How do I track down vital records of ancestors while in Derbyshire?

Question

I have a chance to travel to Derbyshire County in England this coming May, where my father's family originates. (I live in the U.S.) Would love to do some family research, but don't have any contacts in the area and don't know where to start. Has anyone tried this? Maybe a local parish, or even a professional genealogist could help if I could track one down.

Answer 1

I live in Nottingham,  just fifteen miles from the centre of Derby.  I know Derbyshire very well. I thought you might like to have a look at these sites that I have on file, there are some really good informative sites amongst them.

http://www.dfhs.org.uk/

http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/datab...

http://www.ukgid.com/links/countyfamilyh...

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/derbyshire_...

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/rec...

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DBY/Arc...

http://www.a2a.org.uk/about/contributors...

This last one has thousands of photograph's  for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and many other places in the Midlands.

http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/

When you open the link for the last one, go along the browser bar at the top of the page, click  the tab "search the images" . Then on the next page click accept, and then finally the third search bar, click the drop down menu and select Derbyshire, and then browse till your hearts content.

You can email me through my profile if you would like some help to get you started. I can offer a fair amount of help as I have access to many parish records on disc, for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

I just like to help because I can, and I am studying genealogy.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

If you have some knowledge of the area in which your family used to live, along with some names, approx dates etc., a good place to obtain more advice, and search records once you get there, is the Derbyshire County Records Office.

You really do need to have at least some fairly concrete information to begin with though, so that you don't waste too much time when you get there.

http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/rec...

Answer 3

For parish records in Derbyshire I would look on-line at the Mormon's IGI site first. The IGI is a large ongoing project and are happy to share the information with anybody interested.

www.familysearch.org

As with all of this research check everything for yourself and do not rely on the online records. The site also has hints and tips and is free.

Derbyshire records office(s) will either hold or know where microfiche or microfilm of the records is held and when you can get access.  The IGI also have record centres and you can view some things there.

Answer 4

What do you know so far?

If you haven't researched your family tree much yet you should probably get as much information as you can before you go so that you can use your time as usefully as possible.

E.g. go to the right cemetery to look for gravestones.

There are many excellent online resources such as Ancestry.com where you can view the census, or you can order birth certificates etc on line (all costs money of course).

Sorry if you already know this stuff.

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Might also be worth contacting a local family history group such as this one.

http://www.dfhs.org.uk/

Also these Rootsweb mailing  lists are usually worth joining - and they're free!

http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/ENG...