Help with tracing ancestors in and around BELFAST,Northern Ireland!!

[bambino82]

Hi,
can anybody give me any infomation of how to go about (start) doing my family tree.
My grandfather is from northern ireland and from what i know was born in belfast.
I have not seen his birth certificate but a relative has told me the names of his mother and father, and i am stuck as to where to go from here.
I would like to obtain the death certs/marriage/birth etc of my grandfathers parents.
To gather infomation from northern ireland is seeming to be a challenge but i have fell at the first hurdle .
Any tips....info..websites etc would be wonderful 

not sure if im allowed to post the surname on here so ill await any help
Bambino x

[ShaunJ]

Welcome Bambino!

It is so much easier now than it was just a month or two ago !

You can search the Antrim and Down 1911 census for free http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/

And the Irish BMD registration indices are now online in the FamilySearchLabs collection - also free! http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/#p=0

And you can search Will Calendars for free! http://www.proni.gov.uk/index/search_the_archives/will_calendars/wills_search.htm

And the Ulster Covenant if they were of the Unionist persuasion http://applications.proni.gov.uk/UlsterCovenant/Search.aspx

And there's the marvellous Lennon Wylie resource http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/

There's lots more - others will chip in ! Good hunting !

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat. To start with I've moved your topic from Ireland-General to County Antrim board where Belfast queries are posted.
First thing to remember is that you mustn't post names and details of living or recently or possibly living people here or post details like your email address.
There are some resources for Co. Antrim listed here:
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,330.0.html
as well as some for Ireland here (sticky topics under listings of county boards):
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,50.0.html

The 1911 census might help if you know your family names for that period:
www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search
both Antrim and Down are available which is important because parts of Belfast do come under Co. Down.

If you give us a bit of detail we can try to tell you where to look next.

[TF13]

welcome to rootschat bambino,

the best tip i can give is to take your time and enjoy the hunt

tony

another site for you;

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/

[OTTO]

Thats a good few sites that are free to get you started.
also :http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/
http://www.raymondscountydownwebsite.com/
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ (some folk did go to Scotland to get married)

Pay sites include:
www.emeraldancestors.com
http://www.brsgenealogy.com/

a good researcher is to be found at  http://www.familyulster.com/


Your allowed to post details of names etc.. so long as the person is not alive.
Ask what info you want and you may be suprised.

Good luck
OTTO

[aghadowey]

Thats a good few sites that are free to get you started...
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ (some folk did go to Scotland to get married)

You can do a limited amount of searching index of Scottish births, marriages and death but have to buy credits to view search results and certificates.

[TF13]

and when you're ready to get a cert you have a choice as to where you can order one;

http://www.groireland.ie/

http://www.groni.gov.uk/

all depending on the dates involved. there is a difference in cost between the two.

your head is bound to be spinning by now

[bambino82]

Hi again,

gosh didnt think id get as many replies as i have....i am very gratefull for the info.

Im trying to get some information on my great-grandparents george mcbride and bridget rilley/o'reilly.....not to sure what the correct way is for the spelling of my great grandmothers name though.

The sites you have all suggested shall keep me busy for a while anyway.
Thanks again everyone who replied.
Regards
Bambino x

[TF13]

hi bambino,

have you got a rough idea for a marriage date for your great grandparents? and do you know what their religion might have been?

tony