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Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 18 Jul 2014 11:09AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi everyone, just got into genealogy in the last few days. Having a lot of fun so far. My main reason for getting into it, was because I lost contact with the entirety of my paternal family. I was attempting to create a family tree in order to find out aunties, uncles, cousins, second cousins etc, so that it might help me establish contact with the family again.

My question is specific to the UK as I think the rules and record types vary from country to country. Am I right in thinking that the only way to trace my pedigree is to buy my fathers birth certificate and use that to find my grandparents, and then buy their birth certificates to find my great grandparents etc?

And Once I find my grand parents, how do I find their siblings, and children so that I can find some of my living relatives? At the moment I only know how to go up the ladder, and not parallel or back down the ladder again.

Any help will be appreciated. A humble request to admin not to move the thread as I need to know regarding the UK specifically, and any general sections will have people from the states and other places where the rules and techniques and laws etc will all be different. Many thanks

So far I have only managed to locate my dad and his brother on the birth index, and my grand parents in the marriage index. I have not been able to get further than this and don't have any further informatio. My plan next is to purchase my dads birth certificate so that I can find my grandparents birth dates so I can locate them in the birth index, Unfortunately Mason was a common surname in Yorskhire so there were many people born around that time with similar names so I can't go further than this without learning additional researchign techniques.

Many Thanks.

Dawud Beale

Re: Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 18 Jul 2014 12:18PM GMT
Classification: Query
A good start is to thoroughly explore the GENUKI site, particularly the sections "Getting Started in Genealogy and Family History" and "Researching From Abroad". Your local library probably has a book or two on UK family history research.

For further help and information about MASON in Yorkshire, post on the Yorkshire board. Include as much information as you have (first names, dates, etc.) to enable someone to help you. YORKSGEN is the free RootsWeb mailing list for Yorkshire and an excellent source of help. Subscription instructions and list info can be found at http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/intl/ENG/YORKSGEN.h... Wouldn't hurt to join the MASON mailing list as well. There's one specifically for MASON in England. See http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/index/surname/m/mason.htm...

Good luck.

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Re: Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 19 Jul 2014 10:10AM GMT
Classification: Query
Birth and marriage certificates are a great way to find factual details about ancestors and often, if the name is not too common, you can determine the family on some census records, especially if an address on a certificate matches.

How about giving some details of a deceased relative and we'll see what we can find?

Also, try posting on the MASON surname board and a distant cousin may spot it. It's happened for me.

Sue

Re: Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 26 Jul 2014 4:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Buying a few certificates will help to get you started. If you have surnames/index reference for both of your grandparents then start with their marriage certificate as this will give you not just their ages but their fathers names and occupations. This may give you enough information to take you back to the 1911 census. You say you know how to go up the ladder so look for people who already have these people in their family trees.
For more recent births such as aunts and uncles use freebmd.org.uk.If you have both grandparents surnames put these into a search for births and a period of time across which to search. Mason may be a common name but by including your grandmothers maiden name you will limit the search. This only works for births from 1913 when mothers maiden names were included on the records but will come up with a list of children born to people with those two surnames. If you have some idea where they lived this will narrow down the results even more. Hope you find these suggestions helpful
Regards
Julie

Re: Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 12 Aug 2014 10:59AM GMT
Classification: Query
The birth certificates certainly help but also use the marriage certificate because this gives fathers names and occupations. As regards siblings the best way prior to 1911 is the census records. After 1912 births have the mothers maiden name so that should get siblings after then.
Regards
Mike Knight

Re: Techniques for locating family in United Kingdom

Posted: 30 Jul 2015 2:38AM GMT
Classification: Query
Ancestry Academy has some excellent tips on how and where to search using minimal information.
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