Genealogy Chat

Having got back as far as 1837 using the census routesI am now thinking about researching local Parish records. Unfortunately, as I live in London and most of my ancestors live in Lancashire I am going to have plan a trip up North. Never having researched a Parish record before, has anyone got any tips by way of preparation? Thanks. Peter

Not so much a tip, as a word of encouragement. Once you go back beyond 1837, families - particularly in the working classes - stayed put for generation after generation. In the mill towns there was migration from the rural areas, but there was no public transport infrastructure to make it easy for people to relocate. This means that once you hit on the right parish, you should be able to go back a number of generations. Remember to check parishes immediately neighbouring, though, and take into account people's inability to spell, meaning that surnames can change in the records over the years. Pre-19th century records are often in tiny script, so a decent magnifying glass could be handy. Best of luck, Darryl

Peter, As you are in London check out the Society of Genealogists' website www.sog.org.uk. They have many transcriptions of parish registers from all over the country in their Library in London 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road (near Barbican station), also microfilms of original registers. The website lists the parishes they cover, if the ones you are interested in it would be worth your while joining the SOG or at least paying for a day's access to the library which non members can do. This would, in any case, give you an idea of what you will find in parish registers before you set off to the far flung records offices.

Peter Before you plan that journey, check out the Society of Genealogists' library. They are in London, a brisk 20 minute walk from the FRC. They hold original registers on film and fiche, transcripts of records, copies of monumental inscriptions, will indexes etc etc etc. It costs, but it would work out cheaper than a trip. I think they have free library tours, just to show you what they have got, and there is just so much that you wouldn't even imagine was useful. Living near London, I wouldn't dream of subscribing to Ancestry, but I could not imagine life without the Soc Gen. Trade directories, old pedigrees, poll books, Bernau's Index, it's an absolute treasure trove.

You may find that the relevant local family history society has an index of baptisms/marriages/burials which they will search for a few £. Most parish registers are on microfilm or fiche and can be very hard to read. They also vary in the info given. Some baptisms will give the father's occupation, mother's maiden name and a home address. Others just give the bare minimum. In small villages the same surnames crop up again and again and you need to check you have the right line - there could be several cousins with the same first & surname for example, often in the same trade. Something you probably can't get from LDS, although the Society of Genealogists might have some copies - you have to pay to use their library - are other parish records, bastardy bonds, poor law administration, quarter-sessions etc which may involve your ancestors. Sometimes you can find a document reference by typing the surname of the person or the village name into this site: www.a2a.org.uk/ which is how I found out about a settlement dispute involving my gt gt gt grandfather - original copies of which were at Aylesbury. Good luck nell

Hi Peter, I live in Lancashire and if your parish records are anywhere near me then I may be able to help. Gloria

NUDGE for Christine

when you visit your firat record office you will need to acquire a readers card that is accepted (I think) in all other record offices. this is a free registration card. Ann Glos

I'd also have a look on Genuki. They have lots of info for the different counties, many useful links http://www*genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LAN/ChurchRecords.shtml