The best basic websites

[Phoenix]

If you were recommending websites to beginners, which ones would you choose?

I'm thinking free search engines here, such as

http://www.freebmd.org.uk

[Langley Vale Sue]

http://www.freereg.org.uk/
http://www.freecen.org.uk/
https://familysearch.org/
I'd also recommend http://www.findmypast.co.uk/ because it can be searched and credits bought for viewing records if you don't want to buy a sub.

It also depends on whether you are searching for English/British records or worldwide. I suppose Cyndi's List http://www.cyndislist.com/ is the best site to go to to find available resources worldwide. I think Genuki http://www.genuki.org.uk/ is the best for UK & Ireland information.

(I feel like I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs here!) :D

[Phoenix]

Well, I'm always scared of Cyndi's list because it is just so big, and I'd forgotten about freecen, so thank you!

When you have been playing for a long time, you develop your own personal favourites, but they may not suit everyone, and I do tend to forget some of the obvious ones.

[ElizabethHerts]

I find it varies so much country-wide. I have particular favourites depending on which county I'm researching.

To search for wills:
www.origins.net is a good resource.

Don't forget the National Archives for PCC wills:
http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI

[Olde Crone]

ukbmd.org


may be of more or less use depending on where you are researching - Lancs has excellent coverage, some counties have no coverage.

OC

[Phoenix]

I know, Elizabeth. I have a whole clutch of Norfolk specific sites.

[tenterfieldjulie]

I love the Cornwall and Lancashire OPCs (like OC said) ..
There are some very good free individual transcriptions online for Somerset.
I usually google the name of the place and parish records and see what comes up.
Do you have any recommendations for Norwich in Norfolk, Phoenix?

[Phoenix]

besides freereg and family search, I usually use NROCAT and http://www.norfolksources.norfolk.gov.uk/DserveNS/

Norfolk FHS has a database which I keep on forgetting to use. But my ancestors are in the much easier villages.

[kiterunner]

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/[/url] because it can be searched and credits bought for viewing records if you don't want to buy a sub.



You can also do this with ancestry.

[WendyPusey]

Norfolk baptisms:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tinstaafl/

Ongoing, but still lots completed.

Mixture of Norfolk MBDs and some census

http://www.genealogy.doun.org/transcriptions/surnames.php

[Merry]

Always check out the county record office website and the local family history society website for the area you are researching. Most have something you can investigate for free and some have masses of stuff!

Also....

Access to Archives

CWGC site

Gazettes

Check out your local library service. I get free access to The Times 1785-1985 and 18thC local papers and various other things like the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography etc

[maryphil]

I agree with the local library service I get free access to The Times in Bedfordshire
Also I find a2a very useful also it's amazing what's out there if you just do a search on Google. I had a list of C.D.'s to buy from a company. Decided to check them out tried Manors of Suffolk for a start off and it's on there to download for free. I've tried on my Kindle but it's having a bit of a struggle. It would download onto a P.C. but probably take up a lot of room.

[Phoenix]

Squashing a beginners talk into an hour is going to be a problem, I can see!

[ElizabethHerts]

Are you giving it, Phoenix?

[kiterunner]

Don't forget to recommend this site!:d

[tenterfieldjulie]

Thanks Phoenix and Wendy re Norfolk ..
Re post #15 .. couldn't agree more .. priceless ..
Julie

[Glen TK]

An excellent database for Lincs and Fenland familes which I've used and linked a few branches;

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=linclinks

[Phoenix]

Are you giving it, Phoenix?

If it will ever download onto a memory stick,yes!

[tenterfieldjulie]

Phoenix, You are talking about free UK sites aren't you? Julie

[Merry]

Don't forget to recommend this site!:d

Yes, you wouldn't need the memory stick or a whole hour - just sign everyone up here! lol

[anne fraser]

I like rootschat as it is divided into counties and there is usually a local expert willing to help. I am interested in local history as well and it is good for that. It is more general than most family history sites. Remember local BMD often gives extra information e.g. the Church for a marriage. CWGC for war deaths. and above all uncle Google and cousin Wikipeaedia.

Do recommend yourselves.