After a longer than expected break (caused mainly by computer problems) it’s time to organise my thoughts. 

One of the main ways of finding, or confirming,  information is to send to the General Record Office in the UK for copies of birth, marriage and death certificates of the people concerned.  These certificates often contain extra information (eg name , occupation of father) which can help lead back to an earlier generation. 

I usually send for 5 at a time and once received I copy all relevant information to my genealogy program (the Master Genealogist), to the family history website and to this blog if necessary.  That is a fairly fiddling and time-consuming process.

The certificates cost 7 pounds sterling each (if one has the correct reference number) and the service is very efficient.  I have ordered certificates and received them in the post just 7 days later, which I think must be a record of some sort.  Hats off to the Identity & Passport Service section of the GRO!  The amount I pay for 5 certificates varies between $70 & $80, depending on the rate of exchange.

I love receiving the certificates, it is always interesting to see if I have chosen the correct person or if there is extra information to be obtained.  Sometimes it is a matter of guesswork, and sometimes I guess correctly and other times not.  The last 5 certificates I sent for worked out to be 1 totally wrong, 1 totally right and 3 probably right but still to be checked out a bit further.

So, it’s back to it!