FHC Resource List 2014
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Family History Centre Resources A guide to the family history resources held at the West Glamorgan Archive Service Census The census has been taken every 10 years since 1801, with the exception of 1941 (during the Second World War). From 1801 to 1831 it was a simple head count, but from 1841 onwards personal details were recorded and used for the production of demographic statistics. The census returns are closed to the public for 100 years. What information can I find in the census? As time went by, the censuses recorded increasing amounts of information. This is a summary of the details you will find: • Address (house numbers are often omitted on earlier censuses) • Name of each person in the house • Relationship of each person to the head of the house (from 1851 onwards) • Age (on the 1841 census, adults’ ages are usually rounded down to the nearest 5 or 10 years) • Marital status (from 1851 onwards) • Occupation or status • Birthplace : County and parish or place of birth (1841 only states whether born in same county) • Disability (from 1851 onwards) • Language spoken (Welsh censuses only, from 1891) • Number of children born to married women, and the length of time they have been married (from 1911 onwards) When did the census take place? Censuses were taken on different dates each time. These are the dates of the censuses from 1841-1911. In each case, the day was a Sunday, and the details recorded on the census returns should be those of people present at each dwelling at midnight at the end of this day: 6 June 1841 30 March 1851 7 April 1861 2 April 1871 3 April 1881 5 April 1891 31 March 1901 2 April 1911 How is the census organised? The 1841 census is arranged by county and by parish. From 1851 onwards, the census is arranged by registration districts and sub-districts. This is how the system worked: Registration districts were created in 1837 when civil registration of births, deaths and marriages began. These districts did not always follow county boundaries, and there were many boundary changes over the years. Each district had a central register office, but was also divided into sub-districts , each with a resident local registrar, with responsibilities to record births and deaths in his area. It is these registration districts and sub-districts which form the basis of census enumeration from 1851 onwards. As time went by, new districts were created, such as Gower (1857), Pontypridd (1863) and Pontardawe (1875). When the census was taken, each sub-district was divided into smaller areas called enumeration districts , each of which is numbered. These vary in size according to population density, and might consist of a rural locality, a single small parish, or an area of a town. Each enumeration district was the responsibility of a census enumerator , who recorded the details relating to that area in a book, every alternate page of which was stamped in the top right hand corner with a running folio number. The book begins with a description of the area covered and basic statistics, before recording the personal details of the occupants of each household. Where can I find the census? • Two sites offer access to all the available censuses, and a whole lot more: they are www.ancestry.co.uk and www.findmypast.co.uk Both offer a free searchable index, with a subscription needed to look at either a transcript of the original image, or a scanned copy of the original image. Subscription- free access is currently offered at libraries and archive services in Wales, but it is advisable to ask our staff for details. • The 1881 census was transcribed by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and access to the transcript, along with a variety of other records, is available free of charge on www.familysearch.org • Many family history societies have also indexed censuses for their local area and advertise these for sale. The Federation of Family History Societies website ( www.ffhs.org.uk ) includes links to local family history society websites. • Many county record offices have purchased copies of local census returns from The National Archives. Microfiche copies of the 1911 census have not been produced. At West Glamorgan Archives, census returns are available for the whole of Glamorgan from 1841 to 1901. The coloured strip at the top of each piece of microfiche gives information about which area it covers: Census year Registration district number and name Fiche number 1861 census Crown 584 Neath (Glamorganshire) Fiche: 1+ Public Record Office Copyright 6 Llansamlet RG9/4094 Sub-district number and name Piece number Civil Registration Before civil registration began, the only record of births, deaths and marriages came from the baptism, marriages and burial registers kept by churches. Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages began in England and Wales on 1 July 1837. Registration districts were set up, each with a register office and a registrar, whose job it is to register births, deaths and marriages that took place within the district, and to maintain registers containing all the details. Registrars send copies of registration details to the General Register Office (GRO), which maintains a central register. Local registrars also maintain. How do I find what I’m looking for? The General Register Office produces an index to births, marriages and deaths. Each year is divided into four quarters of three months each: March Quarter (Jan-Mar) September Quarter (Jul-Sep) June Quarter (Apr-Jun) December Quarter (Oct-Dec) For each quarter, complete alphabetical lists were made of all the births, marriages and deaths registered in England and Wales. Copies of the index have been made available on microfiche, and a copy is available at West Glamorgan Archives. Each piece of microfiche has a coloured strip at the top which shows what information is contained on it: event range of surnames on the fiche General Register Office MARRIAGES September qtr 1837 AAR-DUR 1 quarter and year fiche number An online version of the majority of the index is available free of charge on the FreeBMD Project website ( www.freebmd.org.uk ) and also on Ancestry.co.uk and Findmypast.co.uk The index records the following information from 1837 onwards: • Person’s name (arranged alphabetically). NB. Brides appear under their maiden name in the marriage index. • Name of district where registration took place • Volume and page number on which the entry occurs in the GRO registers The following extra information is included in later years: • From 1866 death indexes include the age at death • From 1911 birth indexes include the mother’s maiden surname • From 1912 marriage indexes include the spouse’s surname • From 1969 death indexes give the person’s date of birth How to order a certificate You cannot simply look at the registrar’s records and copy down the details yourself. To get the registration details, you will need to purchase a copy of the relevant certificate. You can order a certificate centrally from the General Register Office, or, if you prefer, from the local registrar. In either case you get the same information. To apply for a certificate form the local registrar: send a completed form or letter of application, with the correct fee and a stamped, self-addressed envelope, to the local registrar, stating the name and the year and quarter when the event was registered. Some registrars will do a five-year search for you. Most registrars have a website where you can check their address and current charges. You can apply for a certificate from the General Register Office online at www.gro.gov.uk. What information is on the certificates? Birth certificates will tell you: • When and where born • Name and sex of the child • Name and surname of father • Name and maiden surname of mother • Rank or profession of father • Signature, description and address of informant • Date of registration and registrar’s signature Death certificates will tell you: • When and where died • Full name, sex, age and occupation of deceased • Cause of death • Signature, description and address of informant • Date of registration and registrar’s signature Marriage certificates will tell you: • When and where married • Name and surname of both parties (it will be the woman’s maiden name) • Age, condition (e.g. bachelor, widow etc.) • Rank or profession • Residence at time of marriage • Father’s name, surname and rank or profession • Signatures of the bride, groom, witnesses and the person who conducted the ceremony NB if a marriage was in church, the church marriage register will record the same information as a marriage certificate. The International Genealogical Index The International Genealogical Index (IGI) is an alphabetical index of names, mostly records of baptisms and marriages from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. It is compiled by the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Church. Together with the related Vital Records Index, it is a most useful aid when trying to trace ancestors who have moved from one parish to another, especially if the surname is an uncommon one. The IGI and Vital Records Index are available in the Family History Centre. Wills and Probate Records Since 1858, alphabetical indexes have been published annually to wills proved and administrations granted in England and Wales. The Archive Service holds microfiche copies of these for the period 1858-1943. Before 1858, wills were proved in ecclesiastical courts: indexes to local pre-1858 wills are available in the County Hall searchroom. Welsh pre-1858 wills are also available online