Chris E's "Recommended Research Websites"

CategoriesWebsite DescriptionWebsite
AchivesDescriptions of archives in over 250 UK universities and collages; name search facility.Click for website250 Universities
AdoptionFirst port of call for anyone searching for, or making contact with, birth and adopted relatives, or researching an adoption that took place in the UK.Click for websiteAdoption Research Reunion UK
Archive – ScotlandScottish Archive NetworkClick for websiteSingle electronic catalogue of more than 20,000 collections of historical records held by 52 Scottish archives.
Archive (Ireland)National Archives of IrelandClick for websiteCensus 1901 and 1911 and survivals 1821-1851; tithe applotment books 1823-1827; soldiers wills 1914-1917; calendars of wills and administration 1858-1922
Archive (TNA)The National ArchivesClick for websiteResources to help find UK records, including topical research guides, catalogue, digitised records, collection of WWI letters, diaries, maps etc.
Archive (USA)National Archives and Records Administration :Click for websiteUSA TNA Information on American genealogy along with links to records.
Archive-Indexes USAUS Dept. of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management.Click for websiteGeneral Land Office Records – 5,000,000 federal land title records issued between 1788 and present
ArchivesHolds a large number of archives of regional, national and international importance.Click for websiteYork / Borthwick
ArchivesParliamentary ArchivesClick for websiteExplore over 500 years of the UK parliament.
Archives / LibraryNew York Public Library Digital Collections :Click for websiteA constantly growing collection including photographs of early New York.
Archives NSW AustralianNew Sth Wales AustraliaClick for websiteLinks to Census data, Convicts, Immigration and Shipping, Maps and Plans plus much more.
AustraliaMy Ancestors.comClick for websiteA free link library for genealogy and ancestry records in Australia. A good informative site but ads can be a bit annoying.
Births, Marriages & DeathsGRO – UK General Record OfficeClick for websitefree search birth, marriage and death indexes. Buy online certificates
Calculating money valueMeasuring WorthClick for websitePurchasing Power of British Pounds from 1270 to Present
Canadian RecordsGenealogy and archival research: Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceClick for websiteRoyal Canadian Mountain Police
CemeteriesOver 2.5 million inscriptions and three quarters of a million online images.Click for websiteAustralian Cemeteries Index
Collection(Connected Histories) 25 major digital resources for the period 1500-1900 and allows searching of names, places and dates.Click for websiteWorldwide selection of resources from 16th to 20th Century
Convict RegistersSearch prison, convict etc. records to see if the black sheep in your family are included. Click for websiteBlack Sheep Ancestors – United States, UK and Canada.
Criminal – LondonThe Old BaileyClick for websiteProceedings at the court 1674-1913; nearly 200,000 London criminal trial records.
DirectoryHistorical Directories of England and Wales : Historical Directories of England and WalesClick for websiteDigital library of local / trade directories.
Family History & HeraldryInstitute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies :Click for websiteSchool of Family History founded in 1961.
ForcesDetails of regimental museums.Click for websiteArmy Museums Ogilby Trust :
ForcesMilitary genealogy resources plus military dataClick for websiteForces War Records
Genealogy WebsitesA vast site containing the largest collection of free genealogy sites for United States research. Click for websiteAccess Genealogy : USA
Genealogy WebsitesI Dream of Genealogy – Search over 60,000 free genealogy databases from the US, Canada, Ireland, Europe, Australia and more.Click for websiteUnited States, Canada, Ireland, Europe, Australia and more.
Genealogy WikiISOGG WikiClick for websiteA genetic genealogy encyclopedia.
GravesThe largest searchable resource for searching GPS cemetery data.Click for websiteBillion Graves
GravesFind a Grave Searchable database of graves.Click for websiteFind a Grave
Great WarLong, Long Trail Click for websiteThe British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918. Including where to find records and how to interpret them.
Indexes USA, Canada, UK, Europe.A large collection of free indexes from around the world, including USA, Canada, UK, Europe.Click for websiteUSA, Canada, UK, Europe.
IndexesDebt of Honour Register and online indexClick for websiteCommonwealth War Graves Commission
IndexesOnline Genealogy Index (OGI)Click for websiteA simple and efficient way of finding genealogical data online.
IndexesThe Ryerson IndexClick for websiteThe Ryerson Index is a free index to death notices appearing in Australian newspapers. The period covers from the Sydney Gazette in 1803 to the present day.
Indexes USA statesUS Gen Web ProjectClick for websiteEvolving free website with no registration or login required to access over 3,000 linked websites and much, much more.
Irish researchIrish Genealogy ToolkitClick for websiteFree and independent guide to finding your Irish ancestors with Wiki.
Library (IrelandNational Library of IrelandClick for websiteOnline searchable catalogue of holdings; plus online images of Catholic parish registers.
Library (Wales and Millitary)National Library of WalesClick for websiteOnline catalogue of over 4 million entries; WWI programme of remembrance.
Library AustraliaTrove (National Library of Australia)Click for websiteAustralian online resources – books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives and more.
Library BritishCatalogue of over 12 million books, serials, printed music and maps; newspaper catalogue of over 52,000 newspaper and periodical titles; India Office Select Materials.Click for websiteBooks, Newsapers & Maps
Library British HistoryDigital library of primary and secondary sources for the history of Britain and Ireland, with primary focus on the period between 1300 and 1800.Click for websiteBritain & Ireland between 1300 and 1800.
Library DerbyshireResearch Projects, exploring England’s rich local history – Victoria County History (VCH)Click for websitewww.history.ac.uk/.research/victoria-county-history
Library/Archive CanadaLibrary and Archives CanadaClick for websiteEnables you to access Census, Genealogy and Family History, Military Heritage data along with other topics.
Library (Haiti)Hathi Trust Digital Library :Click for websiteWide variety of digital collections from around the world including some non-conformist magazines.
MapsDavid Rumseys Map CollectionClick for websiteHistorical collection of maps for the USA and elsewhere.
MapsMaps of all UKClick for websiteHosted by the National Library of Scotland. Includes side by side maps
MilitaryMilitary Service RecordsClick for websiteHow to obtain more recent service records including personnel who served in WWII.
Millitary WW1Western Front Association (WFA)Click for websiteAims to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of all those on all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders during the Great War.
NewspapersGoogle News ArchiveClick for websiteA large archive of various newspapers from around the world.
Newspapers NZPapers PastClick for websiteDigitised full text New Zealand and Pacific newspapers, magazines and journals, books and other formats.
People DataBaseFree searchable database of 11 million immigrants to New York. 1820 – 1892Click for websiteCastle Garden : New York America’s First Immigration Center
People DataBaseDeceased online – UK burial and cremation records.Click for websiteUK
People DataBaseSearchable database and copies of passenger manifests of ships arriving at Ellis Island from 1892-1924.Click for websiteEllis Island Immigrants to US
People DataBasesPeople finder site, including a comprehensive database of current UK residents.Click for website192.com :
PhotosDead Fred – free searchable genealogical photo archive.Click for websiteUSA
Place NamesGazetteer of British Place NamesClick for websiteFind the historic county for one of over 280,000 places in Gt Britain.
PlacesRegister of One-Place StudiesClick for websiteOnline studies of the history of particular places.
ResearchFreeBMD: search birth, marriage and death records from the GRO Index for England and WalesClick for websiteFreeBMD :
ResearchFreeCEN: search UK census returnsClick for websiteSearch UK census data. For Free
ResearchFreeREG: search UK baptism, marriage and burial recordsClick for websiteIndexed ent’ from many parish & non-conformist regs of England, Scotland and Wales.
ResearchGenealogy Search EngineClick for websiteFree genealogy search engine in ass’ with Genealogy in Time magazine.
ResearchFamily History FanaticsClick for websiteGuides and Training
ResearchVirtual reference library of genealogical information of particular relevance to the UK and Ireland. Forthcoming genealogical events on GENEVA.Click for websiteGenuki
Research Guides (USA)Research Guides – USAClick for websiteTips and online records for the USA.
ResourcesA comprehensive link site for genealogy and family history research in Canada.Click for websiteCanada
ResourcesSite which gives free guides, tips, links to free websites and much more. The site is mainly focused on US genealogy, but there are links to the UK and elsewhere.Click for websiteFamily History Daily
ResourcesProbably the best genealogical research site.Click for websiteFamily Search Wiki
Transportation (Tasmania)Genealogy & Free DatabasesClick for websiteSite giving information / links to Cemeteries, Convicts, Immigration, Passenger Lists and much more.
Uk Population Study (Cambridge Uni’)Atlas of Victorian and Edwardian Population 1851 – 1911Click for websiteAn interactive map enabling the user to view various social conditions e.g. Mortality & Health, Households, Socio-economic status etc., between 1851 and 1911.
USA & Canadian AncestryOlive Tree GenealogyClick for websiteA free genealogy site which includes Passenger lists, Canadian and US Genealogy links, plus much more.
USA GazetteerHome Town LocatorClick for website50 State Gazetteers, plus the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, DC Gazetteers
USA research, includes slaveryUSA website with links to all states, & plus various data on subjects re: Historical, Native American, Slavery etc.Click for websiteUSA & Free Genealogy Trails volunteer Transcribed
War Memorials UKRoll of HonourClick for websiteWar memorials from across the UK.
Wills & ProbateThe GazetteClick for websiteOfficial Government notices, including wills, probate, civillian and military awards, insolvency, planning and transport notices.
Wills & ProbateProbateClick for websiteAccess to post – 1858 England and Wales wills; index of wills for soldiers who died on active service from 1860-1982.
Worldwide SearchesLinkpendiumClick for websiteIs a 10,000,000+ resource directory to everything on the web about families worldwide and genealogically relevant information about US states and counties. Also has links to the UK and Ireland.
Worldwide SearchesOne Step Web Pages – Unilateral One Stop ShopClick for website
WW1Index cards of 5 million service personnel and civilians captured in WWI and sent to detention camps.Click for websitePrisoners of WW1 International Red Cross Archive
WW1 & WW2WWI / WWII collections plus access to Faces of WWI & Lives of WWII plus War Memorials Archive.Click for websiteImperial War Museums – Collections