Tracing Your Ancestors
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Tracing ancestors and old family links becomes more appealing as modern life becomes even more high-tech and impersonal; then a longing for times past increases, as does an interest in one’s ancestors. These days ancestoral trees can be traced through specialist companies.
Family history can become an all-consuming passion as the family tree starts to take shape and blossom. Researching one’s pedigree can throw up many pleasant surprises, on the way, as well as a few shocks, so be warned once you catch the genealogy bug you may have it for life.
When tracing family history it is imperative to start from the present day and progress carefully backwards. You need to trace records one step at a time, establishing a firm descent for each generation before moving further into the past.
You should set down in the form of a pedigree what is already known about your family and close relations, filling in dates and places where possible. The framework is then gradually built by the application of meticulous research from public records, family papers and bibles etc. Don’t underestimate the strength of related history passed from generation to generation, this can often prove to be invaluable for filling in the colourful gaps in your search for the truth.
While the whole process of tracing your ancestors can be fascinating and certainly rewarding, it is also likely to be very time consuming. So those of you who long to know all about your past connections but are pressed for time, or just plain impatient to get at the truth, may prefer to use the services of a professional. If this is the case, check out our directory and get started today!
HISTORICAL RECORDS & GENEALOGY
British Library Oriental and India Office Collections
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7873
British Library Newspaper Library
Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HE
Tel: 020 7412 7353
Catholic Central Library
Lancing Street, London NW1 1ND
Tel: 020 7383 4333
College of Arms
Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4BT
Tel: 020 7248 2742
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
2 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 7DX
Tel: 01628 634221
Corporation of London Record Office
PO Box 270. Guildhall, London EC2P 2EJ
Tel: 020 7332 1251
The Family Records Centre
(First floor, Public Records Office)
Myddelton Street, London EC1R 1UW
Tel: 020 8392 5300
General Register Office (Eire)
Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2
General Register Office (Northern Ireland)
Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4HL
Tel: 0209 025 2000
General Register Office for Scotland
New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT
Tel: 0131 334 0380
Huguenot Library
University College, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Jewish Geneaogical Society of Great Britain
PO Box 13288, London NW3 3WD
London Metropolitan Archives
40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB
Tel: 020 7332 3820
National Archives of Ireland
Bishop Street, Dublin 8
Tel: + 353(0)1407 2300
National Library of Wales
Penglais, Aberystwyth SY23 3BU
Tel: 01970 632800
www.llgc.org.uk
National Maritime Museum
Romney Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9NF
Tel: 020 8858 4422
National Monuments Record Centre (England)
Great Western Village, Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wilts SN2 2GZ
Tel: 01793 414600
Ordnance Survey
Romsey Road, Southampton SO16 4GU
Tel: 023 8079 2912
Parliamentary Archives
Record Office, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW
Tel: 020 7219 3074
Principal Registry of the Family Division
First Avenue House, 42-49 High Holburn, London WC1V 6NP
Public Record Office
Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Surrey TW9 4DU
Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast BT9 6NY
Tel: 028 9025 5905
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
Quality House, Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP
Tel: 020 7242 1198
Society of Friends’ Library (Quakers)
Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
Tel: 020 7251 8799
Society of Genealogists
14 Charterhouse Buildings, Goswell Road, London EC1M 7BA
Tel: 020 7251 8799
The British Library
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7513
The Federation of Family History Societies
PO Box 2425, Coventry CV5 6YX
Tel: 0161 797 3843
The Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies
78-82 Northgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1BA
Tel: 01227 768664
The Office of National Statistics
The Family Records Centre, Myddelton St, London EC1R 1UW
Tel: 0870 243 7788
PICTURE & PHOTOGRAPHIC RESTORATION
Creative Digital Imaging
3 Post Office Row, Station Road, Louth, Lincs LN11 8LL
Tel: 01507 608700
Faded Memories
Luton, Bedfordshire
Tel: 01582 619677
Fractal Press
1 Low Mill Cottages, Grassington, N. Yorkshire BD23 5BX
Tel: 01756 752000
NewPhoto
77, Dalton Road, Bedworth, Warwickshire, CV12 8SE
Tel: 02476 317297
PUBLICATIONS
Battlefield Tours
War Research Society, 27 Courway Avenue, Birmingham B14 4PP
Tel: 0121 430 5348
The Genealogical Services Directory
33 Nursery Road, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6NN
The Yorkshire Family History Library
Brenda Green, Studley House Farm,
67 Main Street, Ebberston, N. Yorkshire YO13 8NR
Tel: 01723 859285
S&N Genealogy Supplies (Mail Order)
Greenacres, Salisbury Road, Chilmark, Salisbury SP3 5AH
Tel: 01722 716121
RESEARCH
Big Family
The Gatehouse, Fen Road, Milton, Cambridgeshire CB4 6AF
The Crimean War 1853-1856
Robert Base, 1 Samworts Close, Castor, Peterborough, Cambs PE5 7BQ
Download (1891 Census on microfiche)
Unit 6, 1 King Johns Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1NN
Tel: 0117 935 2477
The History Man
Dr J Oliphant, 9 Chamberlain Road, E. Sussex BN21 1RU Tel: 01323 416115
The Institue of Heraldic and Genealogical Family History
Northgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1BA
Tel: 01227 768664
London Research Service
4 Rose Glen, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 9EN
Tel: 01245 259965
Northern Research Services
5 Roach Grange Avenue, Leeds LS25 7ER
Tel: 0113 286 9242
Records of the Tower
PO Box 2884, Westbury BA13 3WE