Genealogy Chat

I've just put a chunk of info on your Somerset thread - found using the all-purpose National Archives search page: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search/quick_search.aspx Christine

I think I have found four of William's children. Details from Bristol record office. Scope and Content] Will (attested copy) of William Ariel, esq., of Bristol, broker [from Scope and Content] His house and grounds in Brunswick Square, Bristol, to his son, Miles Ariel. Various monetary bequests and residue of real and personal estate in trust to sell and invest, one third of the interest thereof to be paid to his daughter, Jane Ariel, and her children, one third to his daughter, Agatha Evill, and her children and the remaining third to his daughter, Ann Miller, and her children [from Scope and Content] Trustees: Myles Ariel and Robert Leonard of Bristol, floor cloth manufacturer I hope Evill is a misprint for Ariel. Bristol records office also have a copy of his account book. Clifton births would come under Gloucestershire.

What I did with my unusual surname was just enter that and nothing else on ancestry and just see what it brought up. Gives you an idea of the spread of the name etc.

Do you have any Ariels from Gloucestershire - late 1700´s - early to mid 1800´s ?? If so there are a few listed in the British Vital Records Index- If you would like them send me a pm with your email address and I´ll send them on to you.

I guess you have just tried googling the name? Thats one of the first things I did and found a whole site for my lot made by a distant cousin. Like yours, my main name is an unusual one, so well worth a quick google. We are still in touch and often send updates on stuff we have found to each other. Just a thought, is that a name of Jewish origin?

Your really cannot beat contacting people with detailed local knowledge of the area where you are attempting to make searches. And Family History Societies are best for this. Merry

Elizabeth familysearch probably has the most extracts from baptism and marriage registers, but it is not complete. familyhistoryonline again is patchy in coverage. As suggested above, the local family history society may be your best bet. I've had some that have done searches for me for a small sum. I got all the marriage partners and witnesses with a specific (albeit unusual) surname for Buckinghamshire for £2 a year or so ago. But I don't think you will find all you need online. The relevant county records offices are vast treasure houses of information, not just parish registers, but quarter sessions (your ancestors may have committed a crime, or been a witness, or a magistrate), bastardy bonds and all sorts. You could try searching on www.a2a.org with your ancestors' names or birthplaces. Good luck. Nell

Thanks, I'll try the familyhistory online. I've tried Hugh Wallis. Are the names on there all that are available or are more coming? I'm trying to connect two families. They are before 1837.

www.familyhistoryonline.net has a lot of records transcribed by various family history societies around the country. Coverage is far from complete, so check the available databases for your area first to see if it's covered. The site is pay per view but quite cheap - £5 will last you ages. Richard

hiya, just read the thread, try googling 'hugh wallis' he has site which uses IGI data, but is much easier to use i think than IGI, also, you could try googling 'online parish clerks' it will give you a list of parishes from uk that are online and you can contact them direct with your queries i believe, HTH Julie

Thanks Anne and Heather, I'use Family Search, but I can't really connect the people, so unsure if they are the same family. I thought it would be easy doing a name like Ariel, but have found William Ariel having children from Bristol, through London to Yorkshire all in a couple of years. Must be more than one. Or he was very energetic.

Before 1837 you'll find some baptisms and marriages on www.familysearch.org It isn't complete and it's always wise to check the information on there but it is free. Heather

If you need before 1837 then I wouldn't say Ancestry is best for you. Its great for censuses (1841 to 1901) and BMDs from 1837 to the present, but has little before then. Researching before 1837 is still much more difficult, although there are some real gems out there if you get lucky and find they cover your parishes. The IGI (LDS site) is very useful as a guide IF it covers the areas you need. You need to be aware that some counties are very poorly represented by the IGI. Family history societies cover most areas of Britain. It might be worth paying to join some of them instead of a 'paying' site. they often have transcriptions of records local to their area. Google for the areas of your interest and you never know what you might find. One of my parishes has a FANTASTIC website with full transcriptions of the records. Good luck, its hard work! Anne

I've asked this before, but my needs have changed. I can't get to LDS centres easily, so need online. I'm researching all over England from Cornwall to Yorkshire and Scotland, mostly before 1837. My lot were also mostly non-conformists as well. I'm happy to pay for a site, but really don't know which ones. I've tried 'googling' but come up with sites that require credits. Paying from Australia is very expensive that way. I'm looking at Ancestry, but wondering if there is a better one for my needs, or even another to add to Ancestry. Thanks.