Family History Societies

There are over 150,000 members of Family History Societies in the country. The societies are excellent organisations for assistance and support. Most counties have one. Societies have indexes and some have their own publications.

Next stop National records

Putting the bones together and making the family links

In 1855 the parish registers of the Church of Scotland were brought in to a central register. This coincided with the start of the General register in January 1855. This register plus the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has resulted in a huge bank of records for the families of Presbyterians. Welsh records are at local level and National library of Wales in Aberystwyth.

You may need old maps to refresh your memory on which counties of the UK covered the area you are interested. Keep searching you never know what you might uncover good or bad.

The right person

Now in all your excitement to find your family and its roots be very careful to ensure you have the right person. Just because the name both surname and first matches the name you are looking for and then the place and date it might not be the same person. John Smith , Alexander Mackay and Donald Macdonald are all reocurring names. Verify verify and verify to ensure you have the right person or else you will be off target and have an incorrect tree.

Occupation, marriage date Wills and Church records may confirm you have not only the right name but the right person.

Don't Forget Graveyards.

Don't Forget Graveyards

The local graveyard can be a source of Family History and deadly serious. While celebrating a special birthday some years ago, the family took a trip to Aberdeenshire and toured some graveyards in the wet and windy weather of February. Interestingly enough I got a good lead that linked two people who were thought to be related. From the graveyards to the Aberdeen office for Deaths, Births and Marriages, a copy certificate gave us the information to fill the gap. By the way, a marriage certificate gives lots of information, e.g. The witness by a work colleague or friend which might help with the occupation of the spouse. Trekking through graveyards in February is not for the faint-hearted – how about doing your research on- line?

Where to find initial information

Photographs, Wills, Deeds and books owned by relatives can help in the research of the Family History. You might consider the inside cover of a book which could contain a clue to a missing piece of information. The annotation “This book presented for 25 years service with the British Railways” tells a lot! The title page and fly leaf of an 18th century family Bible could have a treasure of information, births, christenings, weddings and deaths of members of the family. Obsolete share certificates may pinpoint a previous address of a family member. Civil registrations never became compulsory until 1875, so one may have to go to Parish records for details prior to that year.

The next step is to build your family tree, but leave plenty of room for additions, every time you carry out research take your Family Tree with you. There are many styles to record information, be it paper or electronic but don't be in a hurry to have the “true, final version”. Record the details, then extract onto your Tree in due course.

BBC spread the news on Family History

The showing of the "who do you think you are?" the guide to researching your family history has increased the desire for many to dig deep in to the past in the hope of finding some great result.
Perhaps they are related to someone famous, they are they missing link to an unclaimed fortune or simply wish to find out more about their family.

The first steps are to talk to the immediate family and collate names, dates, and where they lived.

Old photographs and papers might give clues to the family background.

Scottish Family History

Welcome to Family History for beginners.