Genealogy Chat

Thanks Amanda,

I will have to visit quite a few but for the time being I want to focus on the Wakefield Records Office.

Kate x

Hi Kate,

Just be aware, you will go again, not an option once you have been.

You will probably only be allowed to take pencils and paper in the search room, I've only been to Chelmsford, you may like to take some lunch along and leave it in a locker, I'm presuming most of them are all the same and I could be wrong.

Which one are you going to?
There are probably members on here that have been to the office you want to visit.

Make a list of what you want to look for, and which years and what parish.

As soon as I find something I get distracted!

There will probably be more folks alone there than couples/friends, it's less distracting on your own, most of them will be glad to chat about their finds of the day.

Do go, and have a great time on your first visit, I promise you, it won't be the last one you make.

Kind regards
Amanda

Thanks Insomnia x

If you let someone know it's your first visit they will almost certainly show you the best places to start looking. I'm sure there is nobody here who can say they knew everything when they first started so don't feel bad about asking for advice.

Above all, enjoy yourself!

And if you don't find what you are looking for, remember that it's never a wasted day as you have narrowed the search down and crossed a few things off your list ready for the next time you visit

Hi Pat,

Thanks for that think I'm going to give it a go. I am going to go alone even though I have loads of offers of help as I dont want distracting when I go....or would you recommend I take someone on my first visit?

Kate x

Brian,

Lol .. I am fairly in the dark most of the time, without the lights going off!!

I do plan to go.. but it won't be just yet, as I have so many avenues to explore!

Diane

Hello Kate,
I took the plunge last year and took myself of to Preston Records Office, but beware once you go you are hooked, Baptism, Marriage and Burial records are full of information, with parents names and sometimes even addresses.
Go on its not that bad once you get started and the staff are more often than not really nice and will help you if asked especially if you tell them its your first visit.
ENJOY
Pat.

Hi Fay,

Thanks glad someone else in the same boat as me everyone seems so clued up!

Kate x

Hello Kate , thank you for asking your question I went and googled for mine and there is a library in dunfermline and a librarian that is on hand to help so thanks just got to find it now I am even worse with maps ps I printed info and what a lot so good hunting regards fay

Iris,
The Chelmsford office is well worth a visit, it must be one of the most modern around and has dozens of viewers and computer terminals in acres of space.

When I have needed original documents they have produced them in about twenty minutes.

I went on New Years Eve and for the first hour had the place to myself.
The only thing is the lights are sensor-operated and when I didn't move from the viewer for ten or fifteen minutes they went off !

Thanks alot Iris I'm getting a little more courage to go lol.

Kate x

Kate,

I guess it depends what you want to know!

I would suggest that what you will find at a records office is more information to complete the picture on a person. So if you have say, your great-grandparents, and you know where they lived and worked, you might be able to find out more information about their employers, the area they lived, local historical events at the time, as well as any missing BMD/census information.

I haven't been to one either, but when my family surname is put into the SEAX website which does the Essex archives at Chelmsford record office, there are lots of documents there, including a bank account book for one of my ancestors!

If you have a google around the county record offices that feature in your history, see what archives they have indexed online, and have a play around. I know at Chelmsford it is advisable to pre-order the documents so they are already available for you to look at, and I imagine this will be common elsewhere too.

Good luck!
(Similarly you can google local studies or family history at your local library or the library in the locality of one of your ancestors, and they will have indexed what sort of records they hold.)

Thanks Joy x

Kate, there are some threads that give this sort of information - I shall give them a nudge (bring them forward) for you.

PS no question is stupid :-)

Hi,

Here I am again!!!

It's took me ages to pluck up the courage to ask this so here goes....

I have read loads of people saying they go to library to get information and the Records Office. What kind of information could I find there?? I have never been to the Records Office but would love to I just have no idea what to do when I get there i.e. what to say or take with me. How would I search the information at the Library?

Sorry I probably sound so stupid lol.

Kate x