How to Start Tracing Your Family History

Family History is one of the most popular leisure pursuits today.  There are plenty of good books to guide you through the process and lots of internet sites to help you.  A useful summary of the process is contained in every issue of the "Practical Family History" magazine available from newsagents.  The basics as they relate to our register office are described below.

The first step is to gather all the information you can from your relatives.  As well as names and dates try and find out addresses, occupations, and the religion of your ancestors.  Also, try to obtain any documents which will give you further information e.g. wills, newspaper cuttings, birth, death and marriage certificates.

The next step is to draw up a preliminary family tree, which should show you at a glance what information is missing.

Start by confirming the earliest event of which you are certain.  If, for example, this is the birth date of your grandmother, apply for her birth certificate.  The birth certificate will give you the names of both parents, including the mother's maiden name.

How to Obtain a Certificate - Obtaining Copy Documents from Past Records

The next step is to search for the marriage certificate of the parents.  Search for both parents in the G.R.O. Index, and make sure that their reference numbers match.  Apply to the relevant register office for this certificate.  It will then give you sufficient information to search for the birth certificate of either parent.  With luck, you should be able to leapfrog back in this way to 1837 when Civil Registration began in England and Wales.

Cost of Certificates

The cost of buying a full certificate from a district register office is currently £7.  It is possible to purchase certificates on line for the same cost from the National Statistics Office.  The cost of a postal application to the General Register Office is almost twice this amount.  Both costs are determined by the Government.