| To begin, you will need some basic data: the full | | | | save a copy of the original document. If the |
| names (and maiden names), dates and places of | | | | particular microfiche roll is not held at your local |
| birth, marriage and (where applicable) death of | | | | FHC, you can order it to be sent there for a small |
| your parents and grandparents. If you don't have | | | | fee. |
| precise details, then as try to get as close as you | | | | Many people would like to research more than |
| can. For example, a year or a year range for a | | | | just the bare facts of their ancestry. Some 'flesh |
| date of birth can still be useful in that it will narrow | | | | on the bones' is what really makes a family |
| down the potential number of results when you | | | | history interesting. Fortunately, a vast amount of |
| come to search. | | | | resources have been digitised and made available |
| Next you will need to subscribe to a family tree | | | | to the public: military records, passenger lists, |
| research site such as (or co.uk). Many offer free | | | | telephone directories, to name but a few. |
| trials. There are plenty of useful free sites, but | | | | It should be noted that Scottish records are held |
| the subscription sites offer the best range of | | | | by Scotland's People. Their site is searchable by |
| resources because they have the purchasing | | | | purchasing credits. Many of their BMD records can |
| power to bid for them. Create a tree by entering | | | | be downloaded directly and they offer a very |
| the details you have and then search for records. | | | | detailed search facility. |
| Ancestry will search automatically as you enter, | | | | Finally, you may want to consider employing a |
| and will suggest possibilities (with quite a high | | | | genealogist. Professional family tree researchers |
| success rate). Add ancestors and facts about | | | | can often achieve good results many times faster |
| them as you go along. Always support every | | | | than a novice and they know where to find (and |
| entry on an individual's profile with documentary | | | | have paid for access to) a wide array of |
| evidence. | | | | resources. |
| At some point in your research, you may need to | | | | Top tips |
| order certificates, such as a birth certificate to | | | | - Look out for name variants, alternative spellings, |
| discover the maiden name of an individual's | | | | etc., and try all possibilities in your search criteria; |
| mother in order to determine that person's | | | | abbreviations such as 'Thos' for Thomas are quite |
| parents' marriage. These can be ordered from the | | | | common on census returns |
| General Registry Office. | | | | - Badly-transcribed data is the bane of a |
| After birth/marriage/death (BMD) records, the | | | | researcher's life. Do not assume that every |
| next useful resource is census records. In Britain, | | | | record has been proof-read and corrected by a |
| these were made mandatory and nationwide in | | | | competent person. It is not uncommon for data |
| 1841, and have been carried out every ten years | | | | to be the result of a scan from a hard copy using |
| since (the 1911 England and Wales censuses being | | | | questionable text-processing software and the |
| the most recent that are searchable online). | | | | consequent gobbledegook left unlooked-at by |
| Census records differ in what information they | | | | human eyes |
| hold. 1841, for example, is unique in that it will not | | | | - Start with narrow criteria in your searches and |
| give the relation to the head of family (e.g., wife, | | | | broaden them if you are unsuccessful |
| daughter, etc.), nor will it tell you where exactly | | | | - If you get stuck, try posting a query on a |
| someone was born (either 'yes/no' under the | | | | message board. It is quite possible that someone |
| heading 'whether born in the county'), and 1911 will | | | | will be able to help you |
| quite helpfully say how long a couple have been | | | | - Do take advantage of other people's research. |
| married (very useful for narrowing down their | | | | The further back you go, the more likely it is that |
| marriage year). | | | | your research will coincide with someone else's. |
| When you have traced back to the early | | | | But beware: not everyone is as diligent in their |
| nineteenth century beyond the range of census | | | | fact-checking. Always try to find a source |
| and official BMD records, the parish records | | | | document |
| become the next place to look. A large number | | | | - Do take notes of your searches. If you ever |
| of these have been transcribed by the Church of | | | | get stuck and need to employ a professional |
| Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and can be | | | | genealogist, then you can avoid duplication by |
| searched for free at When you have identified a | | | | letting the researcher know what you've already |
| record, the microfiche index is provided, should | | | | tried |
| you wish to visit one of their many Family History | | | | Useful links |
| Centres around the country to view, capture and | | | | Ancestry.co. |