Family History Research

Tracing Family History

We hold a wide range of sources that are useful for family historians. If you have ancestors who were based in Herefordshire and are interested in finding out about them, or if you are a seasoned researcher looking for a way through that ‘brick wall’, this step by step guide will give you some suggestions on how to proceed.  

Before you Start

There is a wealth of published guides and encyclopaedias available to family historians of all levels of experience and many of these are available to use in our library. Further information about these, as well as general advice and learning opportunities, is available from a number of organisations that serve the interests of family historians. These include the Society of Genealogists and the Federation of Family History Societies (links to these sites appear at the base of the page). The latter will give you details of local family history societies operating in your area. It is always worth joining such a group. The best family history advice comes from family historians.

Step 1 - Starting Out

Some of the best sources for family history are living among us. Think about your own recollections of past family members and ask relatives to give you information to build on. You may have old family documents, such as a bible or copy of a will, which can give you names and dates as a starting point. 

Step 2 - See what you can find from home

An increasing array of sources and indexes are now available on the Internet. These include the databases compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints and a growing index to the national registers of births, marriages and deaths known as free BMD (links appear at the base of the page). If you are lucky, you will be able to make a lot of progress at your own computer or a computer at your local library. The chances are, though, that you will soon need to look at archives. That’s when the fun really begins. 

Step 3 - Births, Marriages and Deaths

Since 1837, births, marriages and deaths have been registered centrally. We hold national indexes for England and Wales on microfiche for 1837-1980. These are arranged alphabetically by quarter year. They give enough information to enable you to apply for a certificate of birth, marriage or death for an ancestor. Certificates give a wealth of information such as addresses, parents’ names, occupations, ages and cause of death.

You can get certificates from the local Register Office or the national centre.  A link to the General Register Office website is included below, and if you click on 'contact us' from the home page, then the 'certificate services section' you will find two e-mail links - one for enquiries and one for on-line ordering of certificates.

Step 4 - What if your ancestor wasn’t registered?

If you are tracing ancestors before 1837 or if they simply do not appear to have been registered, there are a number alternative sources to try. Among the most important of these are Anglican parish registers. We hold registers of baptism, marriage and burial for most of the parishes of Herefordshire, as well as a few Welsh border parishes. Like certificates, these records can provide a substantial amount of information about ancestors. Parish registers are not normally indexed, but in some cases modern transcripts are available. In addition, an increasing number of indexes have been put on the Internet by local family history societies. You can get access to some of these from our searchroom.

If we don’t hold the registers for your parish or they are difficult to read, don’t despair. We hold Bishop’s Transcripts for the Diocese of Hereford, which covers Herefordshire, south Shropshire and a few Welsh parishes. These are contemporary copies of registers sent annually to the diocesan registrar.

If your ancestor was not an Anglican, you could also try the nonconformist records held here. Remember that these are never as complete as the Anglican records. Most nonconformist records before 1837 are held on microfilm at the Family Records Centre in London (email: enquiry@nationalarchives.gov.uk).

If you are unsure of the date or location of an event such as a baptism, you could try the International Genealogical Index – IGI, which is compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints. This can be searched on their Internet site or on a series of CDs or microfiche. All versions are available here.

Step 5 - Find out about where your ancestor lived

It can be very rewarding to learn about the place where your ancestor lived. This can give you valuable information about other members of the same household as well as a deeper understanding of your ancestor’s life. The Census is the most commonly used source of this kind. This is a survey taken every 10 years (except 1941) since 1841. The records have a 100-year closure date so the most recent ones are unavailable. We hold detailed census returns for Herefordshire from 1841-1901. They give names, addresses, marital status, relationships, occupations, and, after 1851, place of birth. We also hold the national 1881 census index and the 1851, 1891 and 1901 census indexes for Herefordshire. In addition, we have access to the Internet version of the 1901 Census  or you can make use of the link at the base of this page.

We hold other lists of individuals arranged by address. Registers of electors for Herefordshire survive from 1849 and are available up to 1990. There are also countywide Land Tax records from 1747-1878, lists of parish ratepayers and trade directories, listing all trades people who paid for the privilege, from 1851-1900. None of these sources are as comprehensive as the census. The right to vote, for instance, was very restricted until 1918. Nonetheless, they can really add to your list of options. 

Step 6 - Was your ancestor well off?

If your ancestor held property, the chances are that it was left it in a will or otherwise disposed of after they died. We hold the probate records,wills, administrations and inventories, of people who bequeathed property within the diocese of Hereford before 1858. After this date, wills for the whole of England and Wales were proved and are held centrally. We hold on microfiche the national probate index from 1858-1935.

Probate records can give you the names of other family members. Equally important, they offer an insight into how your ancestor lived by giving you a chance to study personal bequests and inventories of moveable goods submitted in order to obtain probate.

Tithe maps are another potentially useful source for tracing property-owning ancestors. Made around 1840, these maps record every field and building within a given parish and are linked by numbers to related apportionments, or lists of owners with property valuations. It is also possible that we hold deeds transferring property that was in the hands of your ancestors. Such documents are invaluable for tracing ownership, but can also give important information about family relationships.

Step 7 - Was your ancestor poor?

Ancestors who were poor and dependent on the support of the authorities often left more detailed information about their lives than those who were relatively comfortable. Until the mid 19th century, the local parish provided the ‘safety net’ of financial aid, shelter or food for those in need. The surviving records are to be found among the archives of the many Anglican Parishes whose archives have been deposited here. They include settlement and removal papers that may give details of your ancestor’s transfer. Bastardy records, including bonds, sometimes survive for illegitimate children who were likely to be a burden on the parish. The records of workhouses, which were run by the parishes, include registers of inmates’ admission and discharge, births, marriages and deaths. There may also be lists of patients treated in the workhouse infirmary.

The poor relief work of the individual parishes was gradually taken over by unions of parishes run by boards of guardians. The records of these bodies can contain the same information as those of the parishes. Their descriptions are to be found among the local government archive lists.

Step 8 - Think of other angles

You may be aware that your ancestor’s life was affected by particular circumstances that may have given rise to additional records.

If your ancestor committed a crime, you could search the records of courts of law held here. We hold the archives of the Herefordshire Quarter Sessions, which include, with gaps, minute books that name prisoners, 1679-1971, lists of prisoners, 1802-1971, and rolls of papers giving details of individual cases, 1697-1971. We also hold registers of less serious cases heard at the Petty Sessional courts of Herefordshire covering the period 1884-1975.

Your ancestor is likely to have attended school in Herefordshire. We hold admission and discharge registers for many schools and other educational establishments in the county. These contain details such as dates, home address and name of parents. Log books, which give an insight into the daily management of schools, are also held here. It is always worth trying our extensive personal names index in the searchroom. You never know who might turn up.

Step 9 - Keep track of your research

Always make careful notes of your research and all the sources you have consulted along the way. Remember to note all those places you have explored without initial success. They might be useful later on. Above all, don’t expect instant results. It may take some time, but we hope you enjoy the hunt.

If you’re stuck, you can always ask our friendly staff for help and advice. Contact us at Herefordshire Record Office, Harold Street, Hereford HR1 2QX (Tel. 01432 260750; email archives@herefordshire.gov.uk).