Wales Research Guidance

Wales Research Guidance for Birth Wales | Birth | 1536-1837

1. Parish Register, Baptism: Church records Parish registers are the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded by Anglican church officials at the time of an event. Christening records may state the name of the child, christening date, names of parents, place of residence of the family, and occupation of the father. Rarely is the child's birth date and mother's maiden name recorded. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine the year of birth. If the family's religion is not known, check all church denominations in the area where they lived. Indexes to christening records may exist.. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in church records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 2. Bishops Transcript: Church records Bishop's transcripts are copies of the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in registers by Anglican church officials at the time of an event. The official sent the copies to the bishop of the Diocese. Bishop's transcripts do not start for some areas of Wales until 1799. Christening records may state the name of the child, christening date, names of parents, place of residence of the family and the occupation of the father. Rarely is the child's birth date and mother's maiden name recorded. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine a possible year of birth. Indexes to bishop's transcripts may exist. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in bishop's transcripts. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 3. Chapel Records: Church records The records of church denominations in Wales other than the Anglican Church are often referred to as chapel records. These records include the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in registers by church officials at the time of an event. In these records you may find names (including relatives), dates, places, and occupations. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine year of birth. If a family's religion is not known, check all church denominations in the area where they lived. Indexes to chapel records may exist. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in chapel records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 4. History of a Congregation: Church history Histories of congregations and denominations can provide detailed information about an individual or group of people. Details of births, marriages, parents, schooling, migration, deaths, and other information may be provided. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in a congregation history. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 5. Census: Census A census is a count and description of the population. National census records were taken every ten years beginning in 1841 and list people by name and by household. They are especially valuable because they list the majority of the population and are readily available at many repositories. In these records you may find names of the members of a household, gender, marital status, relationship to the head of the household, age, address, occupation, and birthplace. Indexes to census records may exist. Search for indexes on a county or parish level. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in census records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 6. Marriage Certificate: Civil registration Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning 1 July 1837. In these records you may find names, ages (which you can use to determine a year of birth), marital status, fathers' names and occupations, the occupations and residences of the bride and groom, and names of witnesses. You must purchase a copy of a marriage certificate to see the information in the original record. Civil registration marriage records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the national index to identify and obtain a copy of a marriage certificate. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in civil registration marriage records. 7. Death Certificate: Civil registration Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning 1 July 1837. In these records you may find the name of the deceased, death date and place, age at death (which you can use to determine the year of birth), occupation (or in the case of a child, a parent's name), cause of death, and the name, address, and sometimes relationship of a person present at the death. Civil registration death records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the national index to identify and obtain a copy of a death certificate. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in civil registration death records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. Wales | Birth | 1837-Present 1. Birth Certificate: Civil registration Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning 1 July 1837. In these records you may find a child's name, birth date and place, names of parents (including mother's maiden name), father's occupation, and the name, address, and sometimes the relationship of a person present at the birth. Civil registration birth records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the national index to identify and obtain a copy of a birth certificate. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in the civil registration birth index. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 2. Chapel Records: Church records The records of church denominations in Wales other than the Anglican Church are often referred to as chapel records. These records include the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in registers by church officials at the time of an event. In these records you may find names (including relatives), dates, places, and occupations. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine year of birth. If a family's religion is not known, check all church denominations in the area where they lived. Indexes to chapel records may exist. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in chapel records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 3. Parish Register, Baptism: Church records Parish registers are the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded by Anglican church officials at the time of an event. Christening records may state the name of the child, christening date, names of parents, place of residence of the family, and occupation of the father. Rarely is the child's birth date and mother's maiden name recorded. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine the year of birth. If the family's religion is not known, check all church denominations in the area where they lived. Indexes to christening records may exist.. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in parish registers. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 4. Bishops Transcript: Church records Bishop's transcripts are copies of the christenings or baptisms, marriages, and burials recorded in registers by Anglican church officials at the time of an event. The official sent the copies to the bishop of the Diocese. Bishop's transcripts do not start for some areas of Wales until 1799. Christening records may state the name of the child, christening date, names of parents, place of residence of the family and the occupation of the father. Rarely is the child's birth date and mother's maiden name recorded. A marriage or burial entry might give an age at the time of the event that could be used to determine a possible year of birth. Indexes to bishop's transcripts may exist. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in bishop's transcripts. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 5. Census: Census A census is a count and description of the population. National census records were taken every ten years beginning in 1841 and list people by name and by household. They are especially valuable because they list the majority of the population and are readily available at many repositories. In these records you may find names of the members of a household, gender, marital status, relationship to the head of the household, age, address, occupation, and birthplace. Indexes to census records may exist. Search for indexes on a county or parish level. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in census records. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 6. Marriage Certificate: Civil registration Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning 1 July 1837. In these records you may find names, ages (which you can use to determine a year of birth), marital status, fathers' names and occupations, the occupations and residences of the bride and groom, and names of witnesses. You must purchase a copy of a marriage certificate to see the information in the original record. Civil registration marriage records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the national index to identify and obtain a copy of a marriage certificate. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in the civil registration marriage index. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details. 7. Death Certificate: Civil registration Civil registration is the government registration of births, marriages, and deaths, beginning 1 July 1837. In these records you may find the name of the deceased, death date and place, age at death (which you can use to determine the year of birth), occupation (or in the case of a child, a parent's name), cause of death, and the name, address, and sometimes relationship of a person present at the death. Civil registration death records cover most of the population and are indexed countrywide. Use the national index to identify and obtain a copy of a death certificate. What you are looking for Your ancestor's name in the civil registration death index. Why go to the next record You may want to go to the next record because:

1. You did not find any information in the above record. 2. You found information but it conflicts with what you know. 3. You found information but would like to find additional details.