British Origins is the richest source of authentic British genealogy records online, featuring access to Society of Genealogists's records.
Collections currently online including marriage registers, census records, burial records, wills, passenger lists, militia, court and apprentice records containing nearly 50 million names covering 1209-1948 as well as authentic map images and place name history from the England and Wales Gazetteer. British Origins also features a Free Search by Place, expert family history articles and a discussion group for users.
The British Origins Library, showcases rare vintage photos, maps, books and other publications of interest to British genealogy researchers. The Library includes Children's Employment Commission Part II a government publication containing evidence on the employment of children. An amazing and fascinating insight into conditions of work and peoples' lifestyle in 1842 in their own words. Domesday Book for Middlesex a facsimile and translation of the Domesday Book entries for Middlesex, published 1862.
Your British Origins subscription includes access to online articles (by Sherry Irvine), a Discussion group to keep researchers in touch with one another and Saved searches.
| Census records |
| England & Wales Census 1841 |
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The 1841 census was the very first in the UK to contain names. A full index to and digitised images of the complete census is now available. Users with access to CDs of the original records can use this index alongside these CDs.
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| England & Wales Census 1861 |
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Access to over 20 million extra names and online images including famous names such as Florence Nightingale (living in Westminster) and Charles Darwin.
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| England & Wales Census 1871 |
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A full index to and digitised images of the original 1871 Census records for indexed counties. Further counties will be added on a regular basis. Users with access to CDs of the original records can use this index alongside the CDs.
Click here for county map & counts.
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| Marriage records |
| Boyds Marriage Index 1538-1840 |
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| Compiled from English parish marriage registers, Bishop's Transcripts and marriage licences between 1538 and 1840. Records are now available for every English county. Over 7 million names are available online.
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| Marriage Licence Allegations Index 1694-1850 |
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| Index to documents sworn by one of the prospective parties to the effect that there was no impediment to the marriage and where the marriage could take place. Contains over 670,000 names identifying couples, particularly Londoners, who intended to marry. Hard copies available.
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| Wills records |
| Bank of England Will Extracts Index 1717-1845 |
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| The Bank of England Will Extracts Index (61,000 names) helps locate will extracts made by the Bank when people had money in public funds between 1717-1845. Hard copies available.
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| Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills Index 1750-1800 |
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| Wills have been proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury since 1383 and are preserved in The National Archives, London. The index covers wills proved in the period 1750 to 1800. Hard copies available. |
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| Archdeaconry Court of London Wills Index 1700-1807 |
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| The Archdeaconry Court of London was one of the London church courts that dealt with testamentary matters. The index of over 5,000 records, mainly from the first half of the 18th century, also contains numerous records of mariners.
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| York Medieval Probate Index 1267-1500 |
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| Over 10,000 wills proved in the Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York between 1267 and 1500. Originals are held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives and copies can be ordered online.
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| York Peculiars Probate Index 1383-1883 |
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| Over 25,000 wills proved in the 54 peculiar courts of the Province of York from 1383 to 1883. Originals are held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives and copies of these wills can be ordered online.
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| Prerogative & Exchequer Courts of York Probate Index 1853-1858 |
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| Over 16,000 grants of probate for the period September 1853 to January 1858. Original documents provide a great deal of valuable information to the family historian and copies of these can be ordered online.
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| Surrey Will Abstracts 1470-1856 |
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| Fully indexed abstracts of every Surrey will known to still exist, over 28,000 abstracts. The index includes names of over a half of a million people mentioned in these wills.
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| Apprenticeship records |
| London Apprenticeship Abstracts 1442-1850 |
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| Children from all over Britain became apprenticed to London Livery Companies. The rich records are an exceptional resource of genealogical information. Over 100,000 abstracts and over 300,000 names are indexed.
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| Apprentices of Great Britain 1710-1774 |
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| Abstracts from tax records kept by the Inland Revenue. They are of exceptional value to the family history researcher. About 350,000 indentures are included, from all over Great Britain.
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| Court records |
| London Consistory Court Depositions Index 1700-1713 |
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| The Consistory Court of London was the main court dealing with matrimonial disputes. Cases involve divorce and separation, breach of promise, arguments over estates and probate, defamation, and "criminous conversation".
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| Inheritance Disputes Index 1574-1714 |
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| Available for the first time, and exclusively on British Origins, a comprehensive index to over 26,000 lawsuits instituted in the Chancery Court of England relating to inheritance of money or real estate.
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| Charles I Chancery Index 1625-49 |
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| An index to all 82,000 cases tried in the Court of Chancery between 1625 and 1649. Chancery records often reveal personal, business and family relationships in more detail than almost any other source.
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| Burial records |
| London Burials Index 1538-1853 |
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Combines Boyd's London Burials and Cliff Webb's London City Burials. Records include the last name, first name, age, year of death and the burial ground.
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| Militia records |
| Militia Attestations Index 1886-1910 |
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Regiments: Essex Regiment, Middlesex Regiment, Suffolk Regiment and Suffolk Royal Garrison Artillery.
These documents were filled in at the time of recruitment and contain much personal data. They can be very fruitful source of genealogical data. Hard copies can be ordered online.
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| Passenger Lists |
| British & Irish Passenger Lists 1890 |
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| 1890 passenger lists from British & Irish ports with US and Canadian destinations. The names of over 100,000 passengers are included. These records are exclusive to The Origins Network.
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| General records and images |
| Boyd's Inhabitants of London and Boyd's Family Units 1270-1927 |
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Over 500,000 names. One of the Society of Genealogists' most valuable holdings, this index is a key source for researchers into families not only from London but all over the world.
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| Teachers’ Registrations 1870-1948 |
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The Teachers’ Registrations give details of nearly 100,000 people who taught in England and Wales between 1870 and 1948; more than half of those are women.
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| Trinity House Calendars 1787-1854 |
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Petitions for charitable aid by disabled seamen or their widows, provides access to an extraordinary amount of genealogical information. Hard copies of originals can be ordered online.
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| Somerset & Dorset Notes and Queries 1890-1980 |
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Search across nearly 10,000 pages. Subjects include family trees, parish registers, wills, inventories, property records, emigration, militia, shipping, civil war, the Monmouth Rebellion and much, much more.
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| England & Wales Gazetteer published 1895 |
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Over 25,000 entries plus maps of every county and plans of major cities. The entire text is fully searchable so you can find entries for specific places and any appearance in the text of the place you are interested in.
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| England & Wales Gazetteer Maps & Plans 1895 All counties |
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The county maps, coloured to show the political divisions, show natural features - mountains, rivers lakes and estuaries - and main roads, railways and canals. There is also a map of the whole of England and Wales, showing county boundaries.
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| British Origins Library 9 collections, 18th & 19th centuries |
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Many rare and interesting images and pictures depicting life in Britain in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Offerings include Children's Employment Commission Part II (1842), Domesday Book for Middlesex (published 1862), Wonderful London, England & Wales Gazetteer Maps (1895), Costumes in England (18th Century), Coaching Days and Ways (1893), Something for Everyone (1861), The Universal Pocket Companion (1741) and the Pictorial Description of Great Britain & Ireland (1846). All include high quality images and illustrations.
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Hard copies available