Gathering Some Leaves for the Tree

Blaeu's 1654 Map of Britain

It’s autumn in the northern hemisphere, so in this post I share some interesting genealogy sources that will hopefully lend detail and colour to the leaves of your family tree.  I’ve collected some free guides for records of the British Isles.

No matter how many times you’ve used these records, you can always pick up more tips on how to read or use them in a different way, especially by studying the official guides written by their keepers.

Scotland

National Records of Scotland Research Guides: A-Z of record types from adoption to wills & testaments.

And, did you know that you can search for and view historical images on ScotlandsPeople at no cost? These include categories such as aerial photography, historic sites and monuments, social issues, and transport. 

England & Wales

The National Archives: How to look for records of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales.

National Library of Wales: Help with your family history research – including Getting Started, and guides to different record types like tithe maps. 

Ireland

PRONI: Archives for family and local history.  A comprehensive listing of resources for tracing ancestors on the island of Ireland.

National Archives of Ireland: Sources for family & local history.  An introduction to what’s available via the Archives in Dublin and its website.

Keep an eye on the blog for more autumnal family tree tips!