geneaolgy

railwayender

Also have a look at the web site run by the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) at: http://www.familysearch.org/.

They have a free search facility but please note that the entries are not "official" records but have been listed by fellow genealogists so you will need to treat the details with caution until you have seen the original record personally. That said, these records have helped me tremendously on several occasions by identifying persons who I had not been previously aware of.

Please note also that the listings include baptisms and marriages but not records of deaths.

Staying with the Mormon Church - although not strictly a freebie - did you know that your local LDS Family Records Centre will have microfilmed copies of the parish registers? There doesn't seem to be a particularly logical method of acquisition (ie all the register copies for a particular area) but you are able to look at these free of charge by prior appointment.

In addition, you can request copies of specific parish registers to be sent to your local centre on payment of the cost of postage only! After you have viewed them it seems that they remain at that centre and this probably explains the basis upon which each centre's stock is built up.

You can find the nearest Family History Centre here:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp

railwayender

Also have a look at the web site run by the Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church) at: http://www.familysearch.org/.

They have a free search facility but please note that the entries are not "official" records but have been listed by fellow genealogists so you will need to treat the details with caution until you have seen the original record personally. That said, these records have helped me tremendously on several occasions by identifying persons who I had not been previously aware of.

Please note also that the listings include baptisms and marriages but not records of deaths.

Staying with the Mormon Church - although not strictly a freebie - did you know that your local LDS Family Records Centre will have microfilmed copies of the parish registers? There doesn't seem to be a particularly logical method of acquisition (ie all the register copies for a particular area) but you are able to look at these free of charge by prior appointment.

In addition, you can request copies of specific parish registers to be sent to your local centre on payment of the cost of postage only! After you have viewed them it seems that they remain at that centre and this probably explains the basis upon which each centre's stock is built up.

You can find the nearest Family History Centre here:

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHC/frameset_fhc.asp

Greta

Find a mailing list for the area you want to research: http://www.rootsweb.com/
Often people will do look ups for you, but at least use such lists for getting families you are researching / your interests online. There is such a thing as 'Look Up Exchanges' too.

This website is useful for finding links: http://www.genuki.org.uk/

However, there's only so far you can go without spending money. If you want to back up census returns etc, you are going to have to purchase certificates. You might be able to get away with low cost via parish records.

However, one word of warning: this hobby is incredibly addictive, and can be expensive. I got into genealogy by accident in 2004 (someone was looking for my grandmother), then the slippery slope happened. 3 years later, and I run a one parish study website and I don't even want to count how much this whole thing has cost me.

That said, the rewards are great, although people on the outside never quite get the obsession with chasing dead people!

tinkerbell1978

good luck with the search!
my mum recently found a cousin via genesreunited and a friend has just found a sister he never knew he had who his mother adopted before he was born as she was suffering with post natal depression at the time, she found him and he doesnt know what to do as his family have no idea she has been in touch with him!

Greta

One thing I forgot to add, some libraries have a subscription to Ancestry. Check the ones in your local area. Otherwise they may or may not have census records on fiche. Yes I know its much slower than electronic resources, but they are still usable if they have index cards, and money is a priority.

I just use Genesreunited for getting in touch with potential living relatives, and leave it as that. If the other person contacts you first, then you should be able to reply for free without the need to take out a subscription.

Greta

One thing I forgot to add, some libraries have a subscription to Ancestry. Check the ones in your local area. Otherwise they may or may not have census records on fiche. Yes I know its much slower than electronic resources, but they are still usable if they have index cards, and money is a priority.

I just use Genesreunited for getting in touch with potential living relatives, and leave it as that. If the other person contacts you first, then you should be able to reply for free without the need to take out a subscription.

larlie1983

I work in a library and we offer free access to Ancestry.com. Not sure if its like this in all libraries but it might be worth checking it out.

freebiehunter29

http://www.curiousfox.org.uk/

http://www.uk-genealogy.org.uk/

Helcat

You might like to try this site too http://www.freereg.org.uk/

It is similar to the BMD site, but instead of Births, Deaths and Marriages it has Parish Register info.

They are in the process of transcribing everything at the moment, so it doesn't have a huge amount of records, but worth keeping an eye on.

As other people have said Genes Reuinted and FamilySearch are excellent and I find Ancestry invaluble. If you do decide to join Ancestry you can get cashback via Rpoints (7.5%), MutualPoint (7.5%) and Ipoints 90 points) if you are a member of any of these sites.

Finally don't forgot to use Google - you'll be amazed what you might find by typing in an ancestors name.

Good luck with your research - it is very addictive!

kezia

Hi

I do research part time for other people so use a lot of these sites. I love doing it - expensive sometimes but hugely rewarding.

I Think that quidco are doing a cashback for ancestry at the moment.

I also know that some libraries (Kent does) have access for free to the Times Online website which gives all the Times newspapers - scanned copies - from 1787 ( I think) via their website using your library card number. Check out your local library online resources and see if they do. It is a fascinating site with lots of birth, marriages and deaths as well as the usual newstories, shipping timetables, workhouse tenders etc etc . It has a search engine too. I am sorry to say you can spend a lot of (free!) time on there! I expect it has a copyright on there but the information can lead you on to further research.

Another site which is free is the https://www.ellisisland.org site which has absolutely hundreds of (scanned) passenger lists for ships to the USA from 1891 to I think the 1920's.

Good Luck with your research. And please remember to label those photos!!