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Category: Guides & Resources

Transcription Errors

Transcription Errors

We all make mistakes, transcribers and the original form writers (whether they be parish clerks or census enumerators) included. As we know, it’s important to check original documents whenever possible and not trust in just the transcription, but sometimes the details on original documents should be taken with a pinch of salt. Poor Handwriting I would imagine that most people researching their family history have come across a few transcription errors – usually names that have been mis-transcribed from difficult…

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Catholic Records In England

Catholic Records In England

If your ancestors were Catholic, you may find that you struggle to find parish records online. The National Archives has provided a guide to help in research. Between 1754 (Marriage Act) and 1837 it was a legal requirement for all marriages to take place in an Anglican church. Many Catholics also married in a Catholic church, with the record of this marriage never being handed in to the authorities. Because of this, some Catholic baptism and burial records that were…

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Ireland’s Lost Records

Ireland’s Lost Records

Many of Ireland’s historic records were destroyed by a fire in 1922. Now a project is hoping to bring many of these records back to life. What happened to the original records? In the mid 19th century, it was feared that records, particularly those held by parishes, were in danger of deteriorating and being destroyed. In 1867 the UK parliament passed the Public Records (Ireland) Act, which was further amended in 1873. The act instructed that all court, probate and…

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1921 Census

1921 Census

The 1921 census for England and Wales and the Scottish 1921 census are due to be released in 2022. Here’s everything we know so far. England And Wales Census What date will the census be released? The census for England and Wales was due to be released in January 2022, but transcribing has been slowed down by the Covid pandemic, not least by the 3 month lockdown in 2020. However, Find My Past told Who Do You Think You Are…

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1939 Register

1939 Register

The 1939 Register is a snapshot of live in England and Wales at the beginning of World War II. It was taken on Friday, 29th September, under the National Registration Act of 1939, an Act of Parliament introduced as an emergency measure at the beginning of World War II. The Act also brought in identity cards which had to be carried at all times. It was repealed in 1952 after which it was no longer a requirement to carry identity…

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Census Guide for UK & Ireland

Census Guide for UK & Ireland

In the United Kingdom, a census of the population has been taken every 10 years since 1801, with the exception of 1941 (although a similar register was taken on 29 September 1939, shortly before the outbreak of war). In Ireland, the census was taken along with the UK census until 1911. No census was taken in Ireland in 1921 because of the Civil War. The first census taken by the Irish government was in 1926. Census records are released to…

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Genealogy Websites

Genealogy Websites

There are a great number of genealogy websites out there. Some offer worldwide coverage, from birth marriage and deaths through census data to passenger lists and newspaper archives. Others focus on one subject or one region, with some focusing on a single town. Many are free and some are either subscription or pay as you go. Free Sites Most of these sites are free to search and to view the transcripts of the information. Some require a subscription (or link…

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