Genealogical research has been described as a cross between a good detective novel and a jigsaw puzzle. Certainly there is the thrill of the chase, and there is great satisfaction when a particularly elusive ancestor is found and put in his allotted place on the family tree. The aim of this book is to provide the beginner with the basic information he needs to carry his research back to the sixteenth century in Great Britain. Thus it focuses on the essentials--from the starting point of research through to the recording of the family tree. At the same time it provides accurate and up-to-date information on the traditional sources of information in Britain--census records, parish registers, records of civil registration, wills, and so forth. This new seventh edition takes into account all the latest developments in British genealogical research, from the completion of the 1881 Census Project to the transfer of civil registration indexes and census returns to the new Family Records Centre in London. For researchers at every level of the research process this new work supplies the names, addresses, and holdings of all the key record repositories in Britain. Since the late George Pelling's book was first published in 1980, it has become a standard introductory work for those beginning their family history. This new seventh edition, published in the UK by the Federation of Family History Societies, has been revised and updated by Pauline Litton, a vice-president of the Federation and editor of its Basic Facts series. George Pelling was a vice-president and former chairman of the Federation of Family History Societies and was a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists (London).
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Road Map to Find Your British Ancestors (If You Have Any),
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 109,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 100 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Beginning Your Family History in Great Britain 7th ed. (Paperback)
Many people have told me that they would like to know more about their family's history, but they don't know how to get started. My aunt undertook to capture our family's history a few years ago, and did very well until she reached the ancestor who first came from Britain to the United States. She didn't know what to do next. This book would have been a fabulous resource for her. Many beginning books just look at planning steps. This book goes well beyond that. It gives you a sense of the reasons for doing geneology, a process to use, how to locate the best resources that may fit your situation, and what to do with the information you develop. Although I knew nothing about geneology until I read this book, I can see ways that my aunt could have greatly improved and eased her task even when looking at U.S. ancestors. Naturally, if you live in Great Britain now, this book is even more valuable. The book looks at sources outside of England in detail, including Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Channel islands, and the Isle of Mann. You get access to official records, church records (conforming and nonconforming), indexes, and unofficial records of all sorts. It looks like you should be able to make good process back into the middle 16th century, but luck is required before then. Personally, I have never understood the difference between a first cousin once removed and a second cousin. This book has a wonderful table that explains all of those definitions that had been beyond my simple understanding. One aspect of this book that is interesting relates to the ways that families prefer to keep certain secrets. These secrets often make it difficult for geneologists. Misconceptions abound in the cleaned-up records that families often share with one another. The family Bible is not necessarily accurate, for instance. Use this book to overtake your own misconceptions about the perfection of your forbearers.
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