Find Ancestors

Thank you Gwen. I am on holiday staying with relatives; and thought I would visit the records office which is central to my family history; however, l have limited proof of id with me, so will have to take a chance and hope that I can access the information I need.

Just a thought - do record offices have census information? If so, do you need to pay for it? What information at a records office would I have to pay for?

Regards

Rachel

Some places will issue a day ticket.
I have used a letter from my employer addressed to my home address, before. As a non driver without a passport, my choice of proof was more limited.

Phone and check before you visit if the visit means quite a journey.
It's a good idea to book a fiche or film reader sometimes too. Some offices get quite busy. At others there is no need for booking. They are all slightly different.
Some have quieter days. Some have quieter times within a day, when less people are using the machines or records.
Gwyn

Thank you very much for your replies. I have just looked on the records office website and it states that

'A reader's ticket is needed to request archives, books, maps, photographs and watercolours. Please bring proof of name and address. You will be asked to leave any bags in lockers before consulting original material.'

Is this normal? I am on holiday in the area and so do not have a reader's ticket for this area; and have not brought proof of name and address (as I would not normally bring these type of documents with me), so would I be restricted as to what information I can find?

Regards

Rachel

Rachel
There have been helpful threads before on this subject. Perhaps someone can find them and nudge them into view.

Record where you've looked even if you have a negative result. It saves looking for the same thing another day.

I find it helpful to put what was looked for and what dates.
eg. searched St Mary's Portsea, baptisms,1858 - 1878 for SPICER....

I use an old fashioned exercise book and put the surname in the margin. This way I can see them at a glance when I get home.
Some places will only allow lose paper though.

Don't spend too much time studying your 'finds' at the Record Office. Just get everything written down accurately and quickly, ... Time goes so fast.

If you know of likely churches for marriages, you can usually photocopy the parish entry for a fraction of the cost of a certificate. The information there will be identical.

Gwyn

kath
yes you are quite correct
i realised this afterwards
will make sure i do this in future
david

David,

You should start a thread of your own if you want to ask for a look-up, rather than adding to someone elses thread where your request might not be seen (although it has been this time).

Kath. x

thank you very much

A couple of other children

Births Sep 1914
James Henry A Robertson Dartford 2a 1253

Births Jun 1917
James Leonard C Robertson Dartford 2a 929

It looks like the Emma in my previous posting probably married Charles H.JAMES
because there are later births for Aikenhead children with mother's maiden name Chamney.

Gwyn

gwyn & selena
thank you both
i will send for that cert now
thank you
david

Looks like she married Charles James

This could be one of their older children?surname James, mother's maiden name Robertson


Births Mar 1912
James Ethel G A Robertson Dartford 2a 1200

Possible birth?

Births Dec 1885
Robertson Emma Elizabeth L W. Ham 4a 143

Dartford is in Kent.

Marriages Dec 1910
Aikenhead James E Dartford 2a 1123
Chamney Julienne Dartford 2a 1123
James Charles H Dartford 2a 1123
Robertson Emma E L Dartford 2a 1123

A possible ?

Marriages Dec 1910 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aikenhead James E Dartford 2a 1123
Chamney Julienne Dartford 2a 1123
James Charles H Dartford 2a 1123
Robertson Emma E L Dartford 2a 1123

hi
i am trying to find the marriage reg details for emma elizabeth louisa ROBERTSON
ive looked at free bmd
i believe she married sometime between 1907 & 1912
when she was aged 20 -25 in london/kent areas
any info appreciated
thank you for your time

Record Offices have absolutely all sorts of records. Most have websites which will tell you what they hold.

If you are visiting for the first time, don't expect to find too much information the first time as everything is strange at first and you may need to ask for help from the staff - don't be shy about doing this, especially if you haven't used microfilm and microfishe readers before.

You may need some sort of identification with you.

You will find that the time absolutely flies.

Take loose change with you as sometimes you need this for photocopies.

You can usually only take pencils rather than pens into some of the rooms.

Some record offices are rather cool, so you might want a cardigan with you.

Take a clear list of the things you are looking for (not too many at a time) and any information you have that will help with your search.

Enjoy yourself.

Kath. x

Depends what you want to find out! Work out what you want to know and have a look at their website, or ring them, to see if they hold the records for what you want.

Hello,

I was wondering what information may be held at a record office and how to prepare to visit it.

Any help/suggestions welcome.

Regards

Rachel