Genealogy Chat

Almost all of my ancestors were in Canada by the 1850's. I know Irish records are minimal, so I am mainly interested in English records. Are certificates available for the 1830's and prior? If so, is there a particular website that you would suggest I use? Thank you, Lisa.

Lisa Birth, marriage and death certificates are available from 1st July 1837. You can order online from the GRO and if you have the reference from Freebmd (google to find) it costs £7 plus postage. If you don't have the ref, the GRO will do a 3-year consecutive search for £11.50. Pre 1837 Baptisms, marriages and burials registers are the main source of info. These are usually in the county records office, but some non-conformist registers are at the National Archives in Kew. There are some extracts online, mainly on www.familysearch.org (Mormon site) and on a pay-per-view site familyhistory online - but you can check which counties and which periods are covered for what before you buy. nell

Hi Nell. I've not heard of the Familyhistory site -- I shall try that. Unfortunately, 1837 and after is generally 'too late' for my families. Familysearch has been helpful in verifying my information, but I really hesitate to believe what I find and would have liked to order certificates to verify that I have found the correct ancestor. Thank you very much for your help. Hopefully, I'll find something in familyhistory and the county records offices. :~)

Pre -1837 the info in parish registers varies and can be quite skimpy. You can get photocopies of the entries for a charge. Examples of skimpy are that baptisms don't give maiden name of mother, marriages don't give parents' names or groom's occupation, etc. But they are better than nothing. You could also have a go at the a2a site [Access to Archives]. Its a big index to documents held in archives/records offices in England. I searched for 'Robert Chowns' as he had a fairly unusual surname and found he'd been a witness in 1819. I had to go to the records office to look it up, but the a2a site gave me the reference. A huge book held together with metal clasps arrived and I found the case had been a dispute between the parishes of Stoke Poges, where Robert was living, and Aston Rowant, where he'd been born. Stoke P had sent Robert, his wife and 3 girls back to Aston and Aston wanted to return them! As well as the court decision, there was a smaller book which had Robert's statement in it. It was obviously written down as he'd spoken, without any of the questions being recorded, so it seemed to jump about a bit. But it gave a wealth of info about how Robert had lived in another parish with his father-in-law and then the ceiling had fallen in and he'd moved. I learned that he kept pigs, sold fruit from the orchard, how much rent he paid, when it was due, the father-in-law's employer's name and all sorts. And all from way back in 1819. I knew more about Robert's life than I did his daughter Ann! nell

Hi Lisa If you are still searching in Essex the records office there will search for you for a small charge (it may have been about 10.00 sterling) if you know where and which years you want a search done. If I could find the leaflet I could tell you how much!! Best wishes Amanda

Hi Nell. A distant cousin researching our 'Sullivans' found out how many animals they had, that they fled during a great fire in Toronto, Canada, and other personal things. Isn't it interesting to read about our ancestors -- rather than just finding out names and dates? I found myself wrapped up in your account of Robert Chowns as if he was my ancestor. :~) My dad actually volunteered for the LDS Church years ago and researched during slow times, and I have several photocopies of marriage records from the late 1700's and early 1800's. You're right, there isn't much information included, but seeing my ancestors' writing is amazing, I think. When I have more time I need to order films for the other ancestors -- perhaps I can find more. I started looking through the A2A site -- thank you very much! Thank you Nell for your help. It's very much appreciated! Hi Amanda. Nice to 'see' you again. :~) I'm still trying to find proof of my brickwall in Essex; I shall give the records office a try, as I do know the area and dates. Hope you are having success with your ancestors. Thank you too for your help! :~)