The Gambia Colonial Records

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The Gambia

Colonial Records

British Colonization (1821-1965)

The Gambia was both a British colony and protectorate. The area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul) was a colony, at times under the Sierra Leone Colony, while the inland territory around the Gambia River became a protectorate in 1894. In 1965, The Gambia became an independent state in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Record collection	Years covered	Record type	Language	Who is in the records
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC), 1384-1858	1679-1859	Wills	English	Until 1858, all wills had to be proved by the church and other courts. Most of the individuals in these records were relatively wealthy.
British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, COUNTRY at Findmypast - index & images ($)	1834-1846	Births and baptisms	English	Children born to those working within the armed forces, merchant navy, and consular forces, as well as, civilian ship passengers.
British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages, COUNTRY at Findmypast - index & images ($)	1906-1946	Banns and marriages	English	British armed forces members and civilians who were married abroad and at sea
British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials, COUNTRY at Findmypast - index & images ($)	1849-1964	Deaths and burials	English	Members of the British armed forces who died while serving their country overseas, British civilians who died while traveling or working overseas, and individuals (including seaman) who died at sea.
British Civil Service Evidence Of Age at Findmypast - index ($)	1840-1865	Civil Service applications and paperwork	English	Individuals who worked for, or applied to join, the British Civil Service.
Colony and protectorate births and deaths, 1845-1953	1840-1865	Births and deaths	English	Microfilm of original records or copies at the Oral History and Antiquities Division in Banjul, The Gambia. The colony and protectorate records include Bathurst, Ceded Mile or Barra district, Kombo, McCarthy areas. The births include stillbirths. Some years are missing.