Have you ever wondered what the lives of your forefathers were like? What
were their occupations? What conditions did they live in? Did they reside in
Britain, or did they venture further afield in search of a better life? Perhaps
you are descended from aristocracy, or could you be the great-great-grandchild of
one of history's more colourful characters?
'How to Trace Your Family Tree' will take you on an exciting voyage of
discovery into your family's past. If offers a complete introduction to the
subject of genealogy and to the process of tracing your very own family tree.
This book begins with the basics of starting your own search and guides you
through each developing stage. Almost every feasible link your family may have
had with archived information is discussed - was your ancestor a nurse, a miner,
a landowner, a convict, a pedlar or a prostitute? You'll learn what clues to
look out for as you study old photographs, certificates and documents, and find
out about the organizations and website links that will help your take your
investigations further.
All that you need to know to get you started is in this book, with invaluable
links, checklists, hints and tips, as well as help on recording your data and
using the most methodical research techniques. Enticing historical details
illustrated just how intriguing family history can be, and incredible
photographs portray family and social life through the ages.
As you step back in time and the lives of your forebears begin to unfold,
you're guaranteed to be gripped as the fascinating links that connect you to the
past are revealed.
Contents:
First Steps
- How to begin
- Family photographs
- A basic family tree
- Names
- Research skills
- Keeping records
- Interviewing people
Back to the early 1800s
- Certificates after 1837
- Other records at the Family History Centre
- Censuses
- The International Genealogical Index and other indexes
- Published material
- Using the internet
- Wills, administrations and death duties
- Inquests
- Newspapers and periodicals
Going back to 1558
- Record offices, history centres and libraries
- Births, christenings, marriages and burials in parish registers
- Other parish records
- The poor of the parish
- Orphans and foundlings
- Records for other Christian denominations
- Maps
Other countries in the British Isles
- Welsh records
- Scottish records
- Irish records
- Channel Islands records
- Isle of Man records
Working lives
- Education
- Apprenticeship
- Guilds and freemen
- The professions
- Other occupations
- Licences
- Elections, poll books and electoral registers
- Trade unions and friendly societies
- Bankruptcy and insolvency
- Physical and mental illness
For Crown and Country
- Members of the armed forces
- Army records
- Royal Air Force records
- The militia, posse comitatis and volunteers
- Royal Navy records
- Merchant Navy records
- Other maritime occupations
- Lifecycle checklist
Law and property
- Researching legal records
- Church courts
- Manorial records
- Crime and punishment
- Transportation records
- Equity law: property and money
- Land ownership and wealth
- Taxes
- Customs and excise and the Coastguard
- Rich man, poor man checklist
Migrant ancestors
-Researching migrant ancestors
- Jewish ancestors
- French ancestors
- German and Dutch ancestors
- Black ancestors
- Indian ancestors
- Other overseas ancestors
- Gypsies and other travellers
Emigrants
- Researching emigrant ancestors
- India and the Far East
- North America
- Canada
- The Caribbean
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Africa
- Other British territories
- British communities overseas
Appendixes
- Sources for pre-1538 research
- Palaeography
- Latin
- Name changes and important dates
- Heraldry
- Dates, money and measurements
- Writing family history
- Timeline
- Specialist museums and libraries
- Directories and ratebooks
- Books
- Addresses and websites
- Picture acknowledgements
Index
