Advice for 1st trip to records offices

[Jalkatz]

Hello everyone,
Would you advise me on what to do on a first trip to records offices, graveyards, etc?  I am planning to go to Cumbria in the school holidays.  The main names on my tree are Watson, Simpson, Ostle and Renwick.  Places, Alston, Whitehaven, Newton Arlosh, Holm Cultram (but so many other towns too!).  I can see that it would be possible to be so bogged down by possibilities that you actually achieve nothing at all....
I really am new at this and I don't even know what to ask for in a records office... So, any advice - and please don't underestimate the lack of knowledge here! 

[kerryb]

Hi Jakatz

This link is for the Cumbria County Council Archives

http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/default.asp, you will find lots of useful information on this page.

My advice for a first visit is take notes of what exactly you are looking for, take copies of relevant family trees with details of dob, death, baptisms etc.  There is nothing worse than getting there, looking for a person and finding you haven't go the right info to help you.

And enjoy your visit!

Kerry

[Little Nell]

No pens allowed in archives and record offices, so make sure that you have a decent supply of pencils. 

No bags are usually allowed either.  I always take absolute minimum of valuable stuff, but if you need a reader's ticket you will need some ID with you - driving license is usually OK.  I put my purse and keys in a small bum bag (hate the things but they have their uses!) and keep it with me all the time.  My note-book and notes go into a clear plastic wallet so that I don't lose any stray bits of paper.

As Kerry says, always make sure that you have a list of what you are looking for so that your search is focussed.

And definitely enjoy!

Nell

[Andy001]

Hi Jalkatz,If you are looking up Births Marriages and Deaths at the Record Office,its also a good idea to keep a note book that is just for that,so you have a record of what you have already checked.And keep your old lists so you can see what you did or didn't have time for next time you are planning a visit.
Good Luck+Happy Searching!

[Jalkatz]

Thanks all, pencils, no bags... hm, I'd have cocked-up straight away!   As for births, marriages and deaths; is that time well-spent, given that I can internet search for those, or are there other things more important?  Another thing; do you want loads of cash in there - can you buy certs in there or just copies?  Sorry if I'm asking qs that are answered in that link.  I'll have a look at it now...
Do you take your folders in or just loose paper with basic details?
Exciting!
Jackie

[kerryb]

Jackie

I think most Records Offices would not let folders in.  I just take a shorthand notepad with the questions I want to ask written down and any notes I need, family trees etc on loose sheets.

Apparently it is to stop people walking off with valuable material (as if we would!)

Don't forget the BMDs before 1837 can be found in the parish registers - always a great thing to look at, I have found some fantastic comments added in by various clerks over the centuries. 

Not sure about buying certificates there, I think (but I am sure someone will correct if wrong) that you can only get them from the GRO.

Kerry 

[sillgen]

You can't get certificates as they are only available from Register Offices.    You are right to concentrate on other things.    Look for parish records - they may have parish transcripts on open shelves with an index so you can whip through those fairly quickly.  If you find a baptism, marriage or burial then you can ask to look at the film of that parish.  You can usually take photocopies of the entry.  Have you booked a film reader?   They get very busy.   You need to book a place a couple of weeks in advance usually.
Monumental Inscriptions are very useful too.    They will also have directories listing inhabitants and often census index books too - though again now that is all on the internet you may want to ignore those. 
Try to decide which family you will concentrate on and do not be sidetracked!   Easier said than done.
Many have a card index of surnames and places and they show what information they have.  School lists etc.   There is a wealth of information there but it can be overwhelming so take it easily and try to plan two visits so that you know what you are doing the second time!
I should ring Carlisle to check which area office holds the information that you want.
Good luck
Andrea

[Jalkatz]

Thanks for that link, Kerry.  It's very useful.  I've printed off a few pages and can email them for more detailed info later. And <cough> how could I have 'forgotten' they'd have pre-1837 BMDs there.  Trouble is, the more I think about it, the bigger the whole thing becomes; do I go to graveyards?  Do I go to records offices?  Quaker records; where are they?  At most, I'll only have a few days...
Jackie

[kerryb]

Now we haven't even touched graveyards!!!!

Can be exciting and rewarding, however be warned because I have found a lot of my relatives were obviously too poor to afford gravestones.

However the few I have found have been well worth it.  I generally try to make a list of the people on my tree who are likely to be buried at a particurlar graveyard before I visit so that I know who I might be looking for.

And I don't know about you, but I always take a tissue, I'm a bit of a softie! 

Kerry