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If you have just started researching your family tree,
Ancestors editor Simon Fowler has some sound advice
(Ancestors is the Family History
Magazine from the National Archives click
for the special offer they are making to laterlife visitors)
Family history – genealogy – is one of the fastest growing
hobbies in Britain. Countless people across the UK (and many
more overseas) are now engaged in the search for their
ancestors, and millions tune in to TV programmes like Who Do You
Think You Are?
It’s easy enough to start out by checking out your forbears
online at home. And it could change your life.
Warm welcome
Family history is a hobby that you can pick up or put down when
it suits you. After all your ancestors are not going to
disappear.
There is no pressure to trace everybody you are descended from -
indeed it is nearly impossible. Most people only research one
side of their family or a few ancestors who particularly
interest them.
And if one individual proves elusive, well, there are plenty of
others out there to find.
One of the great things is how friendly and helpful most family
historians are. If you get stuck, the chance is that somebody
will be only too pleased to point you in the right direction.
And you will receive a warm welcome at your local family history
society meeting or adult education class.
Another place to share information is through the online mailing
lists which cover every aspect of genealogy.
Check out the full
list at www.genuki.org.uk/wg .
Starting out
Begin by working out what you know already about your family and
where they came from. Naturally the more information you have,
the better. But if you know next to nothing, there’s no need to
panic.
A good starting point is to talk to the oldest members of the
family. Sadly most ancestor hunters find they are the oldest
member of their families. It’s a common lament that: “I wish I
had asked granny when she was still alive.”
Many families have a collection of heirlooms, which may well
tell you about your immediate ancestors, and it’s always worth
asking relations to see what they have. Family bibles are
particularly useful, because they record the births (and perhaps
marriages and deaths) of family members. If you’re very lucky it
may go back centuries.
You’ve probably got an album or shoebox containing family snaps
of family events and holidays. Get them out and see whether they
tell you anything. Don’t forget to ask relations whether they
can put names to the faces.
What’s online
You’ve talked to the rellies and looked at the photographs. Now
it is time to start the search in earnest.
Most of the major resources are now available online, generally
for a fee. The two largest are ancestry.co.uk and findmypast,
but there are smaller lesser comprehensive sites like
familyrelatives.
However, some material is available for free if you know where
to look. The largest is FamilySearch which lists millions of
births and marriages (but few burials) before 1837. The data is
far from complete and it is not always accurate, but it is a
useful starting place. The site also has a detailed index to the
1881 census.
Another great free site is FreeBMD which provides a detailed
index to birth, marriage and death certificates from 1837.
All these sites are simple to use with lots of help available if
you are not certain what the records are telling you.
Lots more besides
If you have Scottish ancestors, then most of the work has
already been done for you. Indexes to Scottish births, marriages
and deaths, census records and parish registers are all online.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of other sites devoted
to family history. It can be difficult to find the one you want.
There are links to nearly 300,000 at Cyndi’s List.
Otherwise just enter the name of an ancestor into Google and see
what is available out there. You may be amazed what you will
find.
Family history has given great pleasure to many hundreds of
thousands of people. It’s difficult enough to be a challenge,
but not so hard that it is impossible to crack. And who knows
what will come up. You’re unlikely to be related to anybody rich
or famous, but most researchers are just happy finding a poacher
who was hung for sheep-stealing.
SPECIAL
OFFER FOR LATERLIFE VISITORS
Are you interested in tracing
your family history?
Ancestors, the family history magazine from The National
Archives, is the essential read for all family, local and
military historians. Packed full of informative features from
family history experts, it gives practical advice for beginners
and more experienced researchers, reveals the best family
history websites and online resources and news on what is
happening at The National Archives.
Special Laterlife offer! Save 25% when you subscribe to
Ancestors.
Get 12 issues for £31.50 - that's just under £2.63 per issue
(normally £3.50). To subscribe visit
www.ancestorsmagazine.co.uk and enter ANC/LAT
in the "coupon number" box on the form when prompted. To
subscribe by post or phone the contact details are on the same
website; please quote ANC/LAT and the reduced price.
Articles in the series:
Get going with your
family history
Census Returns
Birth, marriage
and death records
Birth, marriage
and death certificates
Going back
before 1837
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