Genealogy Chat

Thanks to all who replied, I have loads of information to go on, you have all been so kind 3 members of my family were born in Rouen between 1845 and 1848. I have no idea how to start looking for records of their birth. Please can anyone help Thanks Sue

I found this with reference to tracing french ancestors hope it helps a little bit! Write your letter in French. There are several free translation programs on the Internet to help with this. Type your letter, if possible. It is sometimes quite difficult to read handwriting and this could make all the difference to a busy archivist. In your letter, be as specific as possible regarding your request. Include full names and dates for the event. If you don't know the exact date, then be sure to estimate within a couple of years, otherwise you are just wasting your time. If the record of birth or marriage is less than 100 years old, you will need to provide proof of direct descent - birth certificates for you and each of the ancestors above you in direct line to the ancestor whose record you are requesting.naissance/mariage/deces' (record of birth, marriage, or death), otherwise you may be sent an abbreviated summary. Enclose a self-addressed envelope with either a French postage stamp or an International Reply Coupon (IRC), which is available from your local post office. Include an additional IRC with your letter to cover photocopying/typing. Address your letter to the appropriate archive (Archives Departmentales) or town hall (La Mairie). Clearly print 'Faire suivre SVP' (please forward) in the top left corner of your envelope in case your letter is incorrectly addressed. On the back of your envelope print 'Expediteur/Sender' and your address, so that your letter will be returned if delivery cannot be made. If you don't know the address of the archives, then address your letter to 'Archives Departmentales' followed by the department name; the department's # followed by three zeros and the name of the Prefecture (capital city FRANCE._z_genealogy_z_); If you are unsure of the address of a town hall, then write to 'La Mairie' followed by the name of the town/village; the department's number followed by three zeros and the name of the town/village; FRANCE. When writing to local town halls or genealogical societies, consider using 'special issue' stamps rather than the standard ones on your envelope, as many people really appreciate receiving these. Be sure to ask, in your letter, for 'une copie integrale' (full copy) 'de l'acte de

Also found this If you are one of those people who have avoided delving into your French ancestry due to fears that the research would be too difficult, then wait no more! France is a country with excellent genealogical records, and it is very likely that you will be able to trace your French roots back several generations once you understand how and where the records are kept. To understand the French record-keeping system, you must first be familiar with its system of territorial administration. Prior to the French Revolution, France was divided into provinces, now known as regions. Then, in 1789, the French revolutionary government reorganized France into new territorial divisions called departments (départements). There are 100 departments in France - 96 within the borders of France, and 4 overseas (Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, and Réunion). Each of these departments has its own archives that is separate from those of the national government. Most French records of genealogical value are kept at these departmental archives. Genealogical records are also kept at local town halls (mairie). Large towns and cities in France are often divided into arondissements, each with its own town hall and archives. The best genealogical resource to start off your French family tree is the registres d'état-civil (records of civil registration), which mostly date from 1792. These records of birth, marriage, and death (naissances, mariages, déces) are held in registries at the La Mairie (town hall/mayor's office) where the event took place. After 100 years a duplicate of these records is transferred to the Archives Départementales. This country-wide system of record keeping allows for all information on a person to be collected in one place, as the registers include wide margins for additional information to be added at the time of later events.

There's some great info there Clare.... thanks for posting it. Just one word of warning though - be careful with free online translators! They often are very literal and therefore to the reader sound extremely immature or in most cases don't even make sense! (from someone who knows thanks to trying to take shortcuts back when she did her alevels!) Laura )o(

Sue, All the advice given is correct but In a nutshell address a letter to Archives Départmentales de la Seine Maritime Quai Jean Moulin 76101 Rouen Cedex 1 France. If you do not know the language you could try one of the free translators online - but they are not always too good unless you pay for personal service, better to go to www.genealogienetz.de/misc/letters/let-arc.html#french where you will find a letter ready-made. Rather than explain how to do the accents I am sure that you are able to copy and paste the basic letter over to a document you will send. The English translation is given if you scroll up the page. This letter is a little old and is aimed at Americans so enclose an addressed envelope and TWO International Reply Coupons that you can buy at a Main Post Office. From my experience rather than send $ you can buy Euros and send them - €30 - about £20 which you should be able to buy without comission at most travel agents with a Bureau de Change. The only changes you make to the letter are : in para 1. the letter relates to ONE ancestor if you are going to ask for several as you seem to suggest then change to : .........à la recherche d'informations concernant mes ancêtres __(names) __________ , nés entre 1845 et 1848. the second sentence in Para 3 : Je joins €30 pour couvrir les frais. Dans le cas ................. Voila ! All done. As you are sending cash (far too expensive to send money orders and stuff .... make sure you send the letter registered or recorded delivery so somebody signs for the letter.