Genealogy Chat

Many thanks for all your very helpful replies. I'm not only a novice as far as researching family history is concerned, I have to confess to being a 'thread' novice - but I think I have worked out what they are! Your tips will certainly be useful. Sounds quite a daunting process. Maybe I should have a few gym sessions before I go, to cope with the weight-lifting! On a slightly different topic, how do you report omissions from the on-line 1901 census? I searched in vain for my family and only found them by entering my great-grandmother's name. Lo and behold, my grandparents and mother were living in the same house but had been not been listed on the computer record. Was amazed to find that there was a total of 18 people (3 families) living in one house in the east end of London.

The FRC website www.familyrecords.gov.uk/frc/ lists parties visiting, so you can avoid big crowds. It has the original birth, marriage and death registers, which are jolly heavy. You can see the indexes online free on Ancestry, or go to a library or archive that has them on microfiche instead. It also has the complete census collection. There are other bits and pieces too, all listed on the FRC website. But if you are going to go, get cracking as it is moving to The National Archives in Kew in a year or so! nell

Hello Mo, It does get quite busy on Saturdays, depends what you're looking for. Ancestry is free on the computers, which tend to be busy. If you want to look at microfilm of the Census 1841 - 1901, remember to take a numbered box from the shelf first, which has the number of the viewing machine on it, try to get a motorised machine or you will be winding forever. Do not set yourself an impossible target for what you are trying to find. Take £1 for the lockers and your own lunch, drinks machines downstairs for tea, coffee, etc. Pencils and paper for writing, strong arms for heaving register books off and on shelves. Comfortable shoes as you do a lot of standing and layered clothing as it can get a bit warm. When you have put your things in your locker, keep your purse with you as you will need it if you want to make or print copies of anything or you will be running up and down the stairs!! Nice shop , but don't spend too much!! Above all have a wonderful day. Happy hunting. Sue

The only time I can get to the FRO in Islington is on a Saturday. How crowded does it get? Have never been before so don't quite know what to expect. Don't want to make the journey if I cannot get to the information I need. Any tips please? Mo.