Ancestral databases
Nowadays, the internet, with its almost endless storage of information deposits and available subscriptions to various worldwide organizations specializing in ancestral records, it is possible to find out much about one’s ancestors.
Among many other information sources there are parish registers containing details of christenings, marriages and burials, births, marriages and death records, census records, military and emigration records, wills and probate records, online publications, existing ancestral documents and pedigree charts numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Searching through all these and many other databases of ancestral information takes time and needs painstaking research to ensure accuracy as well as to confirm information from more than one reliable source. Although not always in good condition - as the one above - this record contains the christening date and name of the child, the name of the father, the maiden name of the mother, their location at time of birth/christening, their ages, occupations, place of abode and whether born within a marriage or illegitimate.
Finding time or finding someone to help
Among many other information sources there are parish registers containing details of christenings, marriages and burials, births, marriages and death records, census records, military and emigration records, wills and probate records, online publications, existing ancestral documents and pedigree charts numbering in the hundreds of thousands.
Searching through all these and many other databases of ancestral information takes time and needs painstaking research to ensure accuracy as well as to confirm information from more than one reliable source. Although not always in good condition - as the one above - this record contains the christening date and name of the child, the name of the father, the maiden name of the mother, their location at time of birth/christening, their ages, occupations, place of abode and whether born within a marriage or illegitimate.
Finding time or finding someone to help
If you are a full-time working mother with young children at home or a full-time working father chance is that you have only a limited time to spend looking for your ancestors. If that's the case its no shame for you to obtain help with your research. You will be amazed how much a difference one person can make. A lot of the basic work can be done with a little effort and a lot of dedication. You are not alone in wanting to dig up your proverbial back yard and uncover hidden secrets. Many families had secrets, some had heroes and most had reason to be proud of their families just as we are today. You can get started easily and simply - just send me a brief letter on the contact form attached and let me know how you would like to get started.
Using the information you provide I will carry out an initial FREE ASSESSMENT and report back to you with a project proposal for each stage of the work. My charges are affordable and you can check all source information at each stage and determine how and when to continue. Lets get started now ! All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidentiality and no information will be passed to anyone else without your express written agreement.
A pedigree Chart?
Having a pedigree chart for each of the main ancestral branches of your family enables you to share what you have found with other family members in a simple but elaborate manner. You may wish to print it out and frame it and give it a place on your home wall or mantle place. Generations are linked to each other with your own name as the starting point. You may wish to make your own, though it is a time consuming effort if you start only from using raw data. Alternatively, one of many ready programs exist, some of which are free to download from the internet, however, these often leave a lot of "white space" and are not convenient where you may wish to make additions to the information displayed. I prepare pedigree charts for other professionals who prefer an individualized approach and each one is a unique work of art as well as containing all required information .
Above is an extract of one such chart for the Channel Islands "Le Gros" family, of which I am a descendant.
Above is an extract of one such chart for the Channel Islands "Le Gros" family, of which I am a descendant.
Gravestone and Cemetery Records
As more people worldwide have begun to search out the records of their dead family members cemetery records and gravestone images and engraved texts have become in important source of information. Many websites exist to record gravestone inscriptions. Projects are underway in many countries to photograph gravestone markers in many cemeteries so that the family details will not be lost over time. In addition, out of respect for those who died in the service of their country, the records of deceased servicemen, where known, are compiled showing name and date of burial, and the associated details often include details of regiment and sometimes details of the events leading to their deaths.
At home or abroad
Many people travel abroad - today more than in earlier times - but even back in the eighteenth and especially the nineteenth centuries many left their homelands and some created new lives in far away places. Some left their homelands because of their occupations while others sought a better environment in which to live. Others were forcibly transported for criminal offences and even the commission of petty crimes was enough to be sentenced by the courts to overseas colonies for 7 years or longer. Emigration and immigration records were often kept of their departures and arrivals, census records detailed their families and electoral registers listed their names and sometimes their occupations. Some travelers became famous through their exploits and professional successes, while others had their names recorded for a variety of other reasons. Military records were kept for overseas births, baptisms, marriages and burials. Thousands of these records exist today - it's just a case of knowing where to search for them. Fortunately, today the internet allows us to find records of even obscure people in distant lands.
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