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English Research: Starting Out (view source)
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<span>As you begin your research into a new country of research, you will find your effort difficult and frustrating at first, but if you persist you will be rewarded. Beginning to do family history is like learning to do any other exercise: it takes time, study, patience and perseverance. You don’t know all the answers. Maybe you don’t know any answers, or even know what to ask so you can get an answer!<span></span>Everyone starts at the same place. Be willing to ask questions.</span> | <span>As you begin your research into a new country of research, you will find your effort difficult and frustrating at first, but if you persist you will be rewarded. Beginning to do family history is like learning to do any other exercise: it takes time, study, patience and perseverance. You don’t know all the answers. Maybe you don’t know any answers, or even know what to ask so you can get an answer!<span></span>Everyone starts at the same place. Be willing to ask questions.</span> | ||
<span> | <span>In 1066, William the Conqueror and his forces successfully invaded a Saxon country. The first existing written record is the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086. Being a rural economy throughout the first 700 years, the people relied on farming, home economy and trade with other countries to support themselves. Most of the population was poor. The industrial revolution that began in the early 1800’s transformed much of the face of</span><span>England</span><span>.</span><br><span>The succession of rulers, mostly through first-born male inheritance but sometimes through a sibling, was generally peaceful. A king who wished to be above the law precipitated one civil war in mid-1600. Parliament was suspended, the king was beheaded, and a commonwealth era was established, ending with a king being restored to the throne.</span> | ||
In 1066, William the Conqueror and his forces successfully invaded a Saxon country. The first existing written record is the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086. Being a rural economy throughout the first 700 years, the people relied on farming, home economy and trade with other countries to support themselves. Most of the population was poor. The industrial revolution that began in the early 1800’s transformed much of the face of</span><span>England</span><span>. | |||
</span><br><span>The succession of rulers, mostly through first-born male inheritance but sometimes through a sibling, was generally peaceful. A king who wished to be above the law precipitated one civil war in mid-1600. Parliament was suspended, the king was beheaded, and a commonwealth era was established, ending with a king being restored to the throne. | |||
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<span>Famous Henry VIII is credited with the commencement of English parish registers. After the pope refused to grant his divorce from Catherine of Aragon in 1536, he broke away from the Roman Catholic faith, declaring himself to be the head of a new Protestant church. The Church of England (Anglican) became the established church. Records of christenings, marriages and burials were to be kept, by law, starting in 1538.</span> | <span>Famous Henry VIII is credited with the commencement of English parish registers. After the pope refused to grant his divorce from Catherine of Aragon in 1536, he broke away from the Roman Catholic faith, declaring himself to be the head of a new Protestant church. The Church of England (Anglican) became the established church. Records of christenings, marriages and burials were to be kept, by law, starting in 1538.</span> | ||
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=== <span>Gazetteers and Maps</span> === | === <span>Gazetteers and Maps</span> === | ||
<span></span><span>England</span><span>is organized on a county, parish and town system. Ecclesiastical boundaries are similar to civil boundaries. Gazetteers and maps help you to understand the relationship between places. Since the 1500’s, place name spellings and jurisdictions have not changed in major ways like in some other countries. Start with a gazetteer first to learn a brief bit about your place, then find the place on a map and see where it lies in relation to other places in the area. | <span></span><span>England</span><span>is organized on a county, parish and town system. Ecclesiastical boundaries are similar to civil boundaries. Gazetteers and maps help you to understand the relationship between places. Since the 1500’s, place name spellings and jurisdictions have not changed in major ways like in some other countries. Start with a gazetteer first to learn a brief bit about your place, then find the place on a map and see where it lies in relation to other places in the area.</span> | ||
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<span>Gazetteers vary, but generally state brief information about the civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, where it is located in relation to a larger place, and historical tidbits. Consider looking in several. One published in 1837 may state different information than one published in 1865, though both are correct. | <span>Gazetteers vary, but generally state brief information about the civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, where it is located in relation to a larger place, and historical tidbits. Consider looking in several. One published in 1837 may state different information than one published in 1865, though both are correct.</span> | ||
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<span>Maps also vary in size and content. The size of your place, creation date and the purpose for which the map was made are factors in whether or not you will find it. In general, most English places did not drastically change their names, or have major jurisdictional changes. Topographical maps show the elevation of the terrain by the coloring, to indicate the elevation of the terrain. Study a map to see how your place relates to the surrounding area. Usually parish maps are available for each county, indicating the relationship between parishes. How does the parish boundary correspond to the topographical area?<span></span>Is your place near the border by the sea, another county or country?<span></span>Where are the hills, rivers, canals or main roads?<span></span>Is it an urban or rural area?<span></span>All of these factors influenced your family.</span> | <span>Maps also vary in size and content. The size of your place, creation date and the purpose for which the map was made are factors in whether or not you will find it. In general, most English places did not drastically change their names, or have major jurisdictional changes. Topographical maps show the elevation of the terrain by the coloring, to indicate the elevation of the terrain. Study a map to see how your place relates to the surrounding area. Usually parish maps are available for each county, indicating the relationship between parishes. How does the parish boundary correspond to the topographical area?<span></span>Is your place near the border by the sea, another county or country?<span></span>Where are the hills, rivers, canals or main roads?<span></span>Is it an urban or rural area?<span></span>All of these factors influenced your family.</span> | ||
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=== <span>Definition of Terms</span><span></span> === | === <span>Definition of Terms</span><span></span> === | ||
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<span>You will find many new words with which you are not familiar. It’s best to arm yourself with good dictionaries, either your personal copies or access to them in your local library. The ''<span>Local Historian's Encyclopedia</span>'' defines historical terms in relation to land, occupation, transportation, etc. ''The <span>Dictionary of Genealogy</span>'' shows the genealogical usage for many terms, with the emphasis toward ecclesiastical matters. Other reference sources are mentioned in the bibliography. You may find that two books are similar, but slightly different in their context.</span> | <span>You will find many new words with which you are not familiar. It’s best to arm yourself with good dictionaries, either your personal copies or access to them in your local library. The ''<span>Local Historian's Encyclopedia</span>'' defines historical terms in relation to land, occupation, transportation, etc. ''The <span>Dictionary of Genealogy</span>'' shows the genealogical usage for many terms, with the emphasis toward ecclesiastical matters. Other reference sources are mentioned in the bibliography. You may find that two books are similar, but slightly different in their context.</span> | ||
<span> | <span>It's important to start learning the definitions of new words, since the exercise will aid you in getting more involved in your research. Today you may be unsure about the definition of christening or census, but later your list may include words like hundred, reeve, and gaol. Learning these new terms can be like learning a new language.</span><br><br> | ||
It's important to start learning the definitions of new words, since the exercise will aid you in getting more involved in your research. Today you may be unsure about the definition of christening or census, but later your list may include words like hundred, reeve, and gaol. Learning these new terms can be like learning a new language.</span><br><br> | |||
=== <span></span><span>Use a Handbook</span> === | === <span></span><span>Use a Handbook</span> === | ||
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All English researchers use four groups of records. These are: | All English researchers use four groups of records. These are: | ||
<span><span><span></span></span></span><span> | <span><span><span></span></span></span><span></span> | ||
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* <span>Civil Registration.</span> | * <span>Civil Registration.</span> | ||
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=== <span>Read More</span><span></span> === | === <span>Read More</span><span></span> === | ||
<span></span><span> | <span></span><span>John Bartholomew, ''Bartholomew Gazetteer of''</span>''<span>Britain</span>''''<span>.</span>''''''''<span></span> | ||
John Bartholomew, ''Bartholomew Gazetteer of''</span>''<span>Britain</span>''''<span>.</span>''''''''<span></span> | |||
<span>Jean A. Cole, ''Tracing Your Family History: A General Handbook.''</span> | <span>Jean A. Cole, ''Tracing Your Family History: A General Handbook.''</span> | ||
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<span>1:50</span><span>000 Landranger Series.</span><span>Southampton</span><span><nowiki>: Ordnance Survey, 1987-9.</nowiki></span> | <span>1:50</span><span>000 Landranger Series.</span><span>Southampton</span><span><nowiki>: Ordnance Survey, 1987-9.</nowiki></span> | ||
<span>Samuel Lewis, ''Topographical Dictionary of''</span>''<span>England</span>''''<span>.</span>''''''''<span></span> | <span>Samuel Lewis, ''Topographical Dictionary of''</span>''<span>England</span>''''<span>.</span>''''''''<span></span> | ||
''<span>Oxford</span>''''<span>English Dictionary.</span>''''''''<span>12 vols. and suppl.</span> | ''<span>Oxford</span>''''<span>English Dictionary.</span>''''''''<span>12 vols. and suppl.</span> | ||
''<span>The Ordnance Survey Gazetteer of</span>''''<span>Great Britain</span>''''<span><nowiki>: All Names From the</nowiki></span>''''<span>1:50</span>''''<span>000 Landranger Map Series.</span>''<span></span> | ''<span>The Ordnance Survey Gazetteer of</span>''''<span>Great Britain</span>''''<span><nowiki>: All Names From the</nowiki></span>''''<span>1:50</span>''''<span>000 Landranger Map Series.</span>''<span></span> | ||
''<span>Research Outline:</span>''''<span>England</span>''''''''<span>.</span> | ''<span>Research Outline:</span>''''<span>England</span>''''''''<span>.</span> | ||
<span>John Richardson, ''The Local Historian's Encyclopedia''.</span> | <span>John Richardson, ''The Local Historian's Encyclopedia''.</span> | ||
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<span>Rogers, Colin. ''Tracing Your English Ancestors''.</span> | <span>Rogers, Colin. ''Tracing Your English Ancestors''.</span> | ||
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[[Category:England]] | |||