Genealogy Chat

Maggie, Naomi Thanks for the replies. I'm going to London with my husband at the end of the month, bought him tickets for a Chelsea game and 2 nights stay with obviously no alteriour (Spelt wrong I think) motive of course!!!! But might just have time for a visit to the records offices as long as there is a pub close by for him to wile away the hours!!! So far I've managed to trace back to 1811, but I cannot find references for births, deaths or marriages for an entire line. Have them on census' 81, 91 and 01 so have plenty to look for. Again thanks for your replies Lozie

I've always found the FRC a very user friendly place for BMD but searching the census' was a bit more complicated. The National Archives isn't so user friendly but the staff in both centres are incredibly helpful and really know their stuff. It will help you to be organised in your search. Know what you are looking for, be prepared not to always find it and make sure you list your look-ups in order of priority as time flies! Naomi x

Hi Lozie, I live in East Sussex and have travelled up to the FRC a number of times. I was tracing an uncommon name and found lots of births which weren't on freebmd. I then spent several days going through the microfilms for the 1841 and 1851 Census putting all the families together. I haven't got to 1861 yet - it took time because they weren't undexed and I had to scroll through pages and pages to find what I was looking for. It was exciting finding whole families and seeing how close they all lived. It's well worth a visit and I found everyone very helpful as it's a bit disconcerting at first. Regards Maggie

Brenda Thanks for your reply, have just looked at the East Surrey FHS web page and it does look very interesting, even just being able to look at the ye old parish map was interesting, because it showed me how close all the place names in my research are. Sort of adding flesh to the bones as such. And only £8 to join them, could well do that coz at least it may link me to others who are in that area who can advise me. Thanks again Brenda. Lozie

Lambeth is covered by East Surrey FHS. Check their website to see if they have anything useful for you. Freebmd website has a good selection of births, mariages and deaths. Have a look at that. Contact the LDS library to find out what they hold. It's probably as much as you need for the time being. The Family Record Centre is very user-friendly and easy to use, but these days you can order certificates off the internet, so if time is at a premium, it may be easier to stay at home. (On the other hand, the London Metropolitan Archives, which has parish registers etc, is spitting distance from the FRC!) B

I live in Ramsgate Kent, but all my ancestors that I am researching come from the Lambeth, Bermondsey area of London. I can't find birth info for some of them, so now need to think about going to London to the Family Record Centre and to the National Archives to look for myself. My questions really are:- a) has anyone visited these and is how easy is it to research in there once you are in? b) Have found out there is a LDS family centre close by in Canterbury and wondered if they have access to London info? Lozie