Non-conformist query.

[A Lee]

I have a few ancestors who I just cannot find trace of on records. I was reading a book on genealogy a while ago and it indicated that Non-conformists/quakers had separate records.
Is this accurate or have I mis-interpreted it? If so how do I go about checking the records to see if my ancestors appreared on them?

Many thanks

Alison

[Geoffers]

Many Non-conformist records (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.asp?sLeafletID=84#6) were deposited with the Registrar General in the 19th century.

Those records are now at The National Archives and all of these have been digitally scanned and made available online via BMDRegisters (free search pay-per-view) or TheGenealogist (if you have a subscription)

[A Lee]

Thanks Geoffers. I'll have a look. Am I to assume that it's harder checking records like this once we get into the 20th century?

[Geoffers]

Am I to assume that it's harder checking records like this once we get into the 20th century?

Yes, although obviously civil registration is helpful for more recent history since 1837.

[Peter Goodey]

Best advice is to stick to civil registration post-1837. Protestant non-conformists were generally enthusiastic supporters of civil registration so there shouldn't be too many problems.

[A Lee]

Ok thanks for the advice. It doesn't alter the fact that I appear to have exhausted all normal means of registration and unless there is some completely unpredictable mistranscription (in which case the words 'needle' and 'haystack' spring to mind!) there are several people I just cannot find on records - especially deaths. I am assuming that people who were born the end of the nineteeth century are going to be dead by now!!!

I will keep looking. Thanks

[pattenwalsh]

Got any names,rough dates,areas.I'll give it a go as I have subscriptions on the genealogist and bmd registers and have the NBI index on disc

[Geoffers]

Ok thanks for the advice. It doesn't alter the fact that I appear to have exhausted all normal means of registration and unless there is some completely unpredictable mistranscription

Have you posted a thread with details of who you cannot find?

In looking for deaths, try the Probate Calendar - it is often easier to pick out the entry that you want.

Could any of the people you are looking for have emigrated?

Any military/overseas deaths - try the relevant indexes, CWGC, etc

[A Lee]

Oh yes this has been an on-going mystery for several years. I thought you needed to know the date of death for probate records - it'll cost me a fortune otherwise.. The records that are available online for emigration and CWGC have been checked previously with no luck - I am not sure if there is anywhere people could emigration with out being on the lists that are digitised.

The main person in question is William Hammant b.1892 in Fulham I have checked the entire BMD index - through find my past - for Hammant and none correlate.........Once I get into the most common alternative - 'Hammond' - there are too many possiblilties for me to narrow it down and avoid costing a fortune.

The other person is someone I am researching who had the same name and I just wondered if he could be connected. He was born Arthur Hammant in 1872 in Crayford...by the end of the 1800's the entire family have changed their surname in all records to 'Hammond'. He married Babara Dewar Mitchell in 1899 (under the name of Hammond)...they appear on 1911 census with a son called Arthur in Wandsworth.......Barbara has remarried in 1925 under the condition 'widow', but I cannot find a death for an Arthur by this time. I have checked the entire index incase that wasn't accurate and he lived beyond 1925 but I have already purchase 4 wrong certs.

[RobinC]

I've found this on the IGI if it helps.

1. Arthur George HAMMOND - Ancestral File
Gender: M Death/Burial: 14 Dec 1922 Mutford, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Eng

There are also these results:

2. Arthur George Hammond - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Death: 1919

3. ARTHUR GEORGE HAMMOND - International Genealogical Index / BI
Gender: Male Death: 14 DEC 1922

1 & 3 appear to be the same person, going by the date of death.

[RobinC]

I've also just looked on Ancestry and there are a lot of deaths for Arthur Hammond's, is there an age range for him?

Have just seen he was born in 1872.

This could be your Arthur:

Name: Arthur Hammond
Death Registration Month/Year: 1919
Age at death (estimated): 50
Registration district: Woolwich
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1d
Page: 1780

As for William, have you got a rough date for his death?

[Peter Goodey]

The main person in question is William Hammant b.1892 in Fulham

Sometimes you have to reconsider your base data.

Births registered in Fulham in 1892 include...

Births Mar 1892 Hannant William
Births Dec 1892 Hammant William James

Neither of those quite fits the bill. So which one is yours? Or neither?

[A Lee]

I have no rough date for death for William - I have a birth and him on the census in 1901 and 1911

He was born 7th sept 1892 in Fulham - William James Hammant (I think the 2nd of your suggestions, Peter. I have the birth cert)

Arthur was born in Crayford, I believe the family briefly lived in Derbyshire and then settled in Wandsworth/putney by the end of the nineteeth century. I trawled through the entire index and wrote down everyone with the name Arthur Hammond...there are really too many to work with, but eliminating by age and location, I still have 4 wrong certs. (I obtained the woolwich one)

I have no reason to believe Arthur had the middle name George - on one record it indicates Frederick (this was his father's name) Otherwise he has just appeared as Arthur.
Thanks for all of your suggestions

[RobinC]

Sometimes you have to reconsider your base data.

Births registered in Fulham in 1892 include...

Births Mar 1892 Hannant William
Births Dec 1892 Hammant William James

Neither of those quite fits the bill. So which one is yours? Or neither?

I found some William Hannants / Hammants but the ages are all out of sync with an 1892 birth.

[A Lee]

Thanks Robin, I look into those.

[RobinC]

Thanks Robin, I look into those.

The age at death doesn't match a birth of 1892 so I wouldn't expect them to be right.

[blue wren]

Hi all
I have recently come across these websites that maybe of some help to those who are trying to track down their non conformist minister ancestors
The Surman Index Online- biographical card index of congregational ministers mid 17th century to 1972 plus 17th and 18th century Presbyterians links to Unitarian biographies
http://surman.english.qmul.ac.uk/
Dr William's Library - general non conformist and English Protestant interest to family historians and academics
dwlib.co.uk/dwlib/ (put www. in front)
Cheers
Sabina