England & Wales Research Guides

The England & Wales Census England & Wales Research Guides Censuses are surveys conducted by the government to discover information about the country’s population. These are unique because they include all citizens at the same time and ask the same set of

England & Wales Parish Registers England & Wales Research Guides In addition to aiding in tracing family history back before census records, parish records can provide detailed supporting evidence for research after Civil Registration records began in 1837. In September 1538 a nationwide

England & Wales Parish Chest Records England & Wales Research Guides Traditionally, parish registers were kept in a locked chest, known as the “Parish Chest”, in churches for safekeeping. Prior to the Victorian era, the English parish church was a major secular institution.

England and Wales Probates & Wills England & Wales Research Guides For family historians, wills and other probate documents are invaluable. Even if you believe the deceased left nothing valuable, you should check for the existence of a will. From 1858 onwards, the

England & Wales Birth, Marriage and Death Records England & Wales Research Guides The civil registration of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths in England and Wales began on 1 July 1837. Prior to that, only churches recorded birth, marriage, and death information. Birth

England & Wales Cemetery Records England & Wales Research Guides Prior to the introduction of Civil Registration in 1837, Church of England burial registers are the primary source for information about deaths. The Church of England burial registers date back to the 16th