
You will find the address, name, relation to head of family, marital status, age and gender, occupation, where born and then – strange to our 21st century eyes – the final column entitled “Whether blind or deaf and dumb”. More information is provided here than on the previous 1841 census. The 1851 to 1901 census forms, produced every ten years, give us more information. These began in 1841 with very basic information, often just the names of those living at an address. The other main sources of information are the censuses. An entry blacked out with the words “This record is officially closed” means that that person is still living. The house number is in the left hand column, then the number of people in the household at that time, their names, their gender, date of birth, age, marital status and occupation. The following is an example of an entry from the 1939 register: However as this is the beginning of World War Two, some family members may have been called up and some children may have been evacuated away from home and so will not be included. It is perhaps easiest to start with the censuses and registers, the most recent of which is the 1939 register.
Find my family tree free full#
To begin, simply start by entering all the details you know about one of your relatives: their full name, where they lived, their date of birth (if known) and then you’re off!
Find my family tree free trial#
Sites such as Ancestry, FindMyPast and MyHeritage all offer a free trial period, after which a small monthly fee is to be paid depending on the amount of access you require from their databases. To fill in the gaps and to go further back in time, the easiest way to progress is via an online family research site.

A tree usually takes one of two forms: either horizontal:Ĭhoose the style that seems right for you.

Nevertheless, you should be able to construct a simple family tree from this information. On further investigation, it transpired they came from the West Country – Cornwall! Ask everyone in the family for their stories some may be based in truth and help with your research, others however may be a little off the mark! An example of this when asking an elderly relative about the family, one researcher (namely the one writing this guide!) was told with great certainty that her husband’s family came from Westmorland, Cumbria. This is the quickest way to begin assembling your family tree.

Step 5: Search parish records and visit churchyards.Step 4: Use the free online BMD directories.Step 2: Use online tools, census, registers.
