Genealogy Chat

I've had quite a lot of success with the National Archives site. I have downloaded several wills, and as I have naval ancestors I use that facilty too. Don't just search the wills - I search the death duties and found a summary of my husband's g-g-g-g-g-grandfather's will and what was paid out. His Lamb vs Bassett chancery case is also there. I must also agree that the Times search facility on Bedfordshire Library is brilliant - I found quite a few engagements/marriages/births/deaths there. My grandmother always used to read the paper for : 'Hatches, matches and dispatches' She always had a good turn of phrase!

Ive just gone back to the Times online service now and my first hit was a customs and excise case in 1819 which had my GGUnclex3 as a witness - and told me that he was a burgher of Antwerp, which is really useful info - he is the bro of my GGMx3 and from Deptford - so it will be interesting to find how he became a merchant in Antwerp. Good hunting guys

Thanks Heather - Ijust took a look and there is something new - to me anyway! I have just registered for 'Your Archives' which has a watch list and other bits and pieces which look useful! It is always good to revisit sites as they put new info on and there are new people to try. Trouble is, half my 'favourite places' disappeared one night and I am trying to catch up again.

Thanks Heather, I have accessed the National Archives site today (must have been a glitch with my computer yesterday) and found some good information on my ancestors. Many thanks for the great Tip. Genevieve

I have to admit, this is one site that I've never been able to get to grips with. I just don't seem to be able to work it right. I just seem to get a load of irrelevant stuff that makes no sense to me. Does anyone have any tips for how to use it, please? Thanks, Liz

I cant understand why you cant get in - its never been a problem - are you using the right address? Oh thats brilliant Nicky - what a great find for you! LOL Sharon - (Sharon very kindly helped me get some more of the papers on the court case I found for OH's grandad - she is still blushing from reading a bit of it - LOL)

Hi Heather, Thanks for the Tip. I have tried for the last 2 days to get onto the National Archives Site but haven't had any luck getting onto it. Will keep trying as it sounds quite good. Genevieve

Heather, thank you so much for yet another brilliant tip, have just searched the National Archives site and found the papers for my Grandfathers Nationality and Naturalization from Greece in 1922, have emailed them and am awaiting a price for getting a copy of them, this is such a great breakthrough for me, he arrived in the early 1900s a widower with a young son and then married my grandmother in 1905, they had 6 children and then he sadly died in 1935. I know nothing of his life before his arrival in England and hope this may give me some of the info I need , the only downfall is that i have to wait up to 10 days to receive my estimate.......... Thanks again Nicky

LOL Heather............... Bumpity bump........... :D :D Also worth doing a chck for POWs 2nd world war as they seem to be slowly gettign these on line too.....

Night shift???

Yes Im often shocked I have forgotten really good resources that I found years ago.British History online is fab and the Old Bailey online. So many wonderful resources - google everyone!

Heather, I have just found the information, it gives an email address and a website as it comes under Parliamentary Papers. I am interested to find out what the Petition was for, so I will now make email contact to see how far I can follow this up. Thanks once again, these reminders do help as there are so many resources online that we can search and which are updated on a regular basis.

It does normally tell you on their Trish - on the actual doc - can you click on 'more details' or something?

Hi Heather Thanks for your reminder! I have not checked the TNA site for some time now and your thread prompted me to do so. I am really excited as I found a Will for one of my ancestors, I am sure it was not there in the past when I have searched. I have now purchased and downloaded it. (£3.50) I also found a Petition and an Appeal for another ancestor, but I have to locate where the papers are kept, probably in court records, I will have to find out where the court records are kept? Source: Access to Archives (A2A): not kept at The National Archives

There are probably lots of new people on here now who have never looked at the national archives site. Do have a look. There are documents and wills etc. that can be downloaded immediately for £3.50 - just go to the site and enter a search - you dont know what may come up. The day before yesterday I did my regular, 'enter a few names from my tree' check on the main National Archives page search box and found a court case involving my OH's grandad - so worth everyone having a search with their names: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Just go to this addy and then put a name of one of yours into the search box on the top righthand side and see if anything exciting appears for your people. Not all documents are downloadable. You can download some medal cards, wills etc. - the court case I found I had to pay £8.50 for their digital copying service - they email it within 24 hours. But all good interesting stuff adding flesh to your trees.

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