Family History Stumbling Blocks with the English Parish Records

Author: Nick Thorne

Sometimes our research can become bogged down as we work on our family history. Not the least of which is in the area of Parish Records. Some time back, when I was starting out on this quest to find my ancestors, I was introduced to this list of twelve stumbling blocks while I was doing an on-line course with Pharos Tutors. Some of the hurdles below can be got around, while others are not so easy to get past!

1. Handwriting - It can be fiendishly difficult to decipher and it may vary enormously from parish to parish depending on the vicar or clerk writing it. The art of reading old handwriting is called palaeography and you may find various books available to purchase from bookshops. There are guides on-line at The National Archives website http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/Palaeography/ and another one at Scotland's Peoples website http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/. This latter site is worth a look even if you don't have Scottish ancestors as their guide is really useful to family historians.

2. Mistakes in the documents - the registers are often no more than copies of the original daily memorandum book. These may have been written up once a year and so the possibility of mistakes creeping in or entries being left out becomes a real possibility. If this has happened to the records you need to use there is no real work around here other than finding an alternate data sources.

3. Gaps in the registers or they are missing altogether is another frustrating problem with no real remedy.

4. Details may be lacking in the records as there was no standard applied as to what should be recorded.

5. Before 1733 most legal documents would be written in Latin although surnames, at least, would not be translated into Latin. My solution here is to do a search on the Internet for a Latin to English translation page, where by entering the Latin into the box an English translation is produced.

6. Spelling of surnames may vary from the norm. Stop and think of likely spellings for the way a name may have sounded to the writer. Remember also to consider the local accent when doing this.

7. Can't find baptismal records? Perhaps the children were not baptised at all or were christened when they were older? In one of my branches four or five were all baptised together on the same day! Remember to keep looking for several years.

8. Periods of non-conformity. Again, in my same paternal line, I find several children christened in the established church and then several more in the Presbyterian chapel, before they return to the Church of England. The lesson I learnt from this was not to assume that they were C of E from cradle to grave.

9. Illegitimacy - Have you an ancestor whose parentage is in doubt? Make a search of the local poor law records such as Bastardy bonds if you are unable to find your ancestor in the Parish Records.

10. A person giving their details to the minister may have been mistaken and not know where they were born. The solution here is to widen your search to other parishes.

11. People moved about more than many expect so be prepared to look at surrounding Parishes from the one you assume your ancestors hailed from.

Similarly the family may have moved into the area from a different parish. Here you should do a search of parishes on the IGI or the County Record Office for a ten mile radius. A great piece of software to help find the names of the neighbouring parishes is the Parish Locator free from this website: http://www.yorksgen.co.uk/

12. The change of the calendar in 1752 may be a pitfall for you to tumble into if you are not aware of it. England and Wales adopted the Gregorian calendar in September 1752.

- 11 days were omitted - the day after 2nd September 1752 became the 14th September.

- The first day of the year, or Supputation of the Year became the 1st of January.

- Prior to this in England and Wales, the year began on Lady Day, or the 25th March. This would mean that the 24th of March 1750 would be the last day of 1750 and the next day was the 25th of March 1751, and a new year.

The Calendar Act 1750 changed this situation, so that the day after 31 December 1751 was 1 January 1752. As a consequence, 1751 was a very short year - it ran only from 25 March to 31 December.

The year had previously been broken up into quarters, still in use for some legal practices, Lady Day (25th March), Midsummers Day (24th June), Michaelmas Day (29th September) and Christmas day 25th December).

To throw even more confusion into this situation, Scotland had already changed the first day of the year to 1 January in 1600 and so 1599 was a short year there ( remember that in 1600, Scotland was a completely separate kingdom from England as the United Kingdom had not come into being yet).

What has to be recognised is that when King James VI of Scotland also became King James I of England in 1603, the possibilities of date confusion must have been very large indeed across his two kingdoms.

So remember that there are stumbling blocks just waiting to trip you up. Some you can do little about but others need the application of a little effort to get around. Good luck as you research your ancestors.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/family-history-stumbling-blocks-with-the-english-parish-records-1590370.html

About the Author

Nick Thorne, alias: The Nosey Genealogist, shares the secret tips and tricks, learnt from professional family historians, so that you can break down your brickwalls in family history. Nick provides reports, podcasts and screencast videos to help you succeed in your online search for your ancestors. Want to learn more about Beginning Family History Online? Claim Nick's free weekly tips and tricks, available at:=>
http://www.NoseyGenealogist.com

Trade Directories - What Are They & How Can They Help Find Your Ancestors?

Commercial directories first started to be published for cities and large towns in the UK in the early 1800's, although London directories started in 1734. They were originally aimed at commercial travellers, and contained general information about each town, and lists of churches, schools, inns, prominent residents such as JP's, farmers, shopkeepers and other local traders.
Some private residents were also included, in the earlier directories they tended to be just the wealthy, but they later became more comprehensive in their coverage and included the names and addresses of more and more private residents.

By the mid 1800's a city directory would be quite a substantial volume including thousands of names and would usually be divided into four sections covering:
1: Commercial - A general alphabetical list of all traders
2: Trades - Alphabetical lists for particular trades and businesses.
3: Streets - A list of tradesmen and residents arranged by street.
4: Court - Lists of wealthier residents, local officials, etc.

Directories are an important source to use to track down your ancestors, particularly when they have moved, or sold a business. For example if an ancestor has been a trader for 5 years you should be able to find them listed each year, and if they do then not appear in the next years directory you can look in the street section to see who is living at that address, is it someone else carrying on the same trade who has perhaps bought your ancestors business, or has your relative died or moved house. If they are still living in the same town then you should be able to find them listed in the commercial section if they are still carrying out the same trade.

Copies of directories are held in local archives, libraries, and many have been reprinted in book form or have been scanned onto a CD, and can be purchased over the internet.

I have a collection of around 275 directories and other source books that I have personally scanned to CD over the past ten years that are available to purchase at just £5.00 each plus postage. Enquiries to stevejgarton@lineone.net

PIGOTS 1834 DIRECTORY – YORKSHIRE (Transcript)
PIGOTS 1834 DIRECTORY – DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND
1829 DIRECTORY – DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND
SCARBOROUGH & DISTRICT 1920 DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – HULL & NEIGHBOURHOOD
HULL & DISTRICT 1951 TRADES DIRECTORY
YORK & DISTRICT 1951 TRADES DIRECTORY
BAINES YORKSHIRE PAST & PRESENT
THE MIDDLE VALLEY OF THE WHARFE
PICTURESQUE HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE – BEVERLEY & WOLDS
YORKSHIRE THOROUGH GUIDE
YORKSHIRE HILL FOLK
YORKSHIRE RECIPES
NOTES ON SOUTH CAVE CHURCH 1882
1873 RETURN OF LAND OWNERS – DURHAM
1873 RETURN OF LAND OWNERS – NORTHUMBERLAND
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE BRITISH LEGION HANDBOOK 1937
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – CHESHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – DERBYSHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
PIGOTS 1828-9 DIRECTORY – SHROPSHIRE
LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY 1766
BAINES 1824 DIRECTORY – LANCASHIRE (Volume 1)
BURNLEY & DISTRICT 1953 TRADES DIRECTORY
PLYMOUTH & DISTRICT 1943 TRADES DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – NORFOLK
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – BEDFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – HUNTINGDONSHIRE
KELLYS 1914 DIRECTORY – NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
KELLYS 1931 DIRECTORY – GLOUCESTERSHIRE
KELLYS 1941 DIRECTORY – OXFORD
KELLYS 1946 DIRECTORY – BIRMINGHAM
KELLYS 1950 DIRECTORY – BATH
NORTHANTS PARISH REGISTERS
CRANFORD ST ANDREW & CRANFORD ST JOHN PARISH REGISTERS
THE ROMANCE OF PARISH REGISTERS
HISTORY OF THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
KELLYS 1883 DIRECTORY – SUFFOLK
WHITES 1850 DIRECTORY – DEVON
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – ESHER & COBHAM
SOMERSET HOUSE CHAPEL MIDDLESEX
HISTORY OF NEWCASTLE ON TYNE
MANNIX & WHELLAN 1847 DIRECTORY – CUMBERLAND
RUSHDEN PARK ROAD BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL 1810 – 1910
YORKSHIRE COUNTY MAGAZINE
BULMERS 1890 DIRECTORY – NORTH YORKSHIRE
EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE PLACE NAMES
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY 7 COUNTIES
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY CAMBRIDGESHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY LEICESTERSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY LINCOLNSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY OXFORDSHIRE
BENNETTS 1901 BUSINESS DIRECTORY WARWICKSHIRE
NEWCASTLE & GATESHEAD YEAR BOOK 1914
WEST YORKSHIRE 1900 COUNTY BLUE BOOK & COURT GUIDE
LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL ADMISSION BOOKS 1820 – 1900
KELLYS 1931 DIRECTORY – WIMBLEDON & MERTON
SOUTH CAVE PARISH REGISTERS
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – READING
NORTON PARISH REGISTER 1559 – 1812
HISTORICAL GLEANINGS OF BOLTON
KELLYS 1933 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – DORSET
KELLYS 1936 DIRECTORY – CHESTER
MONK FRYSTON PARISH REGISTER 1538 – 1678
DOMESTIC ANNALS OF SCOTLAND
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – CAMBRIDGESHIRE
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – NORFOLK
KELLYS 1888 DIRECTORY – SUFFOLK
KELLYS 1926 DIRECTORY – HEREFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1926 DIRECTORY – SHROPSHIRE
KELLYS 1935 DIRECTORY – BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE – ITS LAND & PEOPLE
WHITES 1872 DIRECTORY – LINCOLNSHIRE
KELLYS 1929 DIRECTORY – NORTH & EAST RIDINGS OF YORKSHIRE
BULMERS 1905 DIRECTORY – WESTMORELAND
KELLYS 1937 DIRECTORY – HERTFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – STAFFORDSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – WARWICKSHIRE
KELLYS 1940 DIRECTORY – WORCESTERSHIRE
KELLYS 1923 DIRECTORY – WILTSHIRE
NORTHUMBERLAND PEOPLE & PLACES
BULMERS 1886 DIRECTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND (HEXHAM DIVISION)
WARDS 1930 DIRECTORY – REDCAR, MIDDLESBOROUGH, STOCKTON
THE NAVY LIST 1855
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR – SECTION 1
WARDS 1930 DIRECTORY – NEWCASTLE, NORTH & SOUTH SHIELDS, JARROW
KELLYS 1895 DIRECTORY OXFORDSHIRE
BAINES 1823 DIRECTORY – EAST & NORTH RIDINGS OF YORKSHIRE
KELLYS 1939 DIRECTORY – SOMERSET
THE ROYAL KALENDAR 1827
A SCHOOL HISTORY OF THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
OLD YORKSHIRE (NEW SERIES 1890)
HISTORY OF SOUTH CAVE & OTHER PARISHES
KELLYS 1928 DIRECTORY – IPSWICH
WHITES 1853 DIRECTORY – LEEDS, BRADFORD, HALIFAX, HUDDERSFIELD CD
THE ROMANCE OF THE YORKSHIRE COAST
KELLYS 1880 DIRECTORY – HAMPSHIRE & THE ISLE OF WIGHT
THE SNAPPER – 1929 JOURNAL OF THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – MANCHESTER
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – MANCHESTER DISTRICT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – BOLTON, OLDHAM, ROCHDALE, STOCKPORT
1933 TRADES DIRECTORY – CHESHIRE
ARMY LIST 1865
YORK CITY GUIDE
KELLYS 1880 DORSET DIRECTORY
WARDS 1921 DIRECTORY SUNDERLAND, WALLSEND, NEWCASTLE GATESHEAD
REMINISCENCES OF OLD SHEFFIELD
KELLYS 1936 LEICS & RUTLAND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1880 WILTSHIRE DIRECTORY
BIRMINGHAM 1818 DIRECTORY
NORTHOWRAM REGISTER
BRADFORD FIFTY YEARS AGO
HISTORY OF BRIGHOUSE, RASTRICK & HIPPERHOLME
GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL REGISTER
GAZETTEER OF SCOTLAND
1936 REGISTER OF ELECTORS - TONBRIDGE
HISTORY OF THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 1914 - 1927
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN HAMPSHIRE
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN YORKSHIRE
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS IN KENT
BRITISH FAMILY NAMES
STORY OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
ST GEORGE'S GAZETTE - 1896 JOURNAL OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
THE ROMANCE OF NORTHUMBERLAND
OXFORD AS IT WAS
HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT
TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF WORCESTERSHIRE & YORKSHIRE
BYGONE YORKSHIRE
THE CENTURYS PROGRESS - YORKSHIRE
THE COUNTY OF THE WHITE ROSE
TOPCLIFFE & MORLEY REGISTERS
BYGONE BURY
KELLYS 1912 ESSEX DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1855 DURHAM & NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1855 YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
1871 CENSUS STRAYS V1
HISTORY OF GIRLINGTON WESLEYAN CHURCH & SUNDAY SCHOOL
THE ANNALS OF MANCHESTER
1915 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
OLD & NEW NOTTINGHAM
KELLYS 1912 MIDDLESEX DIRECTORY
HAMPSTEAD 1939 DIRECTORY
EDINBURGH PAST & PRESENT
ANNALS OF LEEDS
GORES 1814 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
BAINES 1825 DIRECTORY – LANCASHIRE (Volume 2)
BAINES 1824/5 LANCASHIRE DIRECTORY (2 Vols)
MANNEX 1851 WESTMORLAND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1896 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1912 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 KENT DIRECTORY
LEWIS TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF ENGLAND
KELLYS 1903 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 SURREY DIRECTORY
LUTON BURGESS ROLLS
KELLYS 1922 SHROPSHIRE DIRECTORY
WILLIAMSONS 1773 EDINBURGH DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
CHELTENHAM REGISTER
PIGOTS 1830 BUCKS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1890 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1890 BEDFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 BEDFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 CAMBRIDGESHIRE DIRECTORY
LANCASHIRE MILITIA
KELLYS 1890 HUNTINGDONSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1935 PORTSMOUTH DIRECTORY
SIDCUP 1938 DIRECTORY
HARROW REGISTER
WHITES 1882 LINCOLNSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1929 ESSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 GLOUCS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 DEVON DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 NORFOLK DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 SUFFOLK DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 SHIELDS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 DORSET DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 SUNDERLAND DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
WARDS 1897 GATESHEAD DIRECTORY
GLASGOW 1943/4 POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HEREFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 HUNTS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1947 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 OXFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
HALDENS 1893 STAFFORD DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 OXON DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1902 DURHAM DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 WALES DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1902 NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 SOMERSET DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1939 DEVON DIRECTORY
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 7
KELLYS 1939 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1830 WILTSHIRE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1846 LEICESTERSHIRE DIRECTORY
BULMERS 1887 NORTHUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
LONDON MARRIAGES
KELLYS 1890 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
MELVILLES 1861 NORTHANTS DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 ESSEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 BERKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1918 LINCS DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1938 SURREY DIRECTORY
FYNES HISTORY OF NORTHUMBERLAND & DURHAM MINERS
HUNTS 1851 DORSET DIRECTORY
WHITES 1863 ESSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1839 HERTFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
HISTORIC & PICTURESQUE INNS OF OLD ENGLAND
PIGOTS 1839 MIDDLESEX DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1918 HULL DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1894 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 HUNTINGDONSHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
FETTES COLLEGE REGISTER 1870 - 1909
KELLYS 1854 CAMBRIDGESHIRE POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
THE ROSSALL REGISTER 1844 - 1913
KELLYS 1854 NORFOLK POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 DERBYSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1931 OXFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1854 SUFFOLK POST OFFICE DIRECTORY
WRIGHTS 1879 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1928 LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND DIRECTORY
BENNETTS 1910 YORKSHIRE BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LEINSTER DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1893 CORNWALL DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 CONNAUGHT & MUNSTER DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1936 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 ULSTER DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LEEDS & SHEFFIELD DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 MANCHESTER & SALFORD DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 LIVERPOOL DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 GLASGOW DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1846 BRISTOL DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1886 DERBY DIRECTORY
COPES 1924 CHESHIRE DIRECTORY
1911 MANCHESTER ROYAL EXCHANGE DIRECTORY
BAINES 1822 WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1885 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1925 CUMBERLAND DIRECTORY
BAINES 1822 LONDON DIRECTORY
DURHAM SCHOOL REGISTER
KELLYS 1925 WESTMORLAND DIRECTORY
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 13
NATIONAL ROLL OF THE GREAT WAR - SECTION 12
KELLYS 1893 DEVON DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 SUNDERLAND & WALLSEND DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1874 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 NEWCASTLE DIRECTORY
WHITES 1851 STAFFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
WARDS 1939 GATESHEAD DIRECTORY
BULMERS 1895 DERBYSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1828 LANCASHIRE DIRECTORY
EDINBURGH ACADEMY REGISTER
WHITES 1850 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1922 CAMBRIDGESHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1828 YORKSHIRE DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1947 LEEDS DIRECTORY
SLATERS 1863 BIRMINGHAM DIRECTORY
KELLYS 1891 SUSSEX DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 STAFFORDSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 WARWICKSHIRE DIRECTORY
PIGOTS 1835 WORCESTERSHIRE DIRECTORY
LONDON 1896 DIRECTORY

Turning Your Genealogy Research Into a Family Tree Scrapbook

Family tree scrapbooking is just as the words say - you make your family tree, but as a scrapbook. A family tree can come in many forms, and you can make it as much fun as you like by putting yours into a scrapbook.

The main difference between a regular family tree and a family tree scrapbook is that the scrapbook can be much more fun to make. You can add on lots of information there as well that would look cluttered if it were in a regular family tree display. The scrapbook is not any different from any other kind of scrapbook that you have made over the years, only that it contains historical information on your family.

Using a scrapbook to show your family's history is an excellent way to get kids interested in their family's roots and genealogy, and can be a wonderful gift to someone in your family as well.

What do you need to get started? Not much:

1. Start by getting yourself into a fun and creative mood - you are going to make this scrapbook using lots of imagination.

2. You need a scrapbook

3. You need some glue, scissors and some colors

4. Pictures of family mementos, and copies of family photos

If you have all that assembled, it's time to go out and get the information that you will be putting in there. You will need to decide in advance how far back you want your family tree to go. Each page in your scrapbook can represent a generation, so that the first page is the oldest and the last page is you and your family. If you already have some information, you can leave a page to put the genealogy in.

Once you have all the names and years that you need to put into your project, get to work. Using some creative writing and some color, pencil them in. If you have copies of family photos, you can shape them creatively and stick them in the relevant places, right below the name of each person.

Your mementos are also going to be used this way. You might be wondering just what mementos to use; it can be anything that your family was known for. If your family had a crest, reproduce it and put it in. If there was a house that was lived in by generations of people, get a picture or recreation of it and put it in. It can be anything that you want - get as creative as possible.

You now want to add little notes under the names. If your great, great-grandfather was a great shot for example, you might want to add "One Shot Tom" or whatever his name was under his name. Feel free to draw a shotgun under it or whatever he used. This is also a great way to start collecting details for a genealogy.

There are shops that sell little decorations that you can add to your family tree scrapbook to make it look even better - they will have ancient looking pieces and bits and bobs that you can paste on for effect. If you can find a shop like this near you, buy a few. If you can't, you might want to look online and see if you can make an online purchase.

Perhaps you have already made up a regular family tree and have since come across a lot more information. A scrapbook is a great way of not only storing but also displaying all that additional information.

Take care with the layout of each page and make sure you don't clutter it too much. As you continue to create it you may well learn even more about your family. Family tree scrapbooking is one of the most creative ways of recording your family's unique history.

Margaret Ravenscroft has been a genealogist for over 20 years and has traced her family back to medieval times. If you have found this article helpful, visit Family Tree Scrapbooking to discover more. Click Here for your FREE Minicourse http://www.genealogyandfamilytrees.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Ravenscroft

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6092121

Family History Centers – A Great Place to Follow Your Ancestor’s Trails

Author: Floyd Mills

Family History Centers are operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have access to a vast amount of genealogical records held at the Family History Library located in Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 4,500 centers from the Latter Day Saints located all throughout the United States as well as countries abroad, you can easily find one near you.

Records at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah include:

• Pedigree Resource Files on compact disks and digital video disks
• International Genealogical Index records
• Archived vital records on microfilm and microfiche
• Family history books
• Gazetteers
• Atlases
• Maps and more.

You can search for this information from the centers resources or online through the Latter Day Saints website. Internet connectivity is available at most centers, some with subscriptions to online genealogy research sites. Pedigree Resource Files that are archived on compact disks may also be available at the centers for use in your research or they can be purchased online through the Latter Day Saints church’s website.

These centers are designed to help The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members identify their ancestors and to provide temple ordinances. However, everyone is welcome to use the centers for their research for free. There is a small fee to order microfiche, film or books from the Library in Utah to cover shipping and handling costs.

The Family History Centers are staffed by volunteers that can give you an orientation about the Family History Library’s genealogical holdings, answer some research questions, and help you use the center’s resources. Also through these centers you can order microfilm and microfiche as well as books from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Many of the centers also offer training classes on a variety of genealogical research topics for their patrons. Hours at the history centers are determined by each center individually so you need to call and check availability before you visit them. They may also be available to guide you to other institutions that can help you trace your ancestor’s trails.

To find a Family History Center near you just visit the following link: Family History Centers. For more genealogy tips and links to online research sites, visit my website at Ancestors Trails and keep on researching.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/genealogy-articles/family-history-centers-a-great-place-to-follow-your-ancestors-trails-1560875.html

About the Author

Floyd Mills - A genealogy enthusiast, and has been researching my family's genealogy as a hobby for several years. Check out my blog at Ancestors Trails Blog and comment or ask questions about your research.

Irish Genealogy Newbie?

Author: Peter

For many of us that develop an interest in genealogy and family history, there is often a single point in time at which we became ‘hooked' For others, it is something they have grown up with because of a general family interest in history or because of belonging to a noble family, with deep ancestry itself.

For me, it was something that came late in life. But, I was thinking about this recently and remembered an incident which happened to me many years ago at the age of 10. I have to put this in context; although my parents were both Irish, I was born in England and this is where we lived, visiting Ireland every year. For a 10 year old boy this was always an exciting experience. Visiting from London in the 1970s, Ireland was a very strange parallel world, where old men smoked pipes, sat in a corner of the room, regaling past stories and commenting on the politics of the day. The woman of the house proffered an endless supply of tea and cake, commenting about the fine young new priest in the parish – my brother and I not taking the hint.
It was on one of these journeys to Ballinamore, County Leitrim, to visit my mother's relations that this incident occurred. We were heading home after our days visiting but, had stopped at the Central Hotel in the Main Street for a ‘bit of tea'. It was a budget affair and the only other diners were members of a showband who were playing in the town that night. For some reason they were all wearing dark glasses and according to my dad very funny, but I remember not understanding a word they said – they were ‘from the north'.

We stopped outside the hotel, my dad to light his cigarette and my mum to use the ladies room. As happens, my mum had met some old relation inside and a marathon chat ensued. Meanwhile, some American tourists had emerged from the hotel. My dad, being my dad, struck up a conversation. It transpired they had been to Ireland for two weeks searching for their ancestors and were due to leave the next day, heartbroken that they hadn't achieved any real success. ‘Oh that's disappointing' my Dad said. ‘What are your names'? They replied. ‘Oh, I see and where would your people be from'. They informed him. ‘Ah' said my Dad ‘that would be John wee Pat form Bally…….' And for the next half hour my dad entertained them with tales of families, specific ancestors, meanings of surnames and places, notable characters and much advice on where to look further. Our tourists, mouths open looked as though they had been presented to the Angel Gabriel himself at the gates of Heaven. Muttering much praise and thanks they floated away content they could return home, something achieved.
Mum finally closed dialogue and we walked down the street to our car. In somewhat of a state of awe and disbelief I said ‘Dad, how did you know all of that stuff'. After a short pause he replied ‘Ah well, I made half of it up'. Silence. I don't know if I was more disappointed that my Dad had made up some of the stories or that he had set a bad example for me.

It was one of those few experiences in life where you have a very clear recollection of the event. Like when you remember a traumatic event at school – it has some significant meaning for you. I wouldn't say that from that moment I developed an interest in history (I didn't know what genealogy and ancestry was at that age) but, I did look forward even more to those visits home. Yes, I say home, because even then, returning to our house in England I experienced a sense of homesickness. It is a closeness that is difficult to describe – it is an attachment, a sense of belonging that, even now, when I visit the old run down cottage, it sends shivers down my spine - the cottage where we stayed on our visits, where granny ‘chuck-chucked' the chickens at feeding time, washing our faces in the morning in a bowl filled from a stream outside the door of the cottage, the smell of granddads Gold Plug Tobacco………

It was much later in life, finding myself out of work, that I took up a tangible (writing things down instead of feeding my childhood imagination) interest in ancestry and family history. But when did I really first get the ‘bug'. I like to think that it was back then as a 10 year old and I that have been under an apprenticeship ever since. Unfortunately I didn't inherit my dad's amazing memory for facts and figures, or storytelling, but he proves to be a valuable consultant in my current genealogy work. And what of the information he gave to the American tourists – did he make half of it up? We have to remember, he came from a generation, when storytelling was the past time in the evenings and embellishing a tale was part of the device. What he told them was based on fact, with a little colour and drama thrown in. When conducting genealogy research today, particularly Irish genealogy and listening to stories from granny – we must take them with a pinch of salt. Good ancestry research and reporting should be supported by references and a list of sources used, otherwise it has no merit. However, I do hope we never lose that gift the Irish are renowned for – telling a good yarn.

So, although I am relatively new to Genealogy research, I feel I have been practicing and preparing since a small boy got hooked all those years ago.

Did I make this story up? – you decide.

Peter

www.irishfamilyancestry.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/genealogy-articles/irish-genealogy-newbie-4212528.html

About the Author

Peter runs a personal genealogy research service based in Ireland. He specialises in working with people who may have been conducting their own research but got stuck making the Irsih connection.

Photographs are copyright of Irish Family Ancestry and may only be used with authors permission

infor@irishfamilyancestry.com

www.irishfamilyancestry.com

Automated Genealogy Finding Your Ancestry In Canada

If you wish to learn about your relatives who lived in Canada inside the years 1901 or 1911 the Automated Genealogy web page is for you. This specific web-site contains comprehensive details about individuals who lived in Canada in the course of the years 1901 and 1911.

A whole lot of individuals who have Canadian ancestry are curious about their family's past. Should you be 1 of these individuals then the Automated Genealogy web-site is for you. In this web-site you may discover your Canadian ancestors who migrated, born and lived in Canada in the years 1901 and 1911. Even so you must contemplate that this internet site is made by volunteer who're working incredibly hard to complete the 1901 and 1911 census and put it in their database. Within the 1901 census alone, you will discover over five.6 million lines. As you may see, it can take very an although to total the entire database and put it inside the internet site.

The genealogists working with the Automated Genealogy site works very hard to discover all the documents about the people who lived in Canada in 1901 and 1911. You should take into consideration the fact that a whole lot of persons migrated in the course of these two years and if you think that your ancestors lived in Canada during these years and want to discover extra about the lineage of your family, then it is best to contemplate using this website. It is free and they made links to original documents for viewing. The interface is also straightforward to make use of for your convenience.

Some people even testified that they found out about their great grandmother's sister and her spouse soon after only a couple of seconds upon arriving inside the web page and searching. Here you may discover marriage, death, migration and even birth documents which is both easy to uncover and also easy to read.

The volunteers here are also developing other census, such as the 1906 census of Canada, 1872 Kings County census and even the Canadian soldiers of World War I. They made the web site quick to comprehend that even individuals who knows only a bit about genealogy can fully grasp tips on how to search for their Canadian ancestors. You should contemplate that this web page is comparatively new along with the researchers and genealogists along with the website developers involved are still enhancing the web page and completing their data gathering efforts to present top quality services for their visitors.

So, for anyone who is thinking about understanding about your Canadian past, or in case you believe you've got ancestors living in Canada and desire to know more about your long lost extended family, you need to take into consideration exploring the Automated Genealogy website. If you are productive together with your search, you might even organize a family reunion where each and every member of your family can exchange stories about your lengthy lost relatives and know much more about what's become of your family.

Indeed, locating out about your family could be fun. With the Automated Genealogy, you could be sure that you'll come across your ancestors who lived in Canada in 1901 and 1911.

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How to Look Up Your Irish Ancestors

Have you got Irish ancestors who were living in Ireland early in the last century? If so, here's what you can do to find out about them.

The complete Census of Ireland in 1901 has been put online, making more than 4.5 million records available to genealogists, historians, and anyone who want to look into their family history. Some countries charge for access to such records, but this is a non-commercial, government service, and is free to use.

The census was taken on the night of Sunday, 31 March, 1901, and some 850,000 households on the island were covered. The Irish Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin said the launch of the service was "an important and exciting day for people all over the world who want to trace their roots."

Your ancestor's signature
Among English-speaking census-taking countries, Ireland is unusual in having the original forms filled out and signed by the head of each household on census night. Most other countries have just the books of enumerators - the family details transcribed by the person charged with collecting the census information.

That means that you can view a scanned version of the original form that was filled out for an individual household - including the actual signature of your ancestor.

For each person in the household, the 1901 Census forms show: the first name; surname; relation to head of family; religious profession; education; age; sex; occupation; marriage status; where born; if the individual spoke English, Irish or both, and if the person had a disability.

You can see all the information on the return displayed at the click of a mouse. Click again, and you'll get a pdf of the actual census form. The returns also give details of houses, such as the number of windows, type of roof and number of rooms.

 

Extra information

The website also provides historical background, photographs and digitized documents from the period, plus links to scholarly and genealogical sites.

It cost almost $5 million to digitize the records. The painstaking work was carried out by Ireland's National Archives in partnership with Library and Archives Canada over the past five years.

The 1911 census records went online between 2007 and 2009 and have attracted more than 260 million hits. Even though the service has not been launched formally in the US, 7 million individual users have used it.

During the Civil War, later census records were lost in a fire at the Public Records Office in 1922. Because of a shortage of paper during the First World War, some later records were pulped.

To get access to the Census, just go to: census.nationalarchives.ie

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