Genealogy Chat

I have gone back using Census' and Certificates but have now hit the point where I need Parish Records.

I wondered how you go about getting copies of Parish Record where it is not possible for a visit to the Records Office. Also how much roughly do they cost ?

I can find lots of sites that tell me they exist but not how to get copies of them.

Thanks

Melanie

I have found that the county in which you require the parish records from can perform a search for you but they do charge for this. Ring the council or record office relevant to your search and they will be able to advise. Or if you're lucky so kind soul who may not live to far away from where you are looking may be able to go on your behalf. What region are you looking for?

Hi Sarah

I have a few that I am interested in .. I just wondered if there was a website that you could go on where they listed Parish Registers for sale but I think that might be wishful thinking.

Thanks

Melanie

As has been said, staff at records offices do lookups.

Also, some sites have parish records online - it's worth googling for the parish that you want, just in case.

If there is Cornish ancestry, one can contact the online parish clerk for the parish; and there are online parish clerks (OPCs) for quite a few other counties too now.

For Suffolk, one can try http://www.suffolk-surnames-list.co.uk.

And there is the ongoing site for parish registers similar to free census and free BMD: http://freereg.rootsweb.com

Also, one can subscribe to rootsweb mailing lists (for counties / surnames etc), and some people having the fiche for the parishes offer to do lookups.

And one can buy fiches for parishes from records offices.

Thanks for that Joy

Will try and get back in touch with Staffordshire Records Office again as they have the most of my rellies but the lady is quite prickly to say the least.

Thanks

Melanie

You're welcome.

Where is the Staffordshire records office? Only asking because I live in Leicestershire so I'm not far from the borders of Staffordshire

Here in New Zealand I go to the nearest LDS family history centre and order in a film of the parish records I am interested in. There is a small charge for postage as it comes from Australia. I presume the English LDS would have a set of films in their HQ. When it arrives I then sit in their rooms and view the film. It has to be wound through by hand, page by page. Sometimes takes 3 or 4 of the 2 hour sessions to look through carefully. Particularly when you see something interesting or funny!

They will print off a page for a small charge.

I also view censuses the same way. Havent tried wills or anything else yet.

Huia.

Sarah, google for the office.

You can go to your nearest LDS Family History Centre here in England too. The addresses for them are on

www.familysearch.org

They only charge a couple of pounds to order a film and then they keep it at the centre for about a month to give you chance to view it.

They are all open different hours as they rely on volunteers so it is best to phone and book an appointment first.

Kath. x

Melanie, maybe you got someone on a bad day, Staffs Record Office have always been very helpful to me. They have photocopied and posted me stuff and I only live 15 miles away :-)

Where about in Staffordshire are you interested in? If it is North Staffs then I visit Stoke on Trent Archives occasionally (should be going next week) and they have lots of PR's for North Staffs. Some for the rest of staffordshire as well but only for pre-1812.

Sam x

Hi Melanie


Have you tried the Staffordshire Family History Society. I have used the Look-up exchange and the people on there are brilliant.

Good luck

Kaz