BEADLE family

[carolineb]

I am looking into the BEADLE family... My husband's Dad, Mervyn Beadle, was born in India around 1925, where his dad was a train driver probably during WW1. Mervyn's grandfather was in the British Army which is how he ended up in India. Mervyn had a brother called Derrick and another called Russell. There were step brothers and sisters, possible May and Trevor.

Sorry to be so vague,  where do I start with this?  What's the first step to putting together a family tree... there is so much info around that I've found it all rather scary up until I found this very friendly and helpful site, so thanks to anyone for any tips! 

Mervyn has lived in England since after WW2.

[charlotteCH]

Welcome to rootschat

I'm not an expert on India and how one accesses the records but I do know there is a site [go*gle for it] about  British Families  in India.  That may have some links to data bases.

You use the present tense about Mervyn, so I assume he's alive.. can you ask him if he has his birth certificate or is able to tell you where he was born and the date of his birth?his parents exact names?  that would get some concrete facts to start with.

Can he tell you also which regiment his grandfather was in?  You need that to access army records more easily.

You need to think also about how you are going to record the info you gather... have you a computer genealogy program- ?

This is all just a start and others will have ideas also- keep posting here with more info and then you'll enable others to help you also.

charlotte

[carolineb]

Thanks so much Charlotte - I need all the hand-holding I can get! 

Yes he is still alive, I'll get that info from him soon... and be back with more details. I didn't know there was a genealogy program, can you recommend one?

Caroline

[carolineb]

I have some more info - 

Mervyn was born 25 Feb 1925. His father was Edward John Beadle, mother Maude McAllum I think.

His paternal grandfather was Amos BEADLE, in India 53rd Field Battery Royal Artillary.

He had several siblings:
Lesley - deceased
Rowley - deceased
Derrick
Russell
Kathleen - deceased.

I'll try and get some dates -
Caroline

[charlotteCH]

Caroline, Nail down as much factual detail of dates, events, places as you can and make a note of who tells you what. As time passes you forget the source then end up in trouble- I've been there,  done that so be careful to note sources.

Re keeping the data... there are free computer programs for download.  I think the LDS familysearch web site has one called something like Personal Ancestral File[?] and people say it's Ok if you don't already have a family history program on your pc.   
Re siblimgs you mention- even tho deceased note birth details and death details/dates , places. and put down what you can establish about Derrick and Russell.
You're going great guns so keep at it--
charlotte

[jorose]

www.familysearch.org
shows some children to an Amos Beadle and "Nancy"

Source is:

Parish register transcripts from the Presidency of Bombay, 1709-1948  India. Office of the Registrar General

Edward John Beadle, b. 10 Jan 1890 chrs. 1 Feb 1890,     Kirkee, Maharashtra, India
Lucy Selina, b. 17 Oct 1891 chrs. 30 Oct 1891, same place
Ethel Ada, b. 21 Oct 1894 chrs. 10 Nov 1894, Hyderabad Lind, Maharashtra, India

If you then have a search here:
http://search.fibis.org/
 you can find a marriage for Amos Beadle to Nancy Russell in 1887.

[carolineb]

Thanks Charlotte, I'll try that one.

Jorose thats so exciting! Thank you so much, I'm really grateful, I feel as though I've really started now...   

[charlotteCH]

Hi, I should have asked you if you are on Mac or a pc before talking about genealogy programs...    So which is it ?

Jorose's post has great stuff in it, doesn't it... 
It's the way it happens , bit by bit, with others helping

charlotte

[charlotteCH]

http://rwilson.us/comparison.htm

above is a link to a chart comparing genealogy software programs.
I found the link by putting "comparison of genealogy programs" into G**gle- there are quite a number of sites you could look at as this one I went to may at this stage be a bit overwhelming- have a look and see what you make of it...
Also this site doesn't mention prices... 
PAF, Personla Ancestral File is free I think... which is nice
charlotte