Research Sources

The list below gives some of the items which may be of use to you in your family research. Some of these you will have at home, some may be in your local library, record office or family history centre and others may be checked by a professional researcher on your behalf.

Family Sources

The best place to start is at home and with your family. Don't neglect to talk to the older members of your family; they have a wealth of information that you will never find in books. Ask them about the old days - most of them love talking about it. Then check to see if anyone in the family has:

• Family Bible
• Diaries, Letters, Birthday Books
• Photographs, School Reports, Military Medals

Gloucestershire Records:

The following records relate specifically to Gloucestershire and Bristol and are important sources of information.

• Bigland's Memorial Inscriptions
• Hockaday Papers
• Gloucestershire Transportees
• Smith's Men and Armour in Gloucestershire in 1608
• Military Survey of Gloucestershire for 1552
• Medieval Taxpayers of Gloucestershire for 1327
• Gloucestershire Notes and Queries
• Fosbrook's History of the City of Gloucester
• Victoria County History for Gloucestershire
• Registers of Freemen of Gloucester 1641 - 1838
• Cheltenham Settlement Examinations 1815 - 1826
• Cheltenham Probate Records 1660 - 1740
• Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations 1637 - 1700
• Bristol Marriage Licence Bonds 1637 - 1700
• The Laws of Dean Forest
• Freeminers' Registrations and Applications for Gales

General Records:

• General Register Office for birth, marriage and death certificates (B,M,D)
• Parish Registers for christenings, marriages and burials (C,M,B)
• International Genealogical Index
• Bishops' Transcripts
• Census Records for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891
• Wills and Administrations (County wills, PCC wills, National Probate Calendars)
• Education Records (School, College, University, Legal, Medical, Clerical professions)
• Military Records (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Merchant Services, Militia)
• Non-Conformist Records (Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Jewish, Society of Friends, Roman Catholic, etc.)
• Medical Records
• Apprenticeship Records, Guild records, Lists of Freemen
• Poor Law Records (Examinations, Settlements, Certificates)
• Newspapers (B, M, D notices, obituaries, etc.)
• Marriage Licences, Bonds and Settlements
• Quarter Sessions, Assize Records and Coroners' Records
• Street and Trade Directories
• Electoral Rolls
• Emigration Records
• Land, Hearth and Window Tax documents
• Title Deeds and Indentures
• Manorial Records

Gloucestershire Research:

There are many more records which can be accessed in the search for information about your ancestors. If you would like me to check any of the above, or other items not yet listed, please contact me, Liz Jack.