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Wales Research Outline |
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Welsh Search Strategies
Step 1. Identify What You Know About Your Family
Step 2. Decide What You Want To Learn
Step 3. Select A Record To Search
Step 4. Find And Search The Record
Step 5. Use The Information
The Family History Library Catalog
Map: Wales Pre - 1974 County Structure
Map: Wales 1974 - 1966 County Structure
Map: Wales Post-1966 County Structure
Archives And Libraries
National Archives And Libraries
County Record Offices
Public And Academic Libraries
Family And Local History Society Libraries
Special Archives
Locating Web Sites For Record Offices And Libraries
Inventories, Registers, Catalogs, And Schedules
Biography
Cemeteries
Census
National Census
Understanding The Census
Searching Census Records
Locating Census Records
Census Records At The Family History Library
Census Indexes
Church Directories
Church History
Church Records
Civil Registration
General Historical Background
Information Recorded In Civil Registers
Locating Civil Registration Records
Indexes To Civil Registration Records
Searching Civil Registration Records And Indexes
Records At The Family History Library
Miscellaneous Indexes
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
Major Collections And Databases
Family Histories
Genealogical Collections
Research Coordination
Historical Geography
History
Land And Property
Estate Records
Availability Of Estate Records
Manorial Records
Language And Languages
Maps
Merchant Marine
Military Records
History And Background
Twentieth Century Records
Understanding Military Records
Locating Military And Naval Records
Records At The Family History Library
Search Strategies
Handbooks For Military Records
Names, Personal
Patronymic Names In Wales
Other Types Of Surnames
Adopting A Surname
Newspapers
Nobility
Occupations
Periodicals
Probate Records
Types Of Probate Records
Laws And Customs
Guardianship
Probating A Will
Pre-1858 Probate Courts
Post-1857 Probate Courts
Estate Duty Wills And Administrations
Locating Probate Records
Determining The Court
Indexes
Probate Records At The Family History Library
Records Not At The Family History Library
Difficulties In Locating A Pre-1858 Record
Schools
Societies
Family History Societies
Association Of Family History Societies Of Wales
The Federation Of Family History Societies
Local History Societies
One-name Groups
Locating Records At The Family History Library
Taxation
Other Records
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions
ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations, such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm. This section describes the major repositories of genealogical and historical record sources for Wales.
All record repositories in Wales have heavy public use. You should contact the repository you plan to visit several weeks in advance to obtain a reader’s ticket, to reserve a seat or a microfilm reader, and to find out hours, services, and fees.
Remember that the Family History Library may have copies of the records you need.
In Wales, there are several types of repositories containing information of genealogical value:
National Library of Wales
Guide to the Department of Manuscripts and Records: The National Library of Wales. Aberystwyth, Wales: National Library of Wales, 1996. (FHL book 942.9 A3g; computer number 0752109.)
The National Library of Wales has a Web site at:
Kew Lists: Public Record Office. Norwich, England: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1986–88. (FHL book 942 A3gp vol. 1; computer number 0541219; The Current Guide is on FHL fiche 6092282 pt.1, 42 fiche; 6092283 pt.2, 6 fiche 6092284 index, 10 fiche; computer number 0700225.)
For another helpful guide to the Public Record Office, see:
Bevan, Amanda, and Andrea Duncan. Tracing Your Ancestors in the Public Record Office. 4th. ed. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1990. (FHL book 942 A5p no. 19; computer number 0529932.)
The Public Record Office has a Web site at:
The Family Records Centre also has copies of census records from 1841 to1891, nonconformist chapel records, probate records, Regimental Registers, and Chaplains’ Returns.
The British Library
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. Guide To The Location Of Collections Described in the Reports and Calendars Series 1870–1980. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1982. (FHL book 942 H25gs vol. 3; computer number 0204994.)
You can contact this commission at:
All Welsh counties have an archive that contains records about its particular area. Genealogical records in these offices include land records, church records, taxation records, probate records, miscellaneous indexes, and collections. Some county record offices have personal or place-name indexes to some of the records in their collection.
County record offices are open to the public. Some require a reader’s ticket. If you write for information, be as concise as possible. The offices are small and have limited staff, so you may have to wait a few weeks for a reply. If the staff does not have the time to search their records, ask for a list of record agents who can search the records for you.
Books listing addresses for the county records offices are:
Istance, Jean and E. E. Cann, comp. Researching Family History in Wales. Birmingham: The Federation of Family History Societies (Publications) Ltd., 1996. (FHL British 942.9 A3i; computer number 0798192.)
Mortimer, Ian, ed. Record Repositories in Great Britain. 10th ed. Kew, Surrey: PRO Publications, 1997. (FHL British 942 J54r 1997; computer number 0829616.)
Public libraries collect many published sources such as local histories, city directories, maps, newspapers, family histories, and parish registers. Some also have manuscript collections. Academic libraries house family papers, estate records, and other historical and genealogical material. You can contact the following academic libraries at:
Family and local history societies collect and write histories of the people and places within their area of interest. Some of these societies have libraries.
Addresses of some sources are listed in the following books:
Henderson, S.P.A,. and A.J.W. Henderson, ed. Directory of British Associations & Associations in Ireland. 13th ed. Beckenham, Kent: CBD Research Ltd., 1996. (FHL book 942 E4hd.)
Pinhorn, Malcolm. Historical, Archaeological and Kindred Societies in the United Kingdom: A List. Isle of Wight: Pinhorns, 1986. (FHL book 942 C4h 1986; computer number 0370075.) An update to this book was published in 1995.
City, occupational, and ecclesiastical archives also hold family history information. Holdings and services vary widely. Addresses for libraries and archives can be found in:
Foster, Janet, and Julia Sheppard, British Archives: A Guide to Archive Resources in the United Kingdom. 3rd ed. New York: Stockton Press, 1995. (FHL book 942 J54f 1995; computer number 0763911.)
To locate a Web site for county record offices, public and academic libraries, family and local history society libraries, and special archives, go to the GENUKI Web site at:
Most archives have publications that describe their collections and how to use them. If possible, study these guides before you visit or use the records so you can use your time more effectively. Many published inventories, guides, catalogs, and directories for archives and libraries are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under:
To use NIDS start with the name and subject index available on microfiche and compact disc (London: Chadwick-Healey, 1986–; FHL fiche 6341118; computer number 0603487; compact disc 1313 no. 10; computer number 0176976.) To find the Family History Library call numbers, look in the Author/Title Search of the microfiche version of the Family History Library Catalog for:
NATIONAL INVENTORY OF DOCUMENTARY SOURCES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND
Currently, the only Welsh repositories included in NIDS are the National Library of Wales, the Anglesey Record Office, the Clwyd Record Office, the Dyfed Archives Service, and the Gwynedd County Record Office. Other Welsh record offices, as well as record offices in other parts of the British Isles, will be added in the future.
Many repositories outside Wales have land and property records relating to Welsh places. When searching indexes to the National Inventory of Documentary Sources, try a search for the county in Wales where your ancestor lived to see how many English record offices have records that may help you. If the indexes have no related entries then go to the individual repository schedules that have information about the general area where your ancestor lived.
For more information on archives and libraries look in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:
Computers with modems can be useful tools for obtaining information from selected archives and libraries. In a way, computer networks themselves serve as a library. The Internet, certain computer bulletin boards, and commercial on-line services can help family history researchers:
You can find computerized research tips and information about ancestors from Wales in a variety of sources at local, state, national, and international levels. The list of sources is growing rapidly. Most of the information is available at no cost.
You can access the FamilySearch™ Internet Genealogy Service at www.familysearch.org. This Web site, created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may help you with your family history by allowing you to:
Addresses on the Internet change frequently. As of July 1999 the following site is an important gateway linking you to many network and bulletin board sites:
www.genuki.org.uk/
GENUKI is a cooperative effort made by many genealogical and historical societies to list databases, libraries, bulletin boards, and other resources available on the Internet for parishes and counties.
The Family History Library and some Family History Centers have computers with FamilySearch™. These computers may not have access to computer on-line services, networks, or bulletin boards. These services are available at many public libraries, college libraries, and private locations.
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National Archives and Libraries
. This library houses church, court, probate, census, tax, and land records; copies of newspapers and maps; and many private collections. You must have a reader’s ticket to use the collection. However, the ticket may be obtained as you enter the library. You can write to this library at:
National Library of Wales
A helpful guide to the National Library of Wales, Department of Manuscripts and Records is:
Department of Manuscripts and Records
Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 3BU
Wales
www.llgc.org.uk
Public Record Office. The Public Record Office collects records of the central government, such as parliamentary papers and law courts from 1086 to the present. It is located in England but has many Welsh records. These records can provide you with much information but are best used after you have gathered information elsewhere. You must have a reader’s ticket to use this collection, but you may apply for one when you arrive. You can contact this office at:
Public Record Office
For a detailed list of the records housed in the Public Record Office, see:
Ruskin Avenue, Kew
Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU
England
www.pro.gov.uk
Information is also accessible through the GENUKI Web site at:
www.genuki.org.uk
Office for National Statistics. The Office for National Statistics (formerly known as the General Register Office) is responsible for government birth, marriage, and death certificates from 1 July 1837 to the present for all of Wales. Copies of the office’s records are housed at the Family Records Centre in London. See the “Civil Registration” section of this outline for the address.
. The British Library collects all materials published in England and Wales. It also has a manuscript department. You need a reader’s ticket to use materials in this facility. Because the library’s collection is so complex, usually only experienced researchers use it. You can contact this library at:
British Library at St. Pancras
The British Library has a Web site at:
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
England
www.bl.uk
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts. This organization houses the Manorial Documents Register (see the “Court Records” section of this outline) and the National Register of Archives (NRA). The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts has been working to inventory records that are in archives and private collections. The commission’s finding aid, the National Register of Archives (NRA), includes over 191,000 lists of manuscript collections and close to 5,000 finding aids and annual reports from various repositories. These lists are indexed. Searches can be made in these indexes via the Internet. The Family History Library has some of the published indexes. These indexes are divided into three sections by person, business, and organization. Look in the Author/Title Search of the Family History Library Catalog under “Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts.” Also check the Locality Search under:
GREAT BRITAIN - HISTORY - SOURCESWALES - HISTORY - SOURCES - INDEXES
The NRA may be used to learn about estate records that are in private hands and at various record offices. Many of the records described by the commission have changed hands since being examined. For information about the current location of records surveyed by the commission see:
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts
The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts has a Web site at:
Quality House, Quality Court
Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1HP
England
www.hmc.gov.uk
There are a links from the commission’s home page to both the Manorial Documents Register and the National Register of Archives.
County Record Offices
Public and Academic Libraries
University College of North Wales Library
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DG
Wales
University College of Swansea Library
For addresses of public libraries and other university libraries, see the publication British Archives listed in “Special Archives” in this section.
Singleton Park
Swansea, West Glamorgan SA2 8PP
Wales
Family and Local History Society Libraries
Special Archives
Locating Web sites for Record Offices and Libraries
www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/#Counties
From the above site
Click [County of your choice]
Click Archives and Libraries
Inventories, and SchedulesGREAT BRITAIN-ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES-INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS-INDEXESENGLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS WALES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGSWALES, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGSWALES, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES - INVENTORIES, REGISTERS, CATALOGS
For a microfiche collection of calendars and finding aids for many British archives, libraries, and museums, see the National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United Kingdom and Ireland
(NIDS). It provides a detailed listing of the boxes, folders, or sometimes individual documents contained in various collections.
GREAT BRITAIN - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESENGLAND - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESWALES - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESWALES, [COUNTY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIESWALES, [COUNTY], [CITY] - ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES
Computer Networks and Bulletin Boards
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