What's the Next Step?

[moonlustie]

I've been researching my family tree through Ancestry and have gone back as far as their records go. Is there a way on-line to go further back or is it a case of visiting churches/records offices?

Thanks so much
Sue

[linell]

There are some on-line records, but it is patchy, just what some individual researchers or Web Sites have done on a local level. The best way to search is to google the place you are searching in. Regarding Archives Prior to 1837, the basic source is the parish registers the IGI, like the BVRI is a valuable source but very incomplete and sometimes inaccurate. You can search the Archives for settlement papers, directories, parish rates, parish poor law payments, bastardy papers, apprenticeship records, court proceedings, muster rolls, protestation rolls, hearth tax, visitation records... Settlement and removal examinations can be especially rewarding in providing a "mini-autobiography" of the person concerned.

There's always the National Archives on line search, which has millions of names.

HTH from Linell.

[moonlustie]

Thanks Linell

That's very helpful

Sue