Jump to content

Tracing English Immigrants From Abroad: Difference between revisions

Tracing English Immigrants From Abroad (view source)

Revision as of 15:50, 14 June 2018

475 bytes removed ,  14 June 2018
no edit summary
VisualWikitext
(→‎Introduction: Rearranging)
No edit summary
Line 3: Line 3:
__TOC__  
__TOC__  


===Introduction===
==Introduction==


Return to the [[Middlesex]] County page.  
Return to the [[Middlesex]] County page.  
Line 17: Line 17:
This page seeks to outline the standard technique in discovering an ancestors' specific birth place or place of residence in England.
This page seeks to outline the standard technique in discovering an ancestors' specific birth place or place of residence in England.


===How to Begin===
==How to Begin==


The steps below reveal how to best identify and prove ancestry in the rich genealogical records of England—including civil registration, parish registers and other records.  
The steps below reveal how to best identify and prove ancestry in the rich genealogical records of England.


====Step 1: Search Home Records First====
===Step 1: Search Home Records===


Search home records by thoroughly seeking for and searching in “home” sources and compiled family histories. This is a fundamental, preliminary exercise that will usually pay huge dividends in providing precise birth data from the outset of your search. It may not always be correct data, but it is a beginning and will help in narrowing down to the specific place of your ancestor’s nativity or residence in a large city or township in England.  
Search home records by thoroughly seeking for and searching in “home” sources and compiled family histories. This is a fundamental, preliminary exercise that will usually pay huge dividends in providing precise birth data in the beginning of your search. It may not always be correct, but it is a foundation and will help in narrowing down to the specific place of your ancestor’s nativity or residence in a large city or town in England.  


Here’s a quick-list of home record sources::  
Here’s a quick list of home record sources:


*Personal diaries and journals
*Personal diaries and journals
 
*Old letters - old addresses may provide an all-important locality
*Old letters: old addresses may provide an all-important locality
 
*Handwritten family histories, biographies, autobiographies in private possession within the family or sometimes found in library/archives
*Handwritten family histories, biographies, autobiographies in private possession within the family or sometimes found in library/archives
 
*Funeral home records - may give excellent information
*Funeral home records: may give excellent information
*Family Bibles - sometimes give specific localities of vital events
 
*Obituaries - often contain locality-specific residence or place of birth
*Family Bibles: sometimes give specific localities of vital events
*Certificate copies of vital records of marriage, death and births - often give parents names and specific place of residence and/or of birth and more
 
*Military papers (i.e. discharge, pension, enlistment, court martial, or awards of merit) - usually provide a place of birth and sometimes parents names
*Obituaries: often contain locality-specific residence or place of birth
 
*Certificate copies of vital records of marriage, death and births: often give parents names and specific place of residence and/or of birth and more
 
*Military papers, i.e. discharge, pension, enlistment, court martial, or awards of merit, valor: usually provide a place of birth and sometimes parents names
 
*Baptismal records, membership records, letters of recommendations
*Baptismal records, membership records, letters of recommendations
 
*Naturalization papers - usually between three to five different records - one or more may indicate specific locale within an England city
*Naturalization papers: from three to as many as five different papers; one or more may indicate specific locale within an England city
 
*Trace as many living descendants as you can in telephone directories (particularly ones with uncommon surnames) - also in the U.S. try [http://www.zabasearch.com/ www.zabasearch.com]
*Trace as many living descendants as you can in telephone directories (particularly ones with uncommon surnames) - also in the U.S. try [http://www.zabasearch.com/ www.zabasearch.com]
*Interview or correspond with the more elderly members of extended family members and distant relatives - they can clarify information on specific locales for common ancestry and provide assistance in collaborative research efforts


*Interview or correspond with—the more elderly members of extended family members and distant relatives which can prove very effective in obtaining clarifying information on specific locales for in-common ancestry and for obtaining assistance in collaborative research efforts
Once you have gleaned as much information as possible from home sources, but still lack a specific birthplace or residence then proceed to Step 2. If you succeeded in obtaining the specific town or parish in which your immigrant ancestor was born or resided before emigrating, then proceed to search in records of the specific England locale mentioned in Step 4.  
 
Once you have gleaned as much information as possible from home sources, but still lack a specific birth place or residence then proceed to Step 2. If you succeeded in obtaining the specific township or parish in which your immigrant ancestor was born or resided before emigrating, then proceed to search in records of the specific England locale mentioned in Step 4.  
 
====Step 2: Search Compiled Sources – Family Histories at Archives & Libraries Before====


Commencing your emigrant ancestor's research in original records, you must, like a research scientist, thoroughly seek for and study the research compilations of other researchers. The research scientist first seeks out every possible compiled source pertaining to the narrowed field of study so as not to duplicate or re-do research previously performed by other researchers. To do otherwise means the likely loss of critical funding or financial sponsorship for research! Why? Because why would the private funding sponsor or government provide funds for research already uncovered by another scientific researcher!
===Step 2: Search Compiled Sources – Family Histories at Archives & Libraries===


Likewise, you should thoroughly seek to locate compiled sources on your ancestral lines. By doing your due diligence in locating and searching compiled sources you will come to know where you are on the ‘research map’ so that you'll know where you want to go. In other words, you will know a more precise place to start conducting original research in the actual vital and other records of a specific locale.  
To find your emigrant ancestor in original records, you must thoroughly seek for and study the research compilations of other researchers. The research scientist first seeks out every possible compiled source pertaining to the specific question or family so as not to duplicate or re-do research previously performed. To do otherwise means losing time and often missing key information. The research of others may give you a head start on your own research.


A word of “caution” for using compiled sources to assist in helping you build your family pedigree: Compiled sources are notorious for containing mistakes, omissions, in-complete data, half-truths or prejudicial nuances in the information cited! Always take the information and consider it wisely and objectively and then weigh it against bed-rock documentary,and when available, statutory (certified) records such as a birth certificate. (For an extensive list of compiled sources to search, see the Appendix.)
Likewise, you should thoroughly seek to locate compiled sources on your ancestral lines. By doing your due diligence in locating and searching compiled sources you will come to know where you are on the ‘research map’ so that you'll know where you want to go. In other words, you will know a more precise place to start conducting original research in vital and other records of a specific locale.  


Compiled family history sources include published or manuscript family histories, family pedigrees, local and community histories (especially in U.S.), and donated family research files, biographies and autobiographies. Online archival and (research) library catalogs and inventories grant researchers convenience in determining availability of these local history sources in their collections. Some of these institutions also have additional databases available online for free searches. These institutions and societies may include:
A word of caution for using compiled sources to assist in helping you build your family pedigree: Compiled sources are notorious for containing mistakes, omissions, incomplete data, half-truths, or prejudicial nuances in the information cited! Always take the information and consider it wisely and objectively and then weigh it against actual records and research. (For an extensive list of compiled sources to search, see the Appendix.)


*Local - city/township/county archives
Compiled family history sources include published or manuscript family histories, family pedigrees, local and community histories (especially in U.S.), and donated family research files, biographies and autobiographies. Online archival and library catalogs and inventories help to determine the availability of these local history sources in their collections. Some of these institutions also have additional databases available online for free searches. These institutions and societies may include:


*Local (city, town, county) archives
*State archives
*State archives
*National archives
*National archives
*State historical societies
*State historical societies
*County historical societies
*County historical societies
 
*Research libraries
*Research libraries, i.e. Newberry Library (Chicago, IL), Allen Co. IN Public Library, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Society of Genealogists, London, Genealogical Research Library, Bampton, Ontario, Society Genealogists in both Australia & New Zealand
**Examples: Newberry Library (Chicago, IL), Allen Co. IN Public Library, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Society of Genealogists, London, Genealogical Research Library, Bampton, Ontario, Society Genealogists in both Australia & New Zealand


*Library of Congress, Washington DC,
*Library of Congress, Washington DC,
Line 91: Line 76:
<br>Learning what critical databases and/or indexes are available allows you to more quickly find helpful details of your ancestor. Then you can gain access, via in-house staff or a record agent/searcher; or, through the services of a local volunteer to provide you with the critical search or lookup services. Contact the local archives or repository/library via e-mail for their fees, or for a list of searchers to get the lookup service you want. Here are some helpful websites for finding local volunteers to do a free “lookup” service:  
<br>Learning what critical databases and/or indexes are available allows you to more quickly find helpful details of your ancestor. Then you can gain access, via in-house staff or a record agent/searcher; or, through the services of a local volunteer to provide you with the critical search or lookup services. Contact the local archives or repository/library via e-mail for their fees, or for a list of searchers to get the lookup service you want. Here are some helpful websites for finding local volunteers to do a free “lookup” service:  


=====North America=====
====North America====


*[https://www.raogk.org/ www.raogk.org] - Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
*[https://www.raogk.org/ www.raogk.org] - Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness
*[http://www.usgenweb.com www.usgenweb.com] - U.S. GenWeb network
*[http://www.usgenweb.com www.usgenweb.com] - U.S. GenWeb network


=====United Kingdom=====
====United Kingdom====


*[http://www.britishIslesgenweb.org www.britishIslesgenweb.org]  
*[http://www.britishIslesgenweb.org www.britishIslesgenweb.org]  
Line 103: Line 88:
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/indexes/MailingLists.html www.genuki.org] - subscribe then request help
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/indexes/MailingLists.html www.genuki.org] - subscribe then request help


=====Other Countries=====
====Other Countries====


*Most countries (the counties, or province/states within countries) have volunteers or for-hire agents; ‘google’ to find them  
*Most countries (the counties, or province/states within countries) have volunteers or for-hire agents; ‘google’ to find them  
Line 118: Line 103:
[[Family_History_Library|Family History Library]] search the Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource file and in the future, the forthcoming new.FamilySearch.org databases  
[[Family_History_Library|Family History Library]] search the Ancestral File, Pedigree Resource file and in the future, the forthcoming new.FamilySearch.org databases  


=====Social Networking Websites=====
====Social Networking Websites====


Another research aid for assisting researchers to find family genealogical compilations is the social network websites with genealogical intent and content. These sites can have far-reaching capabilities for finding living relatives who are working on or who have already compiled data on in-common family lines and genealogies. They can be a wonderful and a welcome resource. Such websites are great tools for finding distant relatives with an interest in in-common ancestry and with whom you may work cooperatively to identify, share and/or prove in-common ancestral connections. It can further ignite enthusiasm and motivation in the discovery of many more generations of ancestors! Most of the following sites are United Kingdom-based, including:  
Another research aid for assisting researchers to find family genealogical compilations is the social network websites with genealogical intent and content. These sites can have far-reaching capabilities for finding living relatives who are working on or who have already compiled data on in-common family lines and genealogies. They can be a wonderful and a welcome resource. Such websites are great tools for finding distant relatives with an interest in in-common ancestry and with whom you may work cooperatively to identify, share and/or prove in-common ancestral connections. It can further ignite enthusiasm and motivation in the discovery of many more generations of ancestors! Most of the following sites are United Kingdom-based, including:  
Line 134: Line 119:
*[http://www.kindredtrails.com www.kindredtrails.com] – a very significant source of compiled lineages <br>
*[http://www.kindredtrails.com www.kindredtrails.com] – a very significant source of compiled lineages <br>


=====Published Sources=====
====Published Sources====


Also, the following published sources can help you identify relatives who have or are currently tracing in-common family lines in England’s large cities:  
Also, the following published sources can help you identify relatives who have or are currently tracing in-common family lines in England’s large cities:  
Line 147: Line 132:
This is very possible to do when you have the benefit of researching an ancestor with an unusual or uncommon surname; it can save you the time necessary to search in any or all sources in any country-- indexed records or not!  
This is very possible to do when you have the benefit of researching an ancestor with an unusual or uncommon surname; it can save you the time necessary to search in any or all sources in any country-- indexed records or not!  


====Step 3: Search Indexes: Key to Finding Immigrants' Specific Place of Birth====
===Step 3: Search Indexes: Key to Finding Immigrants' Specific Place of Birth===


Proceed to find compiled indexes to primary sources in the host-country of settlement to step no. 4 (researching in the national and city records of England),be certain to search the records of the country of settlement. If you are researching strictly in England and if your ancestor came from outside an English city or large township, or from England’s countryside into a city, be sure to search the following records for further clues about your ancestor's birthplace.  
Proceed to find compiled indexes to primary sources in the host-country of settlement to step no. 4 (researching in the national and city records of England),be certain to search the records of the country of settlement. If you are researching strictly in England and if your ancestor came from outside an English city or large township, or from England’s countryside into a city, be sure to search the following records for further clues about your ancestor's birthplace.  
Line 203: Line 188:
The next step of the task is to obtain a copy of Florence’s birth certificate for the year 1884. Her certificate of birth will provide and confirm her birth date, birthplace, and parents’ names.
The next step of the task is to obtain a copy of Florence’s birth certificate for the year 1884. Her certificate of birth will provide and confirm her birth date, birthplace, and parents’ names.


====Step 4: Researching in England’s Records to Determine and Prove Place of Birth====
===Step 4: Researching in England’s Records to Determine and Prove Place of Birth===


The challenge of researching in England’s large cities is in dealing with the large task of searching in huge population bases. Along with large populations comes the challenge of searching through bloated records—i.e. church registers often containing tens of thousands of entries for not just one single parish, but sometimes numerous parishes. Add to this already daunting task, the task of researching in several additional genealogical record types! The sheer number of inhabitants in Greater London and other large cities in England places fact-finding into slow-motion and it becomes the biggest source of frustration, and challenges the very best of researchers. Thus, availability of complete data-bases or “indexes” then, is incredibly helpful and is an enormous boon to genealogists when researching in especially big cities because indexes help you find next-generation ancestry in a mere fraction of the time, versus normal research the ‘old fashioned way’—parish by parish, by parish, and etc.!  
The challenge of researching in England’s large cities is in dealing with the large task of searching in huge population bases. Along with large populations comes the challenge of searching through bloated records—i.e. church registers often containing tens of thousands of entries for not just one single parish, but sometimes numerous parishes. Add to this already daunting task, the task of researching in several additional genealogical record types! The sheer number of inhabitants in Greater London and other large cities in England places fact-finding into slow-motion and it becomes the biggest source of frustration, and challenges the very best of researchers. Thus, availability of complete data-bases or “indexes” then, is incredibly helpful and is an enormous boon to genealogists when researching in especially big cities because indexes help you find next-generation ancestry in a mere fraction of the time, versus normal research the ‘old fashioned way’—parish by parish, by parish, and etc.!  
Line 211: Line 196:
Big city research in England is greatly facilitated when you know or learn what available quick-finding resources (i.e. indexes) there are for England and its large cities. Locate and then search, or, arrange for someone to search on your behalf, all extant indexes or databases for large cities in which you need to conduct research. If you choose not to use available indexes to key primary sources of vital, church and other records, your genealogical research will expend considerable time and in today’s economy will likely fast become an extremely pricey endeavor—especially when researching from abroad.  
Big city research in England is greatly facilitated when you know or learn what available quick-finding resources (i.e. indexes) there are for England and its large cities. Locate and then search, or, arrange for someone to search on your behalf, all extant indexes or databases for large cities in which you need to conduct research. If you choose not to use available indexes to key primary sources of vital, church and other records, your genealogical research will expend considerable time and in today’s economy will likely fast become an extremely pricey endeavor—especially when researching from abroad.  


=====England's Key Genealogical Record Sources=====
====England's Key Genealogical Record Sources====


A valuable list is in order, then, which provides researchers with as current a standard list as is remotely possible, of data-rich indexes, databases, calendars or other resources (usually compiled sources) of which you can search to help you to more quickly find possible ancestry in the civil vital or other records of England. Always check against the original primary sources in order to validate what you find in these and all indexes. Recourse must always be taken by looking at original record source[s] when an entry from an index or a compiled source appears to likely be that of your ancestor.  
A valuable list is in order, then, which provides researchers with as current a standard list as is remotely possible, of data-rich indexes, databases, calendars or other resources (usually compiled sources) of which you can search to help you to more quickly find possible ancestry in the civil vital or other records of England. Always check against the original primary sources in order to validate what you find in these and all indexes. Recourse must always be taken by looking at original record source[s] when an entry from an index or a compiled source appears to likely be that of your ancestor.  
Line 229: Line 214:
*Land Registry of Deeds – Middlesex from 1708 to 1988
*Land Registry of Deeds – Middlesex from 1708 to 1988


=====Indexes to England's Key Genealogical Record Sources=====
====Indexes to England's Key Genealogical Record Sources====


In identifying the above crucial resources to help prove and to build family pedigrees (above) in big cities, now let’s identify some of the most outstanding indexes to the above records—available either online or at specific locations and which should be searched, first:  
In identifying the above crucial resources to help prove and to build family pedigrees (above) in big cities, now let’s identify some of the most outstanding indexes to the above records—available either online or at specific locations and which should be searched, first:  


=====Census records=====
====Census records====


*[http://www.findmypast.com/ www.findmypast.com](1841-1901; also links to the 1911 census)
*[http://www.findmypast.com/ www.findmypast.com](1841-1901; also links to the 1911 census)
Line 248: Line 233:
*Society of Genealogists, London – [http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml www.sog.org.uk] (£) – holds a significant collection of published/transcribed census records and indexes at [http://www.ukcensusonline.com/ www.ukcensusonline.com/]<br>
*Society of Genealogists, London – [http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml www.sog.org.uk] (£) – holds a significant collection of published/transcribed census records and indexes at [http://www.ukcensusonline.com/ www.ukcensusonline.com/]<br>


=====Civil registration indexes=====
====Civil registration indexes====


*[http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ www.freeBMD.rootsweb.com]– over 160 million birth, marriage and deaths
*[http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ www.freeBMD.rootsweb.com]– over 160 million birth, marriage and deaths
*[http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/ www.ukbmd.org.uk]– various county births, marriages and death indexes to many registration districts or [http://thbmd.co.uk/search.php thbmd.co.uk/search.php ]- Tower Hamlets civil registration index online
*[http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/ www.ukbmd.org.uk]– various county births, marriages and death indexes to many registration districts or [http://thbmd.co.uk/search.php thbmd.co.uk/search.php ]- Tower Hamlets civil registration index online


=====Parish church registers=====
====Parish church registers====


*County Record offices – i.e. London Metropolitan Archives and Library. Some big city County Record Offices have transcriptions and indexes to many parish registers and other records, as well as the original records in their collections
*County Record offices – i.e. London Metropolitan Archives and Library. Some big city County Record Offices have transcriptions and indexes to many parish registers and other records, as well as the original records in their collections
Line 277: Line 262:
*[http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/index.php www.bmdregisters.co.uk] – free index to non-parochial registers transcriptions with a free index, pay-per-view for each transcribed entry – about 8 million online
*[http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/index.php www.bmdregisters.co.uk] – free index to non-parochial registers transcriptions with a free index, pay-per-view for each transcribed entry – about 8 million online


=====Probate records:=====
====Probate records:====


*[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/ www.fhlfavorites.info/] under “England”, then [Name of] “county”, then “Probate”; most England counties now have extensive online indexes!
*[http://www.fhlfavorites.info/ www.fhlfavorites.info/] under “England”, then [Name of] “county”, then “Probate”; most England counties now have extensive online indexes!
*Google the following words: 1) [name of] “county”/big city; 2) “probate”; 3) “index”
*Google the following words: 1) [name of] “county”/big city; 2) “probate”; 3) “index”


=====Occupational records:=====
====Occupational records:====


*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ www.nationalarchives.gov.uk] - Guildhall Library: [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx] - extensive holdings for UK
*[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ www.nationalarchives.gov.uk] - Guildhall Library: [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx] - extensive holdings for UK
Line 291: Line 276:
*Family History Library “Favorites” – see online at [http://www.fhlfavorites.info/ www.fhlfavorites.info]under the county names’ “General” folder, under “Occupations”. Many sites!
*Family History Library “Favorites” – see online at [http://www.fhlfavorites.info/ www.fhlfavorites.info]under the county names’ “General” folder, under “Occupations”. Many sites!


=====Newspapers, etc.:=====
====Newspapers, etc.:====


*Gentleman’s Magazine – hundreds of thousands of indexed entries – at [http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/ilej/journals/srchgm.htm www.bodley.ox.ac.uk]
*Gentleman’s Magazine – hundreds of thousands of indexed entries – at [http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/ilej/journals/srchgm.htm www.bodley.ox.ac.uk]
Line 298: Line 283:
*Newspapers in the UK: [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/ http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs]
*Newspapers in the UK: [http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/ http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs]


=====Land Registry of Deeds=====
====Land Registry of Deeds====
Middlesex from 1708 to 1988: at the London Metropolitan Archives and Library; visit: [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx www.cityoflondon.gov.uk]; email: ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk; or call (tel): 020 7332 3820  
Middlesex from 1708 to 1988: at the London Metropolitan Archives and Library; visit: [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Pages/default.aspx www.cityoflondon.gov.uk]; email: ask.lma@cityoflondon.gov.uk; or call (tel): 020 7332 3820  


=====Manorial records:===== see Manorial Documents Register (MDR) at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/ www.nationalarchives.gov.uk] for availability  
====Manorial records:====  
See Manorial Documents Register (MDR) at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/mdr/ www.nationalarchives.gov.uk] for availability  


'''Additional Helps:'''  
'''Additional Helps:'''  
Beccac1229
24,019

edits

Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/3245037"