Family History Research Links

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH
In response to the many emails received, requesting information about relatives and other individuals, it should be appreciated that Chester-le-Street Heritage Group is not a Family History Society and as result is unable to carry out any research on this subject.
Similarly, the Group is unable at the moment to research places and subject which are outside the Chester-le-Street and immediately surrounding area.
However, any request for assistance received, which falls within the Group’s scope, will be presented for open discussion at the next scheduled meeting.

USEFUL LINKS
The following information and listed Websites may prove helpful or of some assistance when undertaking your research:
(Please be aware that CLS Heritage Group, cannot accept responsibility for the contents or the availability of Website’s such as those listed here. The CLS Heritage Group in listing these sites does not necessarily endorse or guarantee the information or views expressed within the pages that you may find there).

GenUKI
A good place to start for anyone beginning to look at their family history online is GenUKI (Genealogy UK and Ireland). This is a massive database which covers the Northumberland and Durham area very well. It does take a little getting used to manoeuvring around the many sections but it is well worth a look with some birth and marriage indexes available for our area. Chester le Street marriages happen to be one that is covered.
Visit: www.genuki.org.uk/

The National Archive
The National Archive Website, now has the 1901 Census, which can be searched initially free of charge, but payments are required for more detailed information. This was formed from the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission and is responsible for looking after the records of Central Government and the Courts of Law for England, Wales and the United Kingdom
Visit: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/?homelink=main_family
www.1901census.nationalarchives.gov.uk

Within the above site there are lots of pages of advice but there is an online 37 page leaflet available "The Basics and Beyond" which was made to accompany the BBC series "Who do you think you are?"
The Booklet is in .pdf format and can be either downloaded, for reference or printing, or just viewed online.
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/pdf/family_history_leaflet.pdf

1837 Online
1837 Online allows research of the entire copy of birth, marriage and death indexes for England and Wales from 1837 – 2002 and British Nationals oversees from 1761 – 1994.
Visit: www.1837online.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Probably one of the best places to use for your research as this site lists quite a bit of information which can be accessed for free. Make sure you select England as part of your search criterion, as you could end up searching the whole world.
Visit: www.familysearch.org

Scotland’s People
The official online source of Parish Register, Civil Registration and Census Records for Scotland. The site provides information covering births, marriages and deaths and Census with over 37 million names.
Visit: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

UK Births, Marriages & Deaths
This Website provides Links to sites containing Civil Registration indexes and Parish Register data for the United Kingdom.
Visit: www.ukbmd.org.uk

Beamish Museum
The Award-winning County Durham Museum has recently launched a new Website. The first phase of this site provides access to a wide variety of photographs, objects and oral history recordings. Categories on the website range from advertising and agriculture to trade catalogues and transport.
Old archive photographs and objects in 3D can be viewed or tape recordings can be listened to, recalling the past way of life in the North East.
Visit: www.beamishcollection.co.uk

Durham Record Office.
Extensive research information is available at Durham Record Office. Here again information may be found to be limited, without having to pay for more in-depth study. However, it does present plenty of details about how to book a visit to the Record Office and what you need to know when you get there.
Visit: www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice

Historical Directories
One of the offshoots of the growing genealogy hobby is the production of data CDs with trade directories being a popular item. There is a website that provides online access to a number of older trade directories and again the North East is fairly well represented.
Visit: www.historicaldirectories.org/

GRO INDEX
The GRO index gives details of all births, marriages and deaths for all years since 1837 when civil registration began. The index is now widely available in libraries and records offices but an "in progress" option is available online. The FreeBMD index is far from complete but does make a good starting point for an online search. Don't be disappointed if you don't find great uncle Robert on this site as it probably just means that the details haven't yet been transcribed!
Visit: www.freebmd.rootsweb.com/

Northumberland and Durham Family History Society
The Northumberland and Durham Family History Society is involved in an exciting project to place the Birth, Death and Marriage Indexes from Newcastle Register Office online in a searchable form. Although there is a lot of work still to do, a significant portion of the indexes have already been input to the system and can be searched.
Visit: www.ndfhs.fsnet.co.uk/RegIndex.html