Locating Records after 1901

[Nadine Harmon]

I've been doing my research for about one year, so I guess I'm new enough to post of this forum. My question: How does one go about locating records after 1901? US census records are available to 1930. Will England be releasing the 1910 census anytime soon?
Thank you so much for any help.
Nadine

[Geoffers]

[I've been doing my research for about one year, so I guess I'm new enough to post of this forum. My question: How does one go about locating records after 1901? US census records are available to 1930. Will England be releasing the 1910 census anytime soon?]

The 1911 census for the UK should be released when it is 100 years old; so you should be able to gain access from 1st Jan 2012. Many other records are available for more modern research, such as directories (many excellent examples produced by Archive CDbooks); wills; birth, marriage and death certificates; records relating to military service; telephone directories; newspapers; living relatives, etc, etc.

There's loads of stuff out there - are you stuck with a particular problem on which someone may be able to give advice? Are you working backwards in time, or trying to trace modern descendents? If you're not sure how to go about things, just say what you know so far and what you want to find out and I'm sure you'll get some help.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Nadine Harmon]

I'm attempting to trace modern descendents. I know I had descendents in London, England in 1960. I've found the names of most of those I'm seeking from the 1901 Census, but I'm stuck as to how to go about finding when or who they married, when they died, etc.
I have Ancestry and was going to try a new site that you pay per view, but haven't done so yet. I'm a bit confused as to how to verify I have the correct person on this site before ordering incorrect certificates. I've done that, been there. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
2012 is a long time to wait! I was also wondering why the US has released the census for 1930 and England won't. Just curious.
Thank you,
Nadine

[Guy Etchells]

The facts about the 1911 census are simple.

Under the present laws of the land (Public Records Act 1958) the 1911 census should have been released in 1958 as it was then over 30 years old and had not been mentioned in a Lord Chancellors Instrument.
Recently it has been made clear that the 1911 census will not under any circumstances message=The facts about the 1911 census are simple.

Under the present laws of the land (Public Records Act 1958) the 1911 census should have been released in 1958 as it was then over 30 years old and had not been mentioned in a Lord Chancellors Instrument.
Recently it has been made clear that the 1911 census will not under any circumstances be released until the first day of 2012.

This is simple politics as no assurances were given on 100 year confidentiality until the 1981 census, but that is life.

The Births and Deaths Act allow registers held by the local registrar to be searched and the courts have ruled that transcripts may be taken from them by individuals but unfortunately since 1972 (after 135 years of access) many registrars have been refusing to allow this.

It is always more difficult to proceed forward in time rather than backwards but you could try electoral rolls, wills, parish registers, newspapers & school magazines as an alternative to civil registers.
Cheers
Guy

[Nadine Harmon]

Guy,
Thank you so much for your explanation regarding the 1911 census. Rules, are rules; hope I live until at least the second day of 2012! As a side note, I was able to find four of my US cousins using the 1930 US census and they were thrilled that I had found them. If not for having that census available I would have forever lost them!
On another note, and not meaning to sound to "stupid", but how would I go about finding wills, parish registers, newspapers & school magazines into the twenty-first century? Are there CD's available? Whenever I enter a date past 1900, I usually get results for the 1800's.
As you said, "It is always more difficult to proceed forward in time rather than backwards", that is sure true!
Thank you so very much for your time in answering my questions.
Nadine

[Geoffers]

[I'm attempting to trace modern descendents. I know I had descendents in London, England in 1960. I've found the names of most of those I'm seeking from the 1901 Census, but I'm stuck as to how to go about finding when or who they married, when they died, etc.]

This can be a long process - by referring to London, England do I take it you are not in the UK? If so, then some sources may be more difficult to access, depending on where you live. I know you mention 1960, but let me start a little earlier to give you an idea of what you can do.....

So, you know someone who was alive in the 1901 census. Let's suppose it's a male and he's married, aged 23 with a son aged 2. First check the CWGC website to see if he died in WW1 http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx (http://www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx)

Suppose he didn't die - you can check the GRO index of deaths, trying to find him. The age at death is given in the index which should tie up with the age on the 1901 census. The GRO index is available online on a pay-per-view site 1837 online You can check this death entry against the annual index of wills, produced since 1858. This index gives more information - name, date and place of death, often a residence, names of executors, value of estate. When you find a reference, you can apply for a copy of the will from

The imaginery son age 2 in 1901 is likely to have married sometime after 1919, search the GRO marriage index for h/www.cwgc.org/cwgcinternet/search.aspx</FONT>

The Probate Regsitry in York [/size][/font]http://www.courtservice.gov.uk/cms/3800.htm (http://www.courtservice.gov.uk/cms/3800.htm) gives some information to assist. The will may mention names of beneficiaries, their relationship and sometimes an address - all usefis name. After sometime around 1917, the surname of the bride is included in the index, which helps a little. Also from about the same tim with the age on the 1901 census. The GRO index is available online on a pay-per-view site 1837 online [/color][/size][/font][/url][font=Book Antiqua][size=2] You can check this death entry against the annual index of wills, produced since 1858. This index gives more information - name, date and place of death, often a residence, names of executors, value of estate. When you find a reference, you can apply for a copy of the will from

Most counties have online lists of surnames being researched - again, this is worth a try, you might strike lucky.

[I was also wondering why the US has released the census for 1930 and England won't.]

We're a different country with different rules and Laws.

Geoffers

Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Guy Etchells]

Unfortunately most sources for modern research are not online and therefore you have to visit various archives and offices, libraries etc.
It might be helpful to browse the national Archives research guides catalogue at
http:message=Unfortunately most sources for modern research are not online and therefore you have to visit various archives and offices, libraries etc.
It might be helpful to browse the national Archives research guides catalogue at
http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/researchguidesindex.asp#w

Newspapers and School magazines are often found in the local studies library of the relevant town, if you can visit London the newspaper library at Colindale is worth a visit.
British Library Newspapers, Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HE
Also The British Library, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ
Current parish registers are held by the vicar of the parish church and may be viewed. There is a search fee involved, this can be quite expensive but it is often possible to view microfiche copies of the registers at the County Record Office.
Depending on what registers have been filmed these may take you as far as the 1990s
Cheers
Guy

[Mary Young]

The easiest way to find living descendants of your forebears - put your own information on the internet - then let them find you!
Suggest you join genesconnected. I posted a small part of my tree there, and gained 2 new cousins.
Or your ISP will probably provide space for a website. Again, keep it simple. Add a few pictures for interest. And cloak your email address (it's easy to do). You may be surprised how quickly you get a result.

[Lindad]

I've posted a number of messages recently on GenesReunited plugging this site... but, on this occasion, if you're not already registered with them it may be worth giving GR a go. They have a 'Trying To Find' message board, which I and others have had some success with...


Alternatively, have you tried simply Googling the name of your 1960 relative? It's sometimes amazing what, or rather who, you can find!!

[Nadine Harmon]

Thank you everyone for all of your great ideas and help! What a great forum. I live in California, and would very much like to visit England, but I "can't" or "won't" fly! So it's either a boat, or the internet.
I plan on joining 1837 website. That's the one I've been thinking about, but just haven't done it yet. I didn't know about all the other sites and will follow thru on all of them. Can you tell me how to join GenesReunited or Genesconnected? Are they the same?
Thank you so much. I'll let you and the forum know if I have success.
Nadine

[Mary Young]

Hi, Nadine
Sorry I mentioned "genesconnected" it is just the old name for genesreunited
There is a yearly membership fee (7.50GBP equivalent). As a member, you either upload a gedcom or just type in a skeleton of your family tree, it is very easy. All trees are searchable. But not viewable except by permission of the owner. There is an automatic system for this, again it's very easy.
My tree was only on the site 3 days before a 2nd cousin in Canada contacted me, it was well worth the subscription :)
One point - I would advise, just put up a small section of your tree to start. Some trees on the site are huge and thus difficult to navigate, can be off-putting.

[Nadine Harmon]

Mary,
I joined genesreunited. It didn't say anything about payment, but I don't mind paying. I started entering my family names. I won't enter all my family tree, that would really be confusing. I'm only interested in the English side of the family at this time. Wish me luck. It would be so great finding my English relatives!
Nadine

[Lindad]

Hi Nadine

Welcome to England... albeit via the Internet!!

GenesConnected reinvented itself as GenesReunited. Personally, I prefer this site and now find GR a little too slow and unwieldy. You can upload your GEDCOM to it and, in theory, others can search for matching names. However, it's all a bit slow and laborious. BUT their message boards are good and full of helpful people, so it may be worth your taking a look....
Linda

[Nadine Harmon]

Geez, I'm like a "kid in a candy store" with all these new sites everyone has given me. This will keep me busy until 2012 (when the 1911 census come out). I do have a question; please don't loose patience with me. I bought the minimum amount of units on 1837online. I was trying to find a marriage for one of the family members, but the page I choose, didn't have him listed. However, there were several others with the same surname that might be related to those I'm looking for; they are in the correct district. Is there a way to find out if these are the correct persons without ordering the certificates? I'm assuming this site doesn't give the spouses names like BMD does. Is that correct? Am I searching this site correctly or is there a part I'm missing?
Thank you,
Nadine

[Geoffers]

[I bought the minimum amount of units on 1837online. I was trying to find a marriage for one of the family members, but the page I choose, didn't have him listed. However, there were several others with the same surname that might be related to those I'm looking for; they are in the correct district. Is there a way to find out if these are the correct persons without ordering the certificates? I'm assuming this site doesn't give the spouses names like BMD does.Nadine]

The GRO index (which is what you view on 1837online) is not cross-referenced for marriages prior to 1917-ish. After then each entry has the surnames bride and groom - prior to then it can be tricky identifying marriages of interest.

The only ways of checking then are:

If the marriage occurred in a church and the relevant parish register is conveniently available

If you have birth certifictes of offspring giving parents names and address which ties up with other information

If you have located a will mentioning executors and/or beneficiaries and the names match those you have found

If you have some family letters mentioning such detail

If a notice of the marriage was published in local newspaper

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Lindad]

Hi Nadine

If you'd like to email me the names of the people (and any places/dates etc.) you are looking for, I'd be happy to search a bit at this end. Between us we may come up with all sorts of interesting things!

[Nadine Harmon]

Lindad,
That would be wonderful. Maybe if you can just get me started with a couple of them. I'm going to try Geoffer's suggestion and try for some dates after 1917.

When my Grandparents immigrated to the US, 3 of their 6 children children remained in England. It's the children of these 3 that are still in England (I hope!)
Elias Payne Shaw (born 1851-Devon) married Mary Ann Bear June 1881. They had eight children, that I know of, and it's their two boys I'm trying to research:
Norman George Shaw, born c June 1887, West Ham, Essex
Eugene Shaw, born c 1890, West Ham, Essex.
Thank you both again so much,
Nadine

[susan-w]

Hi Nadine

If it’s an unusual surname (not Smith!) you could try the phone book - online at http://www2.bt.com/edq_resnamesearch.

I had some success recently with a free trial of The Times newspaper online - the free trial has now ended, but it might be that your local library has access to the newspaper. I found BMD announcements and court cases for people I was interested in. It didn’t go up to 2004, but I seem to remember it went up to the 1980s.

Also:
www.a2a.org.uk/ does have some quite modern records, although a bit of a long shot.
www.gazettes-online.co.uk is also worth a go, as it now is searchable from 1900-1979 - I think I’ve just found my ggrandfather’s death there in 1930 - useful if someone dies in testate or is insolvent, or was in the army etc.

It is hard tracing descendents, though. I’ve not had that much luck myself, and I live here :)

Cheers
Sue

[David Wilkins]

Hi Nadine,

You only have to pay full membership to be able to contact people, you can browse the site for free and put up your information but as soon as you want to contact someone an annual subscription is required. Personally I have had great success, I have been contacted by my 5th cousin who lives in New York, our GGG Grandfathers were brothers from Cambridge. It was a great thrill to make contact with him from here in New Zealand. Good hunting.

David, Auckland, New Zealand

[Nadine Harmon]

David,
I found out about the pay when I got excited on finding someone. I put in all my information and hit send, but there was some type of malfunction, I think with my computer. I'm trying to contact the website to see what to do now. If I keep clicking on send, I'm afraid it will keep charging me over, and over, and over.
I do like that site. I'm still adding all my information so perhaps someone will contact me soon.
Thanks to you and Susan for the new information.
Nadine
PS: A special thanks to Linda!

[ziksby]

Hi Nadine

GR gets very busy and a couple of weeks ago it took me several days before I could upload my Gedcom file successfully. But its a great site. I get lots of inquiries about names on my tree, but most turn out to be unconnected.
Best of luck with your searches. Time for bed ... its 1.00a.m. here

[Nadine Harmon]

I was finally successful in becoming a full member of Genes Reunitied. It is a great site. Hopefully, I'll have contacts soon! I'm also having great luck on 1837 website. Thank you everyone for all of your help.
Nadine

[Nadine Harmon]

Geoffers & Everyone Else Who Helped!
I found a cousin in England thru genesconnected. What a wonderful site!
Within three days I found a third cousin, one time removed. The small amount it cost to become a full member of genesconnected opened up new relatives for me that are still among the living! Now I can share my old family photos with someone who actually knows who they were.
I am so very thankful to all who answered my original post with ideas.
Nadine

[Diane Grant-Salmon]

Having read the messages here about GR, I thought I would join too. I managed to upload a gedcom for my husband's family tree at first attempt, (now adding my direct Ancestors the slow way). :eek:

It's an unusual surname, so not many entries ...... although my husband's name is entered three or four times now (by other family members who joined years ago) ...... that's why I uploaded this gedcom, as they are not aware that they are all legally Grant's ..... the Salmon bit derives from an illegitimate birth. ;)

This put the cat amongst the pigeons with some of the family, who chose to think that Mrs. Mary Ann Grant (widow) married Mr. Salmon, when in fact, Miss Mary Ann Grant only married once ..... to John Austin! :D

Surprise, surprise! One name on there (Jo Grant-Salmon) I haven't got in my file, haven't a clue who this is, so I've written to the Member who submitted the name to ask.

[Nadine Harmon]

Diane,

If I could figure out how to put those little smily faces in the content of this email, it would be all smiles. I'm glad you also joined GR and are having success. I'm having so much fun email my new found English cousin! We are sharing family information that neither of us had! Best of all, we are sharing old photos.
This little green guy looks like me when I found my cousin!
Nadine

[ruthrrr]

Well after reading what everyone else was saying about Genesreunited, decided to have a look myself. Fingers crossed that I have found a match for my Great Grandmothers sister..... Only think I was not keen on was in building my tree had to put in my mother's details. Listed her as "A" "A" and just put correct details after that fact.

Ruth

[Geoffers]

For anyone not aware, there is a similar type of website, but instead of being based on surnames it is based on places.
Curious Fox.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Peter Goodey]

Another one that's worth looking at is lostcousins

Membership currently free and no trees to input! Instead it's built round entering and matching details of ancestors found in the 1881 census.

This strikes me as potentially quite a smart idea if only because it weeds out people with no real interest in family history and if you get a match you've got a reasonable chance of finding a serious researcher at the other end.

[Lindad]

It's worth looking at gencircles too! You can load your GEDCOM and it will look for 'SmartMatches' (ie. other people who have loaded matching data. It's also free!

[Mary Young]

Another one that's worth looking at is lostcousins. Membership currently free and no trees to input! Instead it's built round entering and matching details of ancestors found in the 1881 census. Seems a good idea - though there is mention of subscriptions in 2005 (only a few weeks away). :)