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Partners: FamilySearch Ancestry Findmypast MyHeritage | Websites: FS Wiki GenealogyLinks | U.K.
Goal 2: Explore British vital records for birth, marriage, and death.
ChoicesVault
ALearn about British and Welsh vital records.
- Learn how to find ancestors who have UK vital records.
AR: Locate Ancestors With UK Vital Records - 2009 - Here are research guides for BMD (birth, marriage, death) records in England and Wales.
How to look for records of Births, Marriages and Deaths in England and Wales
How to Search for Birth, Marriage and Death certificates - BMD Sites: Learn about the FreeBMD site.
RT: FreeBMD: What It Is and How to Use It (25:05) - 2021
- Find free birth, marriage, and death records on the
FreeBMD site. - Learn about the resources available on the UK BMD site.
Online BMD Tutorials - To explore BMD records in more depth, visit the UK BMD site.
Exercises
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for vital records. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.
BExplore birth records in England.
- Birth Certificates: Learn about birth certificates in England and Wales.
A Birth Certificate in England and Wales - Birth, Christening, Baptism: Explore birth, christening, and baptism records. Choose Birth in the England Research Guidance table of the article.
FS—English Birth, Christening, Baptism Date - Read these tips for finding missing birth records in England.
WDY—5 Expert Tips for Finding Missing Birth Records - Explore birth and baptism records in the U.K. Baptisms site.
- Illegitimacy: Learn about illegitimacy records in England.
PR—Illegitimacy Records in England - Learn how to trace ancestry for illegitimate children.
My Ancestor Was Illegitimate - 2022
Adoption Records
- Get an introduction to English adoption and research.
GenGuide: Adoption Records
Adoption - Learn about England and Wales adoptions in this research guide.
National Archives: Adoptions - Learn about adoption certificates.
Birth Certificates and Adopted Children - Learn how to research adopted persons in England.
FMP—Top Tips for Adoption Research - 2021
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for birth records. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.
Record Search Practice |
Jane Lewis was born about 1813 in Condover, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom. Use the "FS: Births & Christenings: 1538-1975" QUIKLink below to answer these questions:
- What is the exact date of the event?
- Is this a birth record or a christening record?
- According to the record, who are Jane's parents?
- In "FS: Births & Christenings: 1538-1975" enter the search information indicated above.
- Select the first record that appears with the correct information, and use the record to answer the questions.
- The exact day of the event is December 12, 1813.
- The record indicates a christening.
- Jane's mother is Gwyna Lewis, but her father is not mentioned in the record.
(Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)
QUIKLinks
CExplore marriage records in England.
- Certificates: Learn about marriage certificates in England and Wales.
Guide to a Marriage Certificate in England and Wales
Guide to Marriage Certificates - Marriage Dates: Explore marriage records. Choose Marriage in the England Research Guidance table of the article.
FS—English Marriage Dates - Records: Visit www.marriagerecords.me.uk or Phillimore Marriages for more information about marriage records in the U.K.
- Divorce Records: Learn about divorce records in England.
National Archives: Divorces - Learn more about divorce records in England and Scotland.
Divorce Records
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for marriage records. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.
Record Search Practice |
Mary Ann Gown married James Steward in 1864. Use information from the "FS: Marriages, 1538-1973." QUIKLink below to answer these questions:
- Where were they married?
- Which other family members were listed on the document, and what were their names?
- What occupations are listed on this record for these people?
- In the search screen for the QUIKLink above, enter "Mary Ann Gown" in the appropriate search fields.
- Use the index transcription and the record image to answer the questions.
- The couple was married in Stokesby, Norfolk, England.
- The fathers of the bride and groom are listed on the record. Their names are Henry Steward and Robert Gown.
- Occupations are listed for all the men on the record (the groom and the fathers), and they are all laborers.
(Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)
QUIKLinks
- AC: Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
- AC: Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
- FMP: Boyd's Marriage Indexes: 1538-1850
- FS: Marriages, 1538-1973 (More)
- FS: Marriage Reg. Index, 1837-2005 (More)
- AC: England & Wales, Civil Divorce Records, 1858-1916
- FMP: England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005
- FMP: Britain, Marriage Licences
- FMP: Faculty Office Marriage Licences
- FMP: England, Clandestine Marriages
- FMP: England, Phillimore Marriage Registers, 1531-1913
- AC: Manchester Marriages, Banns, 1754-1930
DExplore death records in England.
- Certificates: Learn about death certificates in England and Wales.
Death Certificates in England and Wales
Guide to Death Certificates - Learn how to find death certificates from 1837 to the present.
EG—Death Certificates 1837 to Present Time - 2020 - Denominations: Learn about different types of burials according to denomination. (Scroll down to the "Denominations" link on the Findmypast search page.)
FMP—National Burial Index: Denominations - Records: Explore death records. Choose Death in the England Research Guidance table of the article.
FS—English Death or Burial Dates - Learn more about burial and death records in the U.K. Burials site.
- Coroners' Records: Learn how to find and use coroners' records.
Coroners' Inquests
- * Good: Using the articles and videos in this Choice, write down key learnings for death records. Then use the learnings for searches for an ancestor.
- * Proficient: Same as above, for two or more ancestors.
Record Search Practice |
Charlotte Elizabeth Taylor was born around the year 1879 and lived in Lambeth, London, England. Though she appeared on the 1881 census with her family, she did not appear on any additional censuses or records that we know of. Use information from the "FS:Death Reg. Index, 1837-2007" QUIKLink below to answer these questions:
- What age was Charlotte when she died?
- Where would we look for more information on her death?
- In the search screen for the QUIKLink above, enter "Charlotte Elizabeth Taylor" in the appropriate search fields.
- Use the index transcription to answer the questions.
- Charlotte was 5 years old when she died.
- The index explains that Charlotte's death record (likely containing much more information) can be found in the book "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," on Page 281, Volume 1D, Affiliate Line Number 250.
(Contributed by Kaylee Lynn)
QUIKLinks
- FS: Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991 (More)
- FS: Great Britain Deaths and Burials, 1778-1988 (More)
- FS: Death Reg. Index, 1837-2007 (More)
- FS: England Death Record, 1998-2015 (More)
- AC: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915
- AC: England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
- AC: England & England and Wales, Death Index, 1989-2018
- FMP: National Burial Index For England & Wales
- FMP: England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
- AC: Birmingham Burials, 1813-1964
- FMP: Jersey Burials, 1541-1940
- AC: Manchester Deaths, Burials, 1813-1985
- FMP: Manchester and Oldham Burials, 1832-1955
ELearn about resources from the GRO (General Register Office).
The GRO is an extensive and helpful resource for vital records in England. You can explore the GRO website here.
- Learn about the resources available in the GRO (General Register Office) Index.
Research your family history using the General Register Office
GRO Index of England and Wales - Learn more about the GRO in this article.
RIV—British Research Using the GRO Indexes - Get answers to frequently asked questions about the GRO.
FAQs for the GRO - Learn about using GRO certificates.
BYU—GRO Certificates—13:41 - 2017
Certificates: England and Wales - 2013 - Learn about various ways that the GRO site can hepl you in your research.
BYU—How the General Register Office Site Can Help You—68:09 - 2024