20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

Your essential guide to the Collection on ONLINE

WHO_000_1.pgs 12.01.2021 15:17 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH Contents IN ASSOCIATION WITH HOW TO USE ANCESTRY 420 tips to get more from your online searches

PARISH REGISTERS 8Why these records are so crucial to family historians Welcome BAPTISM RECORDS 10From Anglican to hether you know you non-conformist registers come from a long line MARRIAGE RECORDS of Londoners, or you 13Explore the rich variety W are yet to find your of marriage records online family connection to the capital, I BURIAL RECORDS hope you enjoy this booklet. Within 18 Find your London its pages you will find the stories of ancestors’ final resting place the rich, the poor, the famous and the forgotten – all brought to life using documentsd t fromf WILLS & PROBATE 22Wills can provide rich the London Metropolitan Archives in association with information for genealogists Ancestry.co.uk. The London Collection is just a small proportion of the records you can discover on Ancestry. If LAND TAX RECORDS Find family whether you are already a subscriber, then turn to our tips on page 24 they owned property or rented four to get the most out of your searches, and if you haven’t dipped your toes into online genealogy yet, then ELECTORAL what are you waiting for? You can sign up for a free two 26 REGISTERS Don’t neglect this resource week trial subscription, or pop down to your local library and see the same records using Ancestry Library Edition. RATE BOOKS Your family is waiting to be discovered. Happy hunting! 28Find out if your family helped towards parish costs

RECORDS OF Sarah Williams, Editor 30 THE POOR [email protected] Did your family need help?

EDUCATION 36RECORDS EDITORIAL Words Adam Rees, Editor Sarah Williams, Production Claire Vaughan, Art Editor Robbie Bennie What school did they go to? ADVERTISING SALES Ad Manager Sam Jones 0117 300 8145, Ad Sales Executive Andy Williams 0117 314 8823 MISCELLANEOUS MARKETING 40 RECORDS Marketing Manager Aimee Rhymer, Direct Marketing Executive Craig Ramsay Some alternative resources PRODUCTION Production Director Sarah Powell, Production Co-ordinator Lizzie Ayre INDEX TO LMA IMMEDIATE MEDIA COMPANY LTD Publisher Marie Davies, Group Managing Director Andy Marshall, CEO Tom Bureau 44 RECORDS ONLINE ALL ADDITIONAL IMAGES FROM GETTYIMAGES What’s available on Ancestry

Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 3

WHO_000_2.pgs 12.01.2021 15:17 WHO_000_3.pgs 12.01.2021 15:05 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

STEP BY STEP Get more from Search Ancestry’s record holdings – including the LMA collection – by location your searches Use our suggestions to track down missing ancestors and get more from your Ancestry.co.uk searches HEAD TO THE MAIN SEARCH PAGE SELECT THE COUNTRY FINDING THE RIGHT 1 Go to search.ancestry.co.uk. You can search 2Scroll down to the map at the bottom of RECORDS all records, but it’s easier to narrow it down. the page and click on the word ‘England’. 1 Focused searching Searching all our records at once is extremely powerful, but it can give you too many search results. Consider searching categories, such as census or military records. Or, whenever possible, think about where and when you’re looking for your ancestors, and search within particular collections.

2 Recent collections VIEW THE MAP TO SEE HOLDINGS CHOOSE THE LONDON OPTION On our main search page (www. 3You’ll see all English records, but you can 4Click on London – the list will change to ancestry.co.uk/search), look zoom in on the map to see holdings by county. show all London records, sorted by count. for ‘Recently viewed collections’ in the top-right corner. These links will take you straight back to 4 Local datasets 5 Find more records the record collections you last At the bottom of the main search We’ve created pages for our looked at. page is a map of the UK. Click main categories to help you find within the map to see lists of more useful records. At www. 3 Recent ancestry. searches Click on the map to see record co.uk/census Slightly further there are links to down the page, collections for any country our census and on the left, you’ll find ‘Recent record collections for any country. electoral collections – as well as Searches’. This provides a list of You can then use the options in help for using those records. SEARCH MORE PRECISELY BROWSE LONDON RECORDS the ancestors you last searched the right-hand pane to see just You’ll find a full list of these Select a record collection to go to a Use the browse options on the right. for. Click on them to go straight the collections for a particular pages in the ‘What’s Happening’ 5 6 search page dedicated to that collection. Here records are sorted by London boroughs. back to your search results. county (see step by step). section of our homepage.

4 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 5

WHO_000_4.pgs 13.01.2021 07:30 WHO_000_5.pgs 13.01.2021 07:30 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

6 Card Catalogue down your results when searching. (‘Rob*son will look for Robinson at the top; ‘Categories’ groups For a wider view, use the Card However, be careful as this will and Robertson) or a ? for a single your results by collection. You Catalogue. You’ll find this at the exclude any records that don’t letter (Sm?th for Smith and can sort these by name and by bottom of the Search menu at the include all the information in your Smyth). For more information on results count. top of the screen. This lets you see search – for example, many wildcards, read ‘Searching with all the record collections across records don’t have a death date. Spelling Variations’ in our Help 17 Edit your search our whole site, and filter them by Centre: support.ancestry.co.uk. If you’ve made a mistake, or you category, location and date. 9 Alternative names want to try a slightly different Names were often spelt differently 11 Nearby counties search, you don’t need to go 7 New releases in the past, so use the options You’ll often find that your back to the search page. Just click We’re constantly adding record under the ‘First Name’ and ‘Last ancestors moved across county ‘Edit Search’ in the pane on the collections, so there are always Name’ boxes to include any borders. When searching, you left, change what you want, and new opportunities to find your alternatives. Search for other can use the ‘Exact to the Place’ then click ‘Search’. family. Stay up to date with our possibilities yourself (for example options under any Location box latest releases at www. Owen and Owens), too, as this to focus on the county you 18 Narrow by category ancestry.co.uk/whatsnew. can be more effective. entered, plus any bordering ones. Perhaps you’re only interested in sons named Frank. Use the ‘Family 15 Browsing records census records or travel records? USING THE SEARCH 10 Wildcard searches 12 Family members Member’ options to include other When you’re searching within You can easily filter your results PAGES You can also look for different There are many James Olivers in relatives in your search. individual record collections, by selecting one of the options 8 Exact matches spellings using wildcard our records, but far fewer who you’ll often see options to under ‘All Categories’. You’ll then The ‘Match all terms exactly’ characters. Use an * if there are were married to ladies named 13 Lateral thinking ‘Browse this collection’ on the see more filter options, such as option can be useful in narrowing several letters you’re not sure of Charlotte, and fewer still with Can’t find James Oliver? Another right. These let you choose a date ranges or sub-categories. option is to simply search for a particular place and time period, different person in the same and read through the records as 19 Record preview household. Try searching for wife though you were reading a book If you keep clicking on all your THE LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES Charlotte or results, it can Where is the archives, how can it help your research and what does it hold? other family take a long time members with Use keyboard shortcuts to to check which The London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is capital including parish records, bishops’ more unusual navigate your results quicker ones relate to the regional archive for the Greater London transcripts, non-conformist registers, names, and see your family. area, specialising in the history of London electoral registers, school records and poor if you can spot James elsewhere – they’re particularly useful with Instead, just hover over a result to and Londoners. It cares for and provides law records. on the record. parish records. see a quick preview of the most access to the historical archives of businesses, Researchers at LMA have a wide range of important information. schools, hospitals, charities and all manner interests, including family, community and 14 Collection Priority MANAGING YOUR of other organisations. local history, but you don’t have to have a The ‘Collection Priority’ option lets RESULTS 20 Shortcut keys The millions of books, maps, photographs, specific reason to visit! If you’re fascinated by you focus on different parts of the 16 Result views You can use keyboard shortcuts films and documents dating back to 1067 in London you’re always welcome to drop in world. Perhaps your great uncle There are two ways of viewing to navigate your results quicker. its strong rooms form one of the finest city and browse the collections, visit an exhibition ran away to America? Switch the your results. You can switch For example, pressing ‘r’ will let archives in the world – you could call it the or attend a free workshop or talk. collection priority to the US to between them using the you edit your search, while ‘p’ memory of London. Full details of LMA’s collections and view mainly American records, ‘Records’ and ‘Categories’ brings up a preview of the record Located in Clerkenwell in central London, services can be found on its website at and tick ‘Show only records from options at the top-right. you’ve selected. There’s a full list LMA is an essential destination for anyone www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma, along with these collections’ if you don’t ‘Records’ presents each individual of your Shortcut Keys to the researching ancestors from the London area. a suite of information leaflets that provide want to see anythingy g else. record with the closest matches bottom-left of the results page.p g Its holdings include some of the most an excellent starting point for anyone important family history sources for the researching their ‘cockney ancestors’. Find more top tips in our Help & Advice centre support.ancestry.co.uk

6 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 7

WHO_000_6.pgs 13.01.2021 07:30 WHO_000_7.pgs 13.01.2021 07:30 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

available on Ancestry, you can track down your kin who lived in, Parish oorr passed through, the capital ooverv the centuries. As wellw as Anglican TOP TIP registers,r Ancestry If you are unable to registers hash LMA’s find an ancestor in the collectionc of This huge resource of pre-1837 records is Anglican parish registers, non-conformistn invaluable for family historians extend your search registersr to Ancestry’s he mid-19th century administrative centre of the history research back further (1694-1921)(1 non-conformist saw the introduction of community. These detailed generations. As well as registers includingin those of collection. record-keeping that everything from taxes collected for London, Ancestry.co.uk JewsJ and Quakers. Twould prove to be a to aid the poor, to school records holds millions of parish records The main challenge massive boon for future family and licenses to shoot game. across England so you can follow when searching parish registers history enthusiasts. In 1837, civil The main meat for researchers people as they move in and out for London family is ensuring registration for England and are the registers of baptisms, of the capital. you’ve found the right person Wales – with official birth, marriages and burials that took Most ministers or parish clerks among the huge population. marriage and death certificates place in the church, and these recorded only the basic details While you can be fairly certain a – began, while that were John Jackson in a tiny Devon the first modern These centuries-old documents originally village is likely to be the person decennial census required when you’re after, there’s a lot more was taken in are priceless research tools Henry VIII’s uncertainty if you’re researching 1841. These chief minister the same name in London. were official records form the framework of our Thomas Cromwell ordered them At bit.ly/LMAparishregisters administered by the government. ancestors’ lives before 1837. to be kept. However, until there’s a list of all the parishes Before that date, you have to Though some of the earlier ones registers became standardised in and dates covered in the vast look more locally – to the parish may not have survived and the the early 1800s, some ministers collection offered by Ancestry church – to find your relatives handwriting can prove hard to diligently entered extra detail and the LMA. This will guide you in official documentation. ‘Parish decipher, these documents are about the event and the around the city and its parish records’ is an umbrella term for priceless research tools for participants they were recording. registers, and could help you the vast array of life documents discovering previously unknown Using the parish register determine whether the person and lists produced by the parish ancestors, learning more about collections from the London you find in the records is the one church, which was the their lives and taking your family Metropolitan Archives (LMA) you’re looking for.

PARISH REGISTER TIMELINE

Henry VIII orders It is decreed The Hardwicke’s Act Baptisms, Civil registration 1538 parishes across 1597 that all records 1649-60 English 1754 sees marriage 1813 marriages and 1837 of births, England and Wales to begin should be bound or copied Civil War is followed by the registers standardised and all burials are now recorded on marriages and deaths in recording the baptisms, into vellum or parchment Interregnum under Oliver unions (except of Jews and official printed forms. Events England and Wales starts, marriages and burials of its volumes and copies sent to Cromwell. Record-keeping Quakers) taking place in an are bound in separate books becoming the official source parishioners. This is mostly the bishop. These are known is sporadic during this Anglican church, after banns and the records of them of vital information. Churches done in paper registers. as Bishops’ Transcripts. ‘Commonwealth Gap’. have been called. become standardised. still record events.

8 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 9

WHO_000_8.pgs 12.01.2021 14:54 WHO_000_9.pgs 12.01.2021 14:54 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

A christening at London Maternity BAPTISM RECORD Hospital, 1932 Page from baptism register of St Benet Gracechurch (bit.ly/anniebesantbaptism)

4 SURNAME …of the parents – or the mother if 1 PARENTS unmarried. If there is no father’s name listed, the child was illegitimate. 1

2

2 DATE The baptism 4 5 ADDRESS date was Useful for tracking required, but 5 the movements and some ministers perhaps changing Baptismsp added the date fortunes of a family. These records can tell you a lot about an ancestor’s of birth in the start in life, and take your tree back another generation margin too.

efore 1837, it was a usually within a week. But this the child’s name, date of baptism, child’s religious baptism isn’t always the case, so be aware church or parish and father’s 6 that the Church of iiff yyou’re using year of name – unless the child was BEngland bbaptisma to work out illegitimate, in which case the 6 FATHER’S 3 NAME registered rather ssomeone’s age mother’s name was recorded. OCCUPATION than their birth. TOP TIP – children could On registers after this date, you’ll The given name Finding the baptisms A good guide to Instructions bbe baptised en also find the mother’s name, of the child to of an ancestor’s siblings whether you have from the church mmasse with abode, father’s profession and be baptised. and researching the found the right along with high ssiblings many who performed the ceremony. Here, it’s addresses given can reveal individual. infant mortality, yyears later, The London Metropolitan Annie, who a lot about the family’s grew up to be which meant eespecially on Archives’ (LMA) baptism 3 changing status over Annie Besant. children could die iimportantm saints’ registers on Ancestry.co.uk are the years. before being ddays, for example. split into a collection that begins blessed, led to the Until 1813, baptism with the advent of the new majority of baptisms taking rregisters included only a standardised registers covering place soon after the birth – small amount of information: 1813 to 1906, while earlier

10 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 11

WHO_000_10.pgs 12.01.2021 14:55 WHO_000_11.pgs 12.01.2021 14:55 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

baptisms are included in non-conformist religions could London, England, Church of still conduct baptism ceremonies England Baptisms, Marriages in their own places of worship. and Burials, 1538-1812. Within Though these events weren’t the 1813-1906 collection, you always recorded for fear of can also search the Board of punishment, many of these Guardian records, which cover unique records do survive, and 72 years of births that took sometimes give more detail than The Board of Guardian records cover births in the workhouses place in London’s workhouses their official counterparts. during the Victorian period. Despite not doing a great deal of record-keeping, Presbyterian Non-conformist baptism registers NNCNF ministers in urban areas such as often recorded more information Until 1837 (with exceptions for London did tend to make records of London non-conformist church Quakers and Jews) marriages of events, and their baptism registers from 1694 to 1921. had to take place in an Anglican registers often include additional But whatever their religion, Church – no matter what your information such as mother’s your ancestor’s birth records will religious beliefs. However, maiden name and the child’s date be a great first step to uncovering followers of a variety of of birth. Ancestry has a collection the rest of their life story. ANNIE BESANT Marriage The Victorian womens’ rights activist appears several times in the London collection Despite becoming an Benet Gracechurch also records advocate of secularism in her recorded birth dates in the adult life, like most children, space to the side, showing These fascinating documents can point you Annie Besant’s baptism was Annie’s as 1 October 1847. to other records in the parish collection recorded – hers at St Benet Annie also appears in Gracechurch in the City of other London records. Her London on 13 November 1847. banns (bit.ly/anniebesant arriages are by far the for every entry, showing the names and professions. Not only (bit.ly/anniebesantbaptism) banns) were read at St most information-rich parish where the marriage took is all this information invaluable Her entry (see page 11) Mary’s, Lambeth, before she of the three types of place, the bride’s and groom’s for determining if you’ve found shows her parents’ full married Frank Besant (the Mlife the person you’re names. Be aware that errors records show her as a minor events recorded The 1753 Act was significant seeking, it can do occasionally pop up, as – she was 20). Her name is in parish registers. also provide new here William’s middle name also in an electoral register The 1753 for family historians leads to help you is shown as ‘Burton Purse’ – once women had been Marriage Act was find out about instead of ‘Burton Page’. granted the right to vote significant for family historians, names, their ages, place of their parents, jobs and other Handily, the minister at St (bit.ly/anniebesantvote). as it meant that after 1754 the residence, marital status, records within the parish same facts had to be included profession, and also their fathers’ collection. Above all, the

12 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 13

WHO_000_12.pgs 12.01.2021 14:56 WHO_000_13.pgs 12.01.2021 14:57 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH MICHAEL FARADAY The renowned scientist signed a marriage bond

From 1753, unless you were Jewish or a Quaker, all couples search options on Ancestry give had to be married in the local Anglican church, as was the you plenty of different ways you case when scientist Michael Faraday wed his wife Sarah can track down the marriage Barnard. His marriage record from the City of London can record you’re looking for. be seen here: bit.ly/Faradaybond. The pair wed in the parish church of St Faith Under St Paul’s on 12 June 1821, REGISTER COLLECTIONS despite belonging to the small non-conformist Glasite The London Metropolitan faith. The record shows Archives (LMA) marriage records NON-CONFORMISTS Michael and Sarah married An Act sought to standardise marriage on Ancestry.co.uk are split into by licence, which was a two collections, the first covers popular choice for Lord Hardwicke’s 1753 Marriage Act was the introduction of these records non-conformists. extremely important for those who in 1538 to 1812, while the Their marriage bond followed non-conformist faiths. It was second includes the new form of was dated the day before introduced in a bid to end ‘clandestine’ registers that started in 1754 the wedding and is part of marriages, which took place in locations through to 1921. The latter has the London and Surrey like Fleet Prison and other non-religious both the original registers and Marriage Bonds and buildings where people could get married copies that were made and sent Allegations collection. It lawfully without having to attend a parish to the bishop to be included in was agreed in the parish church that didn’t reflect their faith. the Bishops’ Transcripts. You will of St George Hanover Though the Act forced them to seek know which one you’re viewing Square, just two miles from legitimate marriages in Anglican parish as the original registers have where the Faradays’ churches, they would also have another signatures. If the document marriage took place. ceremony in their own place of worship. states ‘transcript of marriage’ it You can find records of these in the London, will be a Bishops’ Transcript. England, Non-conformist Registers, Planning marriages is big allowed them to bypass the find a couple’s full marriage 1694-1921. Not only does this cover all the business these days, and though banns process and was more entry, the banns record will give periods of different rules that affected it was different in our ancestors’ affordable. Non-conformists you enough information to track non-conformist weddings, but also a wide time, the happy couple still had often chose to marry via licence it down, as the marriage would variety of faiths – from Quakers and Jews to prepare for the big day. They instead of having to attend a have taken place seven days (who were both exempt from the Act), to did this by either attending the church outside their faith. after the last bann was read. protestant dissenters and Catholics. church they would If your ancestors had marry at and having bbanns read, the dates MAKING IT LEGAL the banns, or a TOP TIP wwill be included in If a couple opted for a licence proclamation, Before you pay to tthe marriage after 1604, they had to provide a read on three order a marriage rregister,e as well written allegation, with often intended to marry. As with all states that he would have to pay before the birth of their child consecutive certificate, check on Ancestry aas in a separate the groom and a witness making marriage records, check the £200 for false swearing – roughly to avoid them being illegitimate, Sundays; or to see if they have the original bbanns book. a bond asserting his legal right names of the witnesses as they the equivalent of £8,000 today a serviceman going off to fight, applying for marriage record. The TThis lists the to marry. You can find these may throw up more family leads. (according to The National those who faced family a licence. The information recorded is the tthree dates on allegations spanning the period Scientist Michael Faraday was Archives’ 2005 conversion tool). opposition, or perhaps differed most costly same so it will save you wwhich the banns from 1597 to 1921 in Ancestry’s married by licence. He belonged Others who married by licence in age or social standing. was the ‘special time and money! wwere read, names, London collection. to the small Glasite faith and so may have been in a hurry or Whatever the situation of licence’, which aages, condition, They are a good alternative to only attended the Anglican perhaps wished to be wed away your London ancestors, you are allowed a couple to aaddressd and the church marriage records as they show church once in order to marry. from the prying eyes of fellow bound to uncover some gems in marry where they wanted, whilehil whereh they were read. If, for details of the bride and groom His bond, dated 11 June 1821, is parishioners. They included Ancestry’s LMA collections of the ‘common licence’ simply some reason, you are unable to and the parish in which they in Ancestry’s collection and pregnant women hoping to marry London marriage records.

14 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 15

WHO_000_14.pgs 12.01.2021 14:58 WHO_000_15.pgs 12.01.2021 14:58 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

MARRIAGE RECORD A page from a post-1837 parish register from Ancestry’s LMA London collection. Note that there are two entries per page. This example shows a double wedding in 1915.

6 MARRIED IN 1 DATE Usually the parish This could be significant 6 church but could be a in the context of other non-conformist chapel details – eg the birth or registry office. date of the first child.

1 7 WITNESSES 2 NAMES These signatures might …of the bride and reveal a new family groom. Unusually, both member or friend brides on this page worth investigating. have the same surname. 2

7 8 RESIDENCE A temporary address 3 SIGNATURES 3 was often used to qualify Here, these show this is for marriage in a parish. the original document. Note that both couples’ A cross would mean the addresses are the same. party was illiterate.

9 FATHERS’ DETAILS 4 AGES 8 9 No name here usually A figure is usually means illegitimacy. Both given or ‘full age’ (over 10 brides list the same father 21 years of age) or making them sisters! ‘minor’ (under 21). 4 5 10 OCCUPATIONS It’s common for only 5 CONDITION the groom’s to be Marital status – could given – even if the also be widow or bride worked. widower. Usually no proof was required.

16 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 17

WHO_000_16.pgs 12.01.2021 15:00 WHO_000_17.pgs 12.01.2021 15:00 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

TOWER HAMLETS CEMETERY Registers reveal details of many interred at this ’Magnificent Seven’ burial ground

Burial registers Tower Hamlets was the last of the Tracking down the records of an ancestor’s final resting ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries to open its gates in 1841. It was open for over 120 place could open up whole new avenues of research years, during which time a staggering 350,000 people were buried there. Those who had enough money could be laid to rest in a private plot with a headstone, but as many from London’s East End could not afford this, they were often interred in large public plots, where as many as 30 bodies could be buried next to each other. The Tower Hamlets records cover the entire duration the cemetery was open and are taken from the register of burials or daybook of burials. They show just how these cemeteries were run. The registers include details of whether the person was buried in consecrated or unconsecrated ground, depending on whether or not they were a member of the Church of England; if it was in a private or public grave; and also the location of the grave. Though you won’t be able to find all the graves, especially the early ones, this information will help you track down an c502 at 4.30pm on 19 July 1876. You will ancestor’s final resting place in this huge also find singer Alec Hurley, whose burial Victorian cemetery. entry on 11 December 1913 (above) shows s with baptisms, before rough date of death and may Browsing burial registers may Among the records, you can find John he was buried alongside family members, civil registration was then lead you to other records also reveal epidemics. Buckley – who won a Victoria Cross during with details of the grave’s location and that introduced in 1837 it held by Ancestry.co.uk. Early burial registers only the 1857 Indian Rebellion – buried in plot it was “11 feet deep” (bit.ly/alechurley). Awas the ceremony of a For example, using the date, tended to record the person’s burial, rather than the actual you can check whether they left name, date of burial and parish death itself in which these in the London Metropolitan find these in London, Church parish your ancestor was buried that was they were Archives’ (LMA) London, of England Deaths and Burials in will give you the best possible recorded for A woman’s burial record may just interred, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1813-1980. clue as to where you can find official show the name of her husband although 1538-1812 on Ancestry. their final resting place. If the purposes. you may find However, if the register you’re FINAL RESTING PLACE churchyard is still there, why not However, while baptisms didn’t a will using Ancestry’s extensive other details including their looking for is after 1813 when Parish churches tend to have go and see if you find their grave always immediately follow a nationwide probate collection, occupation or religious belief. George Rose’s Act introduced their own graveyards, and for and pay your respects? birth, you can assume a burial while a burial record of a mother Sometimes a woman’s burial pre-printed, standardised forms, centuries their parishioners were However, the accelerating size was conducted within a few dated around the same time as record may just show the name they will also include age, buried in these small areas. of London in the 18th and 19th days of the person’s passing, her child’s baptism record of her husband, stating that his address and names of parents if Though the headstones haven’t centuries meant these small which should help you trace a suggests she died in childbirth. wife had died. You can search it was a child’s burial. You can always survived, seeing which parish graveyards were

18 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 19

WHO_000_18.pgs 12.01.2021 15:02 WHO_000_19.pgs 12.01.2021 15:02 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

becoming grossly overcrowded. BURIAL REGISTER Kensal Green Cemetery’s register, lists Brunel’s burial (bit.ly/brunelburial) This led to the formation of large, private cemeteries around central London – including Highgate, Brompton and Tower 4 BY WHOM Hamlets, which became known The minister or as the ‘Magnificent Seven’ curate who cemeteries. You’re likely to find presided over your ancestors in the deaths and the burial. burials collection increasingly 1 NAME buried in these grounds from The full name of 4 1830 onwards, while there is a the deceased. separate collection of records for Here, Isambard Tower Hamlets cemetery. Kingdom Brunel. 1 As with smaller cemeteries, probably need maps and other Victorian England, with many of though, gravestones haven’t records from these graveyards to the destitute ending their days in always survived. Also people find your ancestor’s grave. these grim institutions. Though were often buried in large, The workhouse was the some were buried by family in unmarked graves, so you will bottom rung of the ladder in their home parish, most who 2 ADDRESS died here had a pauper’s burial The deceased’s – either in the parish churchyard, last residence. 5 WHEN Isambard Kingdom Brunel or the workhouse burial ground. This can help 2 5 BURIED One of the greatest engineers of the Victorian age Their bodies might even have confirm you The date the lies in Kensal Green Cemetery, as do his parents been donated to medical science. have found the burial took place. As well as burial registers, the right record. Born in Portsmouth, famed London, Deaths and Burials for his engineering on the collection on Ancestry, includes seas and throughout the the Board of Guardian records world, Isambard Kingdom relating to workhouse deaths Brunel was buried in from 1834 to 1906. You can London after dying from search these by selecting ‘death’ a stroke in 1859. The under record type on the search great Victorian polymath page. Details in the records 3 NUMBER 6 AGE include the workhouse they died was buried in All Souls’ This is not the 6 The age at in, name, date of death, the Cemetery, now known as plot number. death can help Kensal Green Cemetery, parish they were admitted from, You’ll need to you check this and where they were buried. on 20 September, five consult a map of 3 is who you’re days after he had passed Those who you find in these the cemetery for looking for. away. Brunel’s entry in the records will sadly have been just this information. burial register (bit.ly/brunelburial) records his address as one of many who spent their 18 Duke Street, Westminster. His father Sir Marc Brunel final days in a workhouse. and mother Lady Sophia Kingdom, who died in 1849 and Tracking down your forebears’ 1855 respectively and whose entries are both in the final resting place using burial collection, are buried in the same cemetery. records can be a satisfying conclusion to their story.

20 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 21

WHO_000_20.pgs 12.01.2021 15:00 WHO_000_21.pgs 12.01.2021 15:00 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WILLLL AANDND TTESTAMENTAMEN Wills and The willwill ooff vvictuallerictualler ((inninn kkeeper)eeper) GGeorgeeo ge WWilliamilli SSmithmith ((bit.ly/londonwill)bit.ly/londonwill) 1 NAME …of the person probate making the will – or testator. 1 2 3 BEQUESTS These are often 3 numbered and will list various family members and friends as well as 2 PERSONAL items of property. DETAILS The address, occupation and Not everyone left wills, but where they do exist, other details of the they can be a gold mine for family historians testator at death.

will that carried the the names of immediate family copies can be difficult to 4 EXECUTOR wishes of your ancestor written in the document, the decipher. However documents The testator had when they died might personal wishes and intricacies from later years are easier to to nominate be the best document of the will may tell you a lot read, and even printed on someone to A ‘prove’ the will. for learning about their life. Men about the person who standardised forms. and unmarried and widowed left it. Because these wills In this case it’s women could leave wills – no In the London, TOP TIP were proved in George’s wife 4 matter what their social status, England, Wills and If you find a will in London it means – so an executrix. with their final wishes alluding to Probate the records, make sure they relate to their possessions, property and 1507-1858 you click the arrow to property in assets relationships with friends, family collection, there check if there is more in the capital, and the community they lived in. are also records of than one page rather than to The London Metropolitan those who died included. people who lived Archives’ (LMA) collection of intestate (without there, so you may find wills on Ancestry.co.uk leaving a will) but with people in these records includes information on both the property that was still liable for who were not actually resident legal document left by the death duty and therefore in the capital. 5 FURTHER DETAILS person (will) and the process created paperwork. If you are looking for probate The next page of the will includes details that followed a death to execute As with many records from records after 1858, don’t forget of witnesses the executrix (George’s wife the will’s instructions (probate). the 16th and 17th centuries, a to check the National Probate 5 Sarah) and the value of the estate. While you will be able to find lot of the information on these Calendar on Ancestry.

22 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 23

WHO_000_22.pgs 12.01.2021 15:02 WHO_000_23.pgs 12.01.2021 15:02 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Land Ta x LAND TAX BOOKS records Entries for Bethnal Green, 1930. The third entry show a has become the Foresters Cinema (bit.ly/londonlandtax) This useful source can help you trace a missing ancestor – whether they were owners or tenants 4 4 ADDRESS 1 Earlier forms show the properties in order of the enumerator’s route. This 1930 form helpfully shows the house number of each property.

3 5 5 TAX COLLECTED The final column shows the date and amount of land tax paid by the owner. 2

axes have been levied determine whether the holder 1 OCCUPIERS in Britain since the could vote in elections. The second column Anglo-Saxon kings, with However, the records don’t will either show Tland being an obvious jjust name those who owned ‘self’ denoting the choice to gain funds hhouses,o but also show person living there 2 OWNER 3 TYPE OF PROPERTY from. However, land ttheh head of the was the owner, or The proprietor Here we see what the tax is on, whether it’s land or and property TOP TIP hhousehold of any list another name, column shows dwelling. As you can see from the ‘Sums Assessed’ weren’t officially Between census years, ttenants living which will be that of who owns either column, the house was taxed more. taxed until the the land tax record will tthere. This was the tenant. the house or land. end of the 17th show where the head of a bbecause the tax century. The household was living. It’s ccollectors general rule of also useful for pre- mmaking the for their landlord before claiming made annually. These are usually 1815, the layout and content forms give the house number as this land tax was 1841 and post-1911 rrecords didn’t the money back. not as detailed as censuses, but of the land assessments is highly well, while if the property is that more money research. kknow if the person The London Metropolitan they can act as a good substitute idiosyncratic, however, they are listed as a shop or factory it may was paid by those aat the property who Archives (LMA) collection of , for discovering where people lived still worth investigating. give clues as to your ancestor’s who owned more land, gave them the money was Land Tax Records, 1692-1932 on and for tracking their movements Typically the forms show the occupation. This all contributes with the lists created of those the owner or the tenant. Many Ancestry.co.uk spans 240 years across the capital. Before the name of the owner, tenant, type to the usefulness of these records liable for tax also used to tenants would have paid the tax and includes thousands of entries advent of printed returns in about of property and tax rate. Later for tracking your ancestors.

24 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 25

WHO_000_24.pgs 12.01.2021 15:04 WHO_000_25.pgs 12.01.2021 15:04 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

ELECTORAL REGISTER The 1910 lists for Limehouse – showing Clement Attlee (bit.ly/attlee1910)

3 QUALIFYING 1 NAME PROPERTY Address of the …of the voter. property entitling Here we can them to vote. After see Clement 1832 they could be Attlee before tenants or owners. he became 3 Prime Minister. Electoral 1

registers 4 QUALIFICATION These censusus ssubstitutes,ubs published yearly, Description of the provide another way of pinpointing family property type. 2 STREET lmost e 2 veryone over full list of those eligible to vote in the basic details of name and The registers the age of 18 can vote elections, and were published at abode will help you to keep an are organised 4 in Britain today, but least once a year – apart from eye on your family each year. by street name. A things were very during the wars. Prime Minister Clement Attlee different for our ancestors. As far Various pieces of legislation appears in the electoral records back as 1432, voting was allowed more and more people from 1910, showing his determined by the property you to vote, culminating in cconstituencieso and owned or rented, leaving the both men and women cchangesh of address as 5 ADDRESS poor disenfranchised. It wasn’t over the age of 21 hhe moves from 36 TOP TIP Where the voter until 1918 that all men over 21 being given the Electoral registers DDurham Row in lives. Useful for were given the right to vote, right to vote in are a great way to track LLimehouse in 5 tracing people along with some women over 30. 1928, so from forebears, but remember 11910 to 10 between censuses. The London Metropolitan this point these if you can’t find someone DDowning Street In earlier registers Archives’ (LMA) collection of poll registers act as before 1928, they may aafter he was the house number books and various electoral lists census not have been eelected in 1945. is omitted. on Ancestry.co.uk covers a substitutes, eligible to vote. Unlike in poll 355-year period. Importantly, providing full lists of bbooks, we can’t see among these are electoral adults in an area. wwho he voted for, but registers spanning the period Though they don’t include as we’re guessing it was the from 1832 to 1965. These give a much information as censuses, Labour candidate!

26 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 27

WHO_000_26.pgs 12.01.2021 15:06 WHO_000_27.pgs 12.01.2021 15:06 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

HIGHWAY RATE BOOK A page from the record for Hampton Wick, Richmond upon Thames, 1847 (bit.ly/ratebook)

1 NAME 2 DESCRIPTION 3 ANNUAL VALUE …of the person being …of the property being What the parish judges assessed. Note that there assessed, giving an insight the property is worth. are separate entries for into an ancestor’s wealth. each piece of property.

3 7 1 2 4 5 6 Rate 7 NOT 4 SUM ASSESSED 5 TOTAL 6 AMOUNT RECOVERABLE The rateable value of the The amount that the How much has been paid. The amount legally books property used to work rate-payer owes. Look for any differences excused. This person Everyone living in property of a certain value out the actual amount between this and the figure might appear in the had to pay to support the parish’s upkeep paid by the householder. in the previous column. book of defaulters.

efore the national werewe collected in each rate books were a record of those parish Overseers of the Poor, London, England, Selected Rate there are also books that list census, taken pparisha for the upkeep in the parish who paid the rates until 1834 when new legislation Books, 1684-1907 collection. those who didn’t pay. Browse the every ten oof its buildings such and as they are arranged by meant that the Poor Law While you can find the important Hackney records to reveal the years from TOP TIP aas the church and street, you can use them to find Guardians took summoning B If an ancestor is listed the start of the ggaol, highways your ancestors and plot their on responsibility book for poor in the rate books but See if your ancestors were 1800s, few aand also for movements over the years. for the poor rate defaulters later vanishes, look in the records are as ffulfilling their As the amount each person rate’s collection from Shoreditch accounts of the Overseers reprimanded for not paying effective for llegale poor law paid depended on the size of and distribution and Brentford of the Poor to see if finding lists of oobligations their property, the entries include within the parish. Highway Rate and Poor Rate Poor Rate Demand Notices. See if they fell on hard people living in an – looking after the details of their home, as well as There is an interesting range books that show how much your ancestors are listed in the times. area as rate books. ppoor who depended how much they paid. of documents in the London parishioners paid to maintain the books of those reprimanded for Various local duties on parish relief. These All rates were collected by the Metropolitan Archives (LMA) roads and look after the poor, not paying their way.

28 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 29

WHO_000_28.pgs 12.01.2021 15:07 WHO_000_29.pgs 12.01.2021 15:07 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Records of the poor Find your down-on-their-luck forebears using Ancestry’s extensive collection

ife was tough for those at London Metropolitan Archives’ Often you might find several the lowest levels of society (LMA) collection on Ancestry. documents relating to the same before the modern welfare co.uk as London, England, Poor person, giving the timeline of L state was introduced after Law and Board of Guardian their stay in the asylum. In one the Second World War. However, Records, 1430-1930. This massive example, we can see the charitable help for the sick, dataset hasn’t been indexed yet, admission papers for Hannah elderly and destitute in Britain so you should search the HarrietH Chapman (Charlie goes back centuries, and was record types by parishh Chaplin’sC mother) to formalised by legislation as far to see if you can TOP TIP CaneC Hill asylum in back as 1388. find mention of Your poor ancestors 1903.1 The Major Acts were passed in your ancestors. might also have had a documentd (bit.ly/ 1601, together referred to as the brush with the law. Check hannahchaplinh ) Old Poor Law. This legislation was MEDICAL out the Criminal Registers sshows that she improved upon under the Poor RECORDS collection on Ancestry hhad been Law Amendment Act in 1834, Among the most to see if you can find aadmitted to Cane which became known as the interesting records their names. HHill previously in New Poor Law. Luckily for family in this collection are 11898. It even has a historians, these laws generated those that cover people ddescription of her a wealth of paperwork that needing the medical help of bbehaviour submitted by detailed those paying funds into the parish, and are detailed in the himself (see p35). the parish, those receiving money infirmary and lunatics registers. From paupers to orphans and aid under the poor laws, and The latter records, in particular, and those who were deserted by even those who fell foul of it. are at times a haphazardly their parents, there are extensive The Old Poor Law created the arranged scrapbook of various records that show just how new position of many children Overseer of the depended on Poor in each Many children depended on poor relief to parish. These were the poor laws to survive survive. Some unelected officials, were sent off tasked with ensuring enough documents including admissions to schools and institutions as is money was raised to meet the to county asylums and the reason, recorded in this collection, while demands of those who depended notices of death and the cause, another scheme was set up so upon them. They were replaced receipts of items belonging to that children could gain skills by the Board of Guardians under deceased inmates, medical for their future through an the New Poor Law, and a huge superintendents’ notes on apprenticeship in a trade. This swathe of their records are inmates and correspondence eased the burden on the parish, A soup kitchen serving food to the poor of grouped together under the sent to their families. who paid masters a premium to Spitalfields, 1860s

30 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 31

WHO_000_30.pgs 12.01.2021 15:09 WHO_000_31.pgs 12.01.2021 15:09 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

take on these children. ASYLUM RECORD Cane Hill Asylum admission record for Hannah Chaplin (bit.ly/hannahchaplin) The parishes kept records of the transaction and a certificate to show the responsibility for the 1 PERSONAL 2 ATTACK 3 MARGIN NOTES child had now passed to their new DETAILS Information about this It is always worth master. An apprenticeship record Name, age, sex etc of the attack and previous ones checking the notes in from Greenwich in 1897 shows patient. This will help needing treatment. This margins. Here they 15-year-old William Brown was you check you have can point you to other indicate when Hannah apprenticed to corn merchant found the right person. records in the collection. was removed. Charles Frederick Coutts of Lewisham for the sum of £7, saving him from a life beholden to the parish. CHARLIE CHAPLIN The silent movie star spent time in the workhouse REMOVAL ORDERS There are also some orders of Not all who went to the workhouse were destined for a removal in the Board of Guardians’ life of destitution. Film icon Charlie Chaplin had a troubled collection – covered more childhood and ended up in Lambeth workhouse at just 5 extensively in Ancestry’s London, seven. With an absent father and mother desperate for England, Selected Poor Law work, Charlie and his brother Sydney were admitted on 30 Removal and Settlement Records, May 1896. Their entry shows their religious affiliation and 1698-1930 – giving details of dates of birth (bit.ly/londonchaplin). Their discharge record one of the more unpleasant but 6 shows they left on 18 June (bit.ly/londonchaplin2), 3 1 necessary tasks performed under however, after a stay at the Central London District School the poor laws. Parish overseers the boys returned to Lambeth with their mother in 1898. had the power to return any Young Charlie saw his mother admitted to Cane Hill Asylum newcomers who needed their at least twice, see opposite page (Cane Hill records are 2 aid back to the parish from which included in the Poor Law and Board of Guardian Records they had come. This was done under Lambeth, Register of Lunatics). This was a familiar officially, with orders produced tale for many poor families in London. detailing all members of a family and their parish of settlement, which they would be returned to. Their reputations as centres for see that the same people were The Board of Guardians’ destitution were promoted to stop often in and out of the 4 collection covers both the Old and people relying on the parish’s workhouse, with many sadly New Poor Laws, with one of the funds, yet many had no other ending their days there. latter’s most infamous legacies option. However in later years The workhouse collection being the workhouse. Some workhouses became much less can reveal when your ancestors existed before 1834, but the New grim, offering much-needed entered and left the system, as 4 RELATIVES 5 DOCTOR’S 6 OTHER FACTS Poor Law resulted in an increase hospital care for example. well as their condition, details of Details of next of kin. In EXAMINATION Details offered by her in the number of workhouses, Browsing the overseers records, their time there and any other this case her son, Charlie The doctor describes son. He describes her where those unable to look after or the extensive London, family members who were in the Chaplin, who was just 14 Hannah as ‘very noisy’ seeing dead people out of themselves through poverty, age England, Workhouse Admission institution with them. Also check when his mother was and ‘she says the floor is the window and talking or illness could do manual labour and Discharge Records, the Creed registers that list admitted to the asylum. the river Jordan’. to imaginary people. in exchange for food and shelter. 1659-1930 collection, you can religious affiliation and more.

32 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 33

WHO_000_32.pgs 12.01.2021 15:11 WHO_000_33.pgs 12.01.2021 15:11 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

ADMISSION AND DISCHARGE REGISTER A page from the records kept by Lambeth (Saint Saviour’s Union) Workhouse showing Charlie Chaplin’s and his brother Sydney’s admission (bit.ly/londonchaplin).

6 PARENTS’ 1 AGE NAMES …at admission. If the inmate is Charlie Chaplin a child born in was seven and the workhouse. his brother 11.

6 7 ADMITTER 2 NAMES The official who Inmate’s names admitted the were written inmate. surname first. 2 7

3 MEAL 8 DATE … when the Indicates the 3 inmate was time admitted. admitted. Charlie and his Useful to help bother arrived 8 find records if in time for 1 they moved supper. 4 from elsewhere.

9 9 PARISH 4 CALLING …that they An inmate’s occupation came from. – unless they were a 10 Again, useful child and then their date for finding of birth was written. prior records. 5

10 DIET 5 RELIGION For example This can reveal if an inmate children were was a non-conformist – given different useful for tracking down food to adults. parish register entries.

34 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 35

WHO_000_34.pgs 12.01.2021 15:10 WHO_000_35.pgs 12.01.2021 15:10 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Education DID YOU KNOW? Ancestry’s London records collection contains records Find your forebears in the school registers from 843 London schools, and gain an insight into their formative years and covers ntil compulsory education or, more often, left to 2,024,050 education was start work and help the family. pupils introduced across the Though you might not find Ucountry in the 1870s, your ancestors among the earlier those children lucky enough to records, the later entries will go to school were taught in a include all children aged from variety of places, from the more five to 12, following the well-known public schools to Elementary Education Act of local church schools, or dame 1870, which ensured all our schools run by older women. ancestors got basic schooling. In 1833, the government Given the information the later began to provide funds to set up records contain – child’s address, schools, so even the poorest in parents’ names and occupations the parish could receive an – they can help fill in the blanks education. These early schools in your family’s circumstances are included in the London between censuses. Another Metropolitan Archives (LMA) shorter collection that covers collection on Ancestry.co.uk: 1912-1918 takes us right up until London, England, School the end of the First World War Admissions and Discharges when the school leaving age 1840-1911, which covers 843 was increased to 14. schools within London. Alongside these TOP TIP collections is a specific If you find family in SCHOOL REGISTERS set of records called the poor law school The admission and discharge London, England, Poor registers, it’s worth records will show you when your Law School District checking workhouse ancestor started school, as well Registers, 1852-1918. records for them academic purpose of such schools was to legs. The London, England, TS life at sea rather than in the as give some useful information These district schools too. education than educate children to a high enough Exmouth Training Ship Records, parish. The records include each including their address, date of were set up by Poor Law they would have standard that they wouldn’t be 1876-1918 has information on boys’ basic details but also some birth, parents’ names (usually Guardians across multiple received in their own dependent on the parish. an inventive scheme, where rich descriptions of their physical just the father) and sometimes parishes to pool their resources parish, while also teaching them Another way out for many those in the care of the parish appearances and careers after the father’s occupation. They and educate all their pauper industrial skills to help them in was military service, be it with the were taught how to be seamen their training was complete. will also show you when and children en masse. These later work. The records include Army or Navy, and a fascinating after the Metropolitan Asylums These collections on Ancestry why a child left, whether they institutions gave poor children admission and discharge dates collection from the LMA gives Board borrowed the former are a great way to learn about went on to further their from workhouses a better and the child’s basic details. The details of those gaining their sea naval ship, preparing them for a your ancestors’ education.

36 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 37

WHO_000_36.pgs 12.01.2021 15:12 WHO_000_37.pgs 12.01.2021 15:12 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SCHOOL REGISTER A page from the register of Chicksand Street School in Whitechapel from the 1890s reflecting the Jewish population of the area (bit.ly/londonschool).

6 REMARKS 1 ADMISSION Where the child DATE went after this Many of these school – a great children joined in lead to follow up. two intakes. 1 6

7 LEAVING 2 NAME DATE The child’s name in From this you can full, surname first. work out how old Most are clearly the child was Jewish names. 2 1 when they left. 7

3 PARENT 8 STANDARD Here, just the 3 The educational fathers’ names attainment of the appear. Useful pupil. Morris Kutner for checking reached level V and you have the went on to win a right child. scholarship. 4

4 ADDRESS 9 PREVIOUS …of the child’s 9 SCHOOL This can help family. Again, 10 useful detail for 8 you find a child furthering your in earlier records. research. 5

10 BIRTHDATE 5 RELIGIOUS More helpful EDUCATION information for Interestingly, though verifying a family being Jewish, none of member. the children claims exemption.

38 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 39

WHO_000_38.pgs 12.01.2021 15:13 WHO_000_39.pgs 12.01.2021 15:13 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

for membership of the Exchange, the details recorded go a lot further than basic name, age and marital status. They can tell you about a person’s career, with information potentially including the person who recommended them for membership, the names of their bankers, the person or company they were working in partnership with, where their office was located, their own clerk and who they had worked for previously as a clerk. On later forms you can also find details of their war service. Understandably for such a wealthy institution, the forms are neatly presented and display a signed declaration that helped regulate the brokers against Miscellaneous fraud, which was rife in the Stock Exchange in the 18th century. Amongst the notable members is Edward Reynolds Pease, a records socialist and co-founder of the As well as the more usual records, Ancestry holds some Fabian Society. The record (see unique datasets in which to find your London ancestors right, bit.ly/edrpease) shows he joined the London Stock Exchange in 1881. and other animals through to hunt out of season and ncestry.co.uk holds These include Stock Exchange origins in the 17th century were a breeding and rearing. apprehend poachers, who could millions of fascinating Membership Applications, lot more humble, originally set up GAMEKEEPERS’ These gamekeepers hadd bbee transported to the records from all over Gamekeepers’ Licences, Freedom to deal in the stocks of the British LICENCES to have a licence from ccolonieso if caught. A the world that will of the City Admission Papers and Empire’s prospering companies. Landowners took great pride in 1710, to ensure TOP TIP These records allow you to uncover your family Convict Records. Ancestry is These records start from 1802, their land and enjoyed the fruits they were the If you find a fromfr the London history from the comfort of your always adding smaller datasets to just after the Stock Exchange’s of it, particularly the profitable only person gamekeeper ancestor, MetropolitanM own home. its holdings, so it’s worth having formal establishment and when woodland and delicious fish, besides the check records such as ArchivesA cover As well as the more common a look regularly to see what’s new. membership was vital to be birds and animals that were landowner and newspapers and Quarter gamekeepersg in records, there are some unusual allowed to trade there. When the either brought to them or that his guests to Sessions records in case MiddlesexM and datasets held by the London STOCK EXCHANGE Exchange was regulated in 1801 they hunted themselves for sport. hunt on his land, they caught any theth City of Metropolitan Archives (LMA) and MEMBERSHIP non-members had to be forcibly As they couldn’t look after all this and also to make poachers. WestminsterW over now part of Ancestry’s London APPLICATIONS removed from the new premises. on their own, they appointed sure they didn’t a 100-year period. Collection that can reveal some The London Stock Exchange now The records in this collection gamekeepers to tend their lands hunt outside the TTheh information is interesting information about an looks after trillions of pounds’ are rather intriguing, showing and make sure there were manor’s boundaries. The written across the page on ancestor based in the capital. worth of investment, but its applications and re-applications enough healthy game birds, deer licence also allowed gamekeepers large ledgers, which show the

40 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 41

WHO_000_40.pgs 12.01.2021 15:15 WHO_000_41.pgs 12.01.2021 15:15 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

The LMA’s collection on London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681- 1930 – details nearly 250 years of those who were granted freedom of the city status, and includes everything from apprenticeship records to applications to become a freeman or free sister. The applications are particularly useful, showing the applicant, address, family, place of birth and more, as you can see right from the form signed by author Rudyard Kipling (bit.ly/ freedomjrk).

CONVICT RECORDS With the list of crimes punishable by death escalating during the 17th century, those who committed a crime were spared the gallows by having their sentences changed, instead, to a prison term in one of Britain’s manor, the lord and lady, the FREEDOM OF THE CITY tolls and charges in the city, had new colonies – first America and gamekeeper, his address and the There were few bigger preferential treatment for their the Caribbean, and later Australia. date of appointment. achievements for skilled children to attend the City of Ancestry has a huge collection You can follow the careers tradesmen than receiving London’s Freemen’s School and of records containing information of gamekeepers through the freeman status – especiallyy eevenv had the right to be about convicts who were records, seeing what became of in one of the biggest ddrunk and disorderly. transported to the colonies as them and whether they moved cities in the world, TOP TIP TThey could attain punishment for a range of crimes, on to different manors. One London. If the convict tthish status either from murder to simply stealing example is of the Reverend James The first registers yield one of bby completing an bread. These include a group in Edward Cooper of Old Ford, who recorded your forebears, try tracing aapprenticeship, the LMA collection that’s taken and destination and even the are written out in full script, but applied for a licence for a James freeman of their progress through ppaying a fee or if from the Middlesex Quarter captain’s name – and use your using the search features on Accusons on 16 August 1830, London was the court system using ttheir father was Sessions Court. findings to search the range of Ancestry you can find the page only to apply for a new one for a in 1237, with the other criminal a member. The The records that relates to James Bates six months later on 9 inductees of the records. ttraditionalr role date back to Read about your ancestors’ your forebear February 1831 (see above, bit.ly/ city’s 110 livery cchanged in the 1682 and and read about londongamekeeper). Had the companies being 11830s,8 but with the primarily cover crime and length of sentence their crimes, the other James moved on, died, or granted freedom to conduct continuation of London’s those who were sent to America court records on Ancestry to find length of punishment they were been caught getting up to some their business in the city as it guilds and worshipful companies, before the War of Independence the one that relates to your sentenced to and the other of the tricks that gamekeepers signified a mark of quality. They the ceremonial prestige of having (1775-1783). You can find details ancestor’s sentence. convicts they were transported were sometimes accused of? were also exempt from paying freedom of the city still exists. of the convict, the ship’s name The transportation contracts alongside.

42 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE 43

WHO_000_42.pgs 12.01.2021 15:16 WHO_000_43.pgs 12.01.2021 15:16 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 20 40 60 80 100 100 100 100

data collections on ncestry holds millions of worldwide will help you shed light on ancestors who lived in (or records, among them – in partnership with passed through) London at some point, and allow the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) you to take your family’s story further back in history. A– it has a comprehensive collection of data New data is being added all the time, so make covering many aspects of your forebears’ lives in the sure you check back regularly to see what’s been UK’s capital (see below). These fascinating records updated – you never know what you might find…

BAPTISM RECORDS WILLS AND PROBATE and Discharge Records, • London, England, Church of • London, England, Wills and 1659-1930 England Baptisms, Marriages Probate, 1507-1858 and Burials, 1538-1812 EDUCATION • London, England, Church of LAND TAX RECORDS • London, England, School England Births and Baptisms, • London, England, Land Tax Admissions and Discharges, 1813-1906 Records, 1692-1932 1840-1911 FREE INDEX • London, England, Non- UPDATED! conformist Registers, ELECTORAL • London, England, School 1694-1921 REGISTERS Admissions and Discharges, • London, England, Electoral 1912-1918 NEW! MARRIAGE RECORDS Registers, 1832-1965 • London, England, School • London and Surrey, England, • UK, Poll Books and Electoral District Registers, 1852-1918 Marriage Bonds and Registers, 1538-1893 NEW! Allegations, 1597-1921 • London, England, TS • London, England, Church of RATE BOOKS Exmouth Training Ship England Baptisms, Marriages • London, England, Selected Records, 1876-1918 and Burials, 1538-1812 Rate Books, 1684-1907 • London, England, Church of • London, England, Overseer MISCELLANEOUS England Marriages and Returns, 1863-1894 RECORDS Banns, 1754-1921 • London, England, Freedom of • London, England, Non- POOR LAW the City Admission Papers, conformist Registers, RECORDS 1681-1930 1694-1921 • London, England, Poor Law • London, England, and Board of Guardian Gamekeepers’ Licences, BURIAL RECORDS Records, 1430-1930 1727-1839 • London, England, Church of • London, England, Poor Law • London, England, Stock England Deaths and Burials, School District Registers, Exchange Membership 1813-1980 1852-1918 NEW! Applications, 1802-1924 • London, England, City of • London, England, Selected • London, England, Church of London and Tower Hamlets Poor Law Removal and England Confirmation Cemetery Registers, 1841-1966 Settlement Records, Records, 1850-1921 • London, England, Non- 1698-1930 FREE INDEX! • Middlesex, England, Convict conformist Registers, • London, England, Transportation Contracts, 1694-1921 Workhouse Admission 1682-1787 FREE INDEX!

44 Who Do You Think You Are? LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES ONLINE

WHO_000_44.pgs 12.01.2021 15:18 WHO_000_45.pgs 12.01.2021 15:18