A selection of family history websites
Here you can link directly to some of the websites I find useful and some of these are used during my courses. There are, of course, many many more websites relating to family history and no doubt you will have some of your own favourites. Some sites such as Ancestry and the National Archives are listed more than once under different categories.

Remember that unless viewing original documents, or images of the original, records online are usually a modern transcript and may contain errors - check with original documents where possible to verify your findings. All external sites open in a new window

Links are checked and updated regularly but if you find one that isn't working please let me know.

Archives
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline	National Archives documents including downloading PCC wills before 1858 (£3.50 each)
www.a2a.org.uk	Access to Archives database contains catalogues describing archives held in England and Wales from the eighth century to the present day
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon	The ARCHON Directory includes contact details for record repositories in the UK and institutions elsewhere in the world which have substantial collections of manuscripts
www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/archives.htm www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/archives	Information on Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire County Archives (other county council websites will have similar info for their offical archive also known as Record Offices)
www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss	Nottingham University Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections including online catalogue
www.findmypast.co.uk	Many records created by Family History Societies including the National Burial Index (NBI), parish registers, monumental inscriptions, and poor law documents are now on Find My Past
http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs	Search 49 local and national newspapers - £6.99 for 24-hour pass or £9.99 for 7-day pass
www.timesonline.co.uk/archive	Every issue of the Times newspaper from 1785 - 1985, fully searchable. £4.95 for a 24 hour pass or subscribe with monthly and annual options
www.guardian.co.uk/archive	Guardian and Observer newspapers' online archive. £7.95 for a 24 hour pass also 3 day and monthly options
www.wirksworth.org.uk	Genealogy and Local History of the Wirksworth Area, Derbyshire from 1600 to 1900 listing 450,000+ original records
Census
www.ancestry.co.uk	Census records 1841 - 1901 (need to subscribe annually or pay monthly but FREE access to Ancestry in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire County Libraries)
www.findmypast.co.uk	Census records 1841 - 1911 (need to subscribe annually or pay per view but FREE access to Find My Past 1841-1901 in Nottingham City Libraries)
www.freecen.org.uk	The FreeCen porject aims to provide completely Free online access to the 19th century UK census returns. The site is growing but currently incomplete. Check the site for coverage of your areas of research.
www.1911census.co.uk	1911 census - free index search, then pay to view transcripts or original records.
Birth, Marriage, Death and Parish Records
www.freebmd.org.uk	Free access to BMD indexes but not yet complete, mainly up to 1910.
www.ancestry.co.uk	Includes Parish records and Births, Marriages Deaths civil registration index
www.findmypast.co.uk	Pay per view but comprehensive database of the General Register Office indexes from 1837
www.bmdregisters.co.uk	Non-conformist BMD records from 1567 - 1840
www.gro.gov.uk	Order certificates online from the General Register Office
www.familysearch.org	Church of Latter Day Saints - IGI (International Genealogical Index) this massive database is an index to help you locate parish records
www.familyrelatives.com	BMD indexes and Phillimore's marriage registers (transcripts) - some records available on pay as you go otherwise annual subscription required
www.thegenealogist.co.uk	BMD indexes, some census and transcribed Parish Registers (mainly marriages) - need to subscribe
Churches and Non Conformists
www.findachurch.co.uk	A directory of UK churches of many denominations
www.baptisthistory.org.uk	Baptist Historical Society
www.catholic-history.org.uk	Click link to Catholic Family History Society
www.jgsgb.org.uk	Jewish Genealogical Society
www.jewishgen.org	Jewish Genealogy - affiliate of the museum of Jewish Heritage
www.quaker.org.uk	Quakers in Britain
Directories
www.historicaldirectories.org	Range of Trade directories from 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries
www.ancestry.co.uk	British phone books currently being added from 1880 - 1984
Scotland, Ireland, Wales
www.genuki.org.uk	Comprehensive site full of information for all British and Irish research with links down to parish level
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk	BMD, parish registers, census and wills for Scotland
www.safhs.org.uk	Scottish Association of Family History Societies
www.nationalarchives.ie	The National Archives of Ireland in Dublin
www.nli.ie	National library of Ireland
www.irish-roots.net	Irish Family History Foundation
www.proni.gov.uk	Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
www.originsnetwork.com	Range of useful resources - need to subscribe for England, Wales and Ireland but Scottish searches free
www.familyrelatives.com	Irish record collection includes index to Wills and Land Owners' Returns - some records available on pay as you go otherwise annual subscription required
Local History - Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire
www.nottshistory.org.uk	Nottinghamshire history - a wealth of material on all aspects of the county's history
www.nottingham21.co.uk	Over 2000 photographs recording Nottingham City at the beginning of the 21st century
www.picturethepast.org.uk	Images of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
www.local-history.co.uk/nlha	Nottinghamshire Local History Association - Diary of events around the county and links to local societies
Southwell Workhouse	The Workhouse, Southwell now owned by the National Trust, is the best preserved workhouse in England. Documents and letters relating to this workhouse can be downloaded free from National Archives Documents Online
www.knittingtogether.org.uk	The heritage of the East Midlands Knitting Industry
www.rfkm.org	Ruddington Framework Knitters Museum
www.cmhrc.co.uk	The Coal Mining History Resource Centre
www.lincsheritage.org	Heritage Trust of Lincolnshire aims to assist in the conservation and enhancement of the historic environment of the county
www.lincolnshirepast.org.uk	Lincolnshire Past - Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Lincolnshire history, news, events and publications
Genealogy Societies and Organisations
www.sog.org.uk	Society of Genealogists
www.ffhs.org.uk	Federation of Family History Societies - links to local groups
www.lincolnshirefhs.org.uk	Linconshire Family History Society (consider joining a family history society for your area of research - see ffhs website above)
www.nottsfhs.org.uk	Nottinghamshire Family History Society
www.balh.co.uk	British Association for Local History
www.college-of-arms.gov.uk	Official repository of the coats of arms and pedigrees of English, Welsh, Northern Irish and Commonwealth families
Children in Care
www.hiddenlives.org.uk	The Children's Society, care homes, photographs, case files
www.workhouses.org.uk/trainingships	Apprenticeship of poor boys 1756-1945
Institutions
www.workhouses.org.uk	Extensive background information about society's poor and the workhouse system. Also details of many individual workhouses
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords	Hospital database listing types of record available and where they can be found
Black Sheep
www.blacksheepancestors.com	Links to Prisons and court records in UK, USA and Canada
www.oldbaileyonline.org	Proceedings of the Old Bailey London's central criminal court - nearly 200,000 criminal trials from 1674 to 1913
www.convictcentral.com	Guide to researching people transported to Australia
www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/fh/convicts	Free search for convicts transported to Australia
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com	Transportation of convicts from Nottingham
Military Links
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/militaryhistory	Military history at the National Archives
www.cwgc.org	Commonwealth War Graves Commission links to details of all personnel killed in WWI and WWII
www.armymuseums.org.uk	Army Museums Ogilby Trust - guide to the regimental and corps museums of the British Army
www.roll-of-honour.com	Roll of Honour for those who died in all wars including 15,000 of the 24,000 who died in the Boer War
www.iwm.org.uk	Imperial War Museum website includes downloadable guides to tracing Army, Navy and RAF ancestors as well as POWs
www.1914-1918.net	The Long, Long Trail - The British Army in the First World War with advice on tracing soldiers
www.firstworldwar.com	Including WWI memoirs, diaries, maps, photos
www.findmypast.co.uk	Military records including index of war deaths from 1796 - WWI, WWII and Boer War (pay per view)
www.ancestry.co.uk	British Army WWI pensions, records of Indian army, Royal Irish Constabulary, WWII newsreels
www.redcoat.info/memindex3.htm	Details of officers killed during 18th and 19th century, including some obituaries
www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/memindz1.htm	As above for NCOs and Privates
Migration to and from UK
www.movinghere.org.uk	Immigrant ancestors - 200 years of migration to England
www.ellisislandrecords.org	American immigrants between 1892 and 1924
http://castlegarden.org	10 million Immigrants who entered the USA via New York 1830 to 1892
www.immigrantships.net	Over 7000 passengers arriving in US 1820 - 1892
www.theshipslist.com	Includes migration to Canada, USA, Australia, S. Africa
www.ancestorsonboard.com	Outward Passenger Lists for long-distance voyages leaving the British Isles from 1960 right back to 1890. Find My Past subscription or pay-as-you-go required to view results
How Our Ancestors Lived
www.bbc.co.uk/history/british	BBC's extensive history website covers a range of social development
www.visionofbritain.org.uk	A vision of Britain between 1801 and 2001
www.historytoherstory.org.uk	Women's history through the lives and organisations of Yorkshire women
www.victorianlondon.org	Dictionary of Victorian life
www.old-maps.co.uk	View and order maps from the 19th century on this ordnance survey site
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency	Find out how much yesterday's money (1270-1970) is worth today
www.paul_smith.doctors.org.uk/ArchaicMedicalTerms.htm	Old medical terms
Link With Others Researching Your Family
www.genesreunited.co.uk	Put your tree online and match with others doing same research
www.rootsweb.com	Extensive and free site, main purpose to connect people with similar research interests
www.curiousfox.com	A message board for family historians. Search by name or place
www.lostcousins.com	Links people researching the same ancestors
www.one-name.org	The Guild of One Name Studies
Publications
www.ancestorsmagazine.co.uk	Ancestors is the monthly magazine published by the National Archives
www.bbcwhodoyouthinkyouare.com	BBC's Who Do You Think You Are magazine website includes articles and links to other sites
http://family-tree.co.uk	Family Tree magazine and Practical Family History both published monthly
Also…
www.ambaile.org.uk/en/help/family_treasures.jsp	How to care for your family treasures - advice from Highland History and Culture on storing documents, photographs etc with links to archive storage suppliers
www.cyndislist.com	Links to genealogical websites around the world
www.webfetch.com	Collects links from a range of top search engines - enter search for ancestry or genealogy
www.nationaltrustnames.org.uk	Surname distribution mapping for 1881 and 1998
www.surnamedb.com	Enter surnames in to the search to discover their origins
www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk	Information on Medieval English genealogy
www.genealogyprinters.com	Produce range of family tree charts and will print your own personal tree