PRE 1837 FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths, started
in June 1837. Family History Research prior to that year will involve
more intense and possibly "hands on" work than the Internet can provide.
Many of the records you will need to access are only available as microfilmed
copies.
If you have now exhausted the Civil Registration Records,
looking for Births, Marriages and Deaths of your families, your next step
will be the Parish Church Records, in the villages or towns where your
family lived and worked. Parish Church records contain a chronological
listing of Baptisms/Christenings, Marriages and Burials which took place
within that parish. Sometimes whole families and even several generations
of that same family can be found within the same parish.
Many, but not all Parish Church records have been microfilmed
to preserve ancient hand-written books, some dating from the 13th century,
others from the 1500's to 1900's. These microfilm copies of baptism, marriages
and burials are normally available to view at the County Central Library,
Archives Department or Record Office pertaining to that parish.
The following links contain catalogues to all the microfilm
copies of parish church records, many early records and where to view them.
LDS Family History Library Catalogue
The full catalogue of Microfilmed copies of church records
and other early records. All available to order and view at your nearest
LDS Family History Center. To search use name of town and then name
of country, ie, England, Wales, Scotland or Ireland. Full listing
of all records pertaining to that town will be returned to you in the search
results.
http://www.familysearch.org/
International Genealogical Index
An index of baptisms/christenings and marriages including
millions of pre 1837 records. Free search and download of information.
Choice of IGI for several Countries including England and Wales.
http://www.familysearch.org/
Public Record Office Catalogue
The full catalogue of the British Public Record Office
Millions of Records relating to all and everything British.
Some databases can be searched online through new linkedNational
Archives website.
http://www.a2a.pro.gov.uk/search/
The Society of Genealogists - English and Welsh Origins
One of the earliest Societies established for Family history
research have online much of the Societies indexed work applicable to pre
1837 records. A massive collection you should not miss out on. Free
initial name search with small payment required for downloadable copies
of original records. Click the origins link to learn more.
Origins
The Society of Genealogists- Irish Origins Website
Tracing your Irish Origins is not easy as many records
were destroyed in a fire. However, Irish Origins has quite a collection
of Irish records to keep you hunting with databases being added regularly.
Free initial search of all databases with small payment for viewing original.
Click the Origins Link to learn more.
Origins
Ancestry.com - UK Databases
Millions of databases relating to UK research covering
timescales from present day back to very early records.
Databases are continually being added on a daily basis.
Subscription required for years access, working out at
only £2 (Uk pounds) per week including tax. Present 14 day
Free Trial during which time you can make up your mind to continue with
subscription. Click the Ancestry link to learn more.
Ancestry