Genealogy Chat

Yes, the same card can be used at other Records Offices. I think that mistakes were often made, especially if one vicar was covering several parishes. Some of my rellies were baptised in the wrong parish, and the parish register said that the children were 'baptised in the parish of Bix by error of the incumbent the Rev ... even though they lived in the parish of Pyrton'. An interesting little snippet of family history!

I had my very first trip to a records office, in Lincoln last week. It was great, I could have spent all day looking at the microfiche. I was a bit disappointed that the baptisms didn't list mothers maiden name, but the marriage ones were great. I was able to get a copy of my grandparents marriage, which was fantastic! Does anyone know if the CARN tickets can be uesd at any records Office? Lynn

Well I may have to do that - Im sure that SOMEHOW my GGPx5 marriage has been left off the parish records - I dont know how but they should be there and they arent. I do have one death entry which is then crossed through in the parish and Phoenix told me that it didnt mean he was resurrected but the vicar may have been covering several parishes and the clerk or whoever had messed up the events/parishes. My one hope is that may have happened with the marriage somewhere. Oh dear, the white gloves - Im afraid I would get the urge to produce pennies from behind the archivists ear if I put them on (when do I grow up guys?)

Go for it, Heather. It isn't nearly as scary as it looks!! You can borrow the gloves, but I thought that I would lash out and get my own - they were only £1.99!!

The reason that I had to look at the original records is that Oxfordshire don't have theirs on microfiche or film - they have their parish registers as hard copies typed up in books. If you can see them on microfiche or film then you are looking at a copy of the original. Any copy where someone has typed them up may possibly have errors or omissions. I have also bought microfiches for my own use from Staffordshire and some of those were typed copies.

True, but most parish records are also available on microfiche or microfilm at the record office and local studies library (at least they are in Nottinghamshire), so you may not need the white gloves! Kate.

Ohh Angela, how brave, Ive often looked through to the 'other side' of the local records office in awe at people leafing through records with their white gloves on. I didnt even know you had to supply your own! Well done. I bet a lot of questions could be answered if I had the nerve to do the same.

Thank you for the info. Jenx

Too true, Janet. An original marriage entry sometimes gives the names of the witnesses as well which can be invaluable as they may be relatives of the bride and groom. The only problem that I found is that I kept getting sidetracked by some of the fascinating entries in the registers. I guess that I will have to try and concentrate more on what I am doing in the future!!

Would reinforce this, especially in chasing up the appropriate PR entries for marriages found on IGI pre 1837. IGI gives no indication of by lic or banns, nor marital status The latter is very important when trying to find the bride's baptism - if she happened to be a widow, you may well never find it or find the wrong person! Jay

A CARN ticket is a sort of pass thing that you need to look at original documents, a bit like a library ticket. You have to take two pictures of yourself and some identification and they make you a card. It can be used at any County Records Office. I guess that the gloves are to stop any dirt or grease on your hands from damaging the documents.

CARN stands for county archives research network. Not every record office requires you to have one of these before you can look at the records but they are getting more. Quite simple to apply for, you just need two forms of I.D, totally free.

OK Angela now you're a 'fully qualified anorak' !! ( no offence meant! :)))) Please tell this thicko newbie what a CARN ticket is -- then I can aspire to it in the future! White gloves eh! How important you must have looked! Well done. Cheers Jenx

I had a sobering experience last Saturday when I visited the Oxfordshire Records Office for about the fourth time. For years I had been trying to find the burial details of my Thomas Slatter. I had his death certificate but the parish register transcripts made no mention of him. I could not find him in surrounding parishes either. On my last visit I finally plucked up the courage to get my CARN ticket, equip myself with some white gloves and request the original registers. There he was, plain as day in the parish register at just the date I expected. The typewritten transcript had simply missed him off. In the future I will certainly be looking at the originals. Don't know why I didn't do it in the first place!! It all just looked a bit scary seeing people rummaging through original documents dating from so long ago, but I got into it really quickly. I now feel like a fully-qualified anorak and can't wait till I can wear those gloves again!!