have read various threads giving advantages and disadvantages of ancestry). Secondly what is the best way to search parish registers for these counties? I know I can try and get to a LDS centre and order parish registers but wouldn’t I have to specify a particular parish? I have tried the IGI and the LDS website, but the ancestors I am looking for do not seem to be there. Janet

There is a lot of material available for Wiltshire. Have a look at familyhistoryonline. You have to register, but basic searches are free. Check what databases they have. Wiltshire FHS have produced masses of transcriptions. They may not all be on the net, but they may be in paper form/ microfiche and increasingly on cd. BJ Carter was also organising transcription work - though I don't know what format it is in. Wiltshire Wills are being digitised and ultimately will be available online, like the PCC wills via Documentsonline.

(Fri 2nd Sept) Thanks Brenda for info, will spend my hour today looking at familyhistoryonline. Probably not back on GR site until next week now. JJ