Links to some of the BEST genealogical sites around...
Only quality sites make it onto my list.
UK Searchable Resources:
- RootsChat.com FREE, Need some help with looking an ancestor up then Rootchat is the site to be on. Just post your query on the forum and if someone can help they will. I've had great success here with other members finding my ancestors on the 1871 and 1891 UK census for me. It also provides links that otherwise I wouldn't of found on the web. Plus loads of great advice from more experienced members. I really can't overestimate the value of this site.
- 1881 census online FREE, from church of Latter Day Saints. This has to be one of the top sites to visit for family tracing. Easy to use and free. IGI index fully searchable from here as well as the census.
- FreeBMD FREE, this is a wonderful site for Birth, Marriage and Death index post 1837 for UK, although not every area is fully transcribed yet.
- 1901 Census for England & Wales, This site is excellent. The only thing against it, is that you have to buy a minimum of £5 credit. It's 50p to look at an entry found for an individual and then another 50p to view the other household members, which could prove expensive if you need to see the whole household to verify that you have found the right person in the first place.
- Findmypast.com (new name for 1837online), BMD index. I've not used this site myself as I don't like paying for what I can get free elsewhere, but it does look very easy to use and it's complete. They have also added search facilty for some military records and the 1841, 1861, 1871 and 1891 census returns.
- Family Records Center, The website of the family records center, which provides useful information on how to visit and access the birth, marriage and death indexes.
- Lost Cousins FREE, to register. This site is a very clever idea. What you do is you enter names ONLY of ancestors you have found on the 1881 UK census which is free to search. Then you not only enter the name of those you have found but also the reference numbers for the particular census entries. Then what happens is if someone has entered the same people/ref then you are both informed, as you are cousins. This site will be truly amazing once they have more people signed up to it and therefore more matches.
- Workhouse FREE, The Story of Workhouses. This site is an amazing and unique resource.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) FREE, Search the "Debt of Honour Register" a database listing the 1.7 million men and women of Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars. The register can also be searched for details of civilians who died as result of enemy action in WWII.
- Familia, lists the genealogical material libraries across the UK - Very useful site.
- General Registry Office, the official site from which to order all your Birth, Marriage and Death certificates for England and Wales.
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London Specific Links:
USA Searchable Resources:
- CastleGarden.Org FREE, Offers free access to a database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. Over 73 million Americans can trace their ancestors to this early immigration period.
- Polish Genealogical Society of America FREE, If your ancestors were from Poland and they ended up in Chicago then this is the site for you. Massive cross-referenced directory. Searchable Death and Marriage indexes.
- USGenWeb Project FREE, Beautifully put together site that is dedicated to providing free access to genealogical resources. Organization is by county and state, and this website provides you with links to all the state websites which, in turn, provide gateways to the counties.
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Polish Searchable Resources:
- PosenFREE, One of the busiest mailing lists I've ever been on & very helpful. Not so easy to navigate though.
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Non-Country Specific:
- Church of Latter Day Saints FREE, Easy to use and free, this site offers IGI index for over 18 countries, 1880 USA Census, 1881 British & Canadian Census, US Social Security Index. Also a Vital records index is available covering Denmark, Finland, Mexico, Norway, and Sweden. I love this site!
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Old Disease names and their definitions FREE, Quick reference to the medical terms used on your ancestors record of death. Very useful tool.
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Rootsweb.com FREE,The Internet's oldest and largest FREE genealogical community. An award winning genealogical resource with searchable databases, free Web space, How to guides, and much much more.
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Useful Services/Products: