Frequently I am asked something like this: "I found an entry in Middlesex,
what do I do now?" Boyd's London Burials is a good example for dealing with
this question. There are four steps to take.
First, look at the record, original or copy. Secondly, and equally
important, is to understand the extent to which Boyd's London Burials
indexed the register of the church or burial ground concerned. Thirdly, ask
yourself some questions about the data; in particular whether the person
named is the right one. Finally, consider other sources that can support
this conclusion.
Looking at the Record
No doubt you want to see the entry but it is important to do more. Once the
facts in the index have been verified, you need to check for additional
details such as place of abode; also, look beyond the single entry for
others connected to your research and for gaps or missing pages.
The Origins result identifies the church, parish or burial ground; e.g., St.
Benet, Gracechurch, or Barking. A few key resources can help to determine
locations of records or copies; select a convenient one. For these two
churches I referred to the City of London Parish Registers publication of
the Guildhall Library (7th edition, 1999), the list of parish registers at
the web site of the Essex Record Office and the online version of the Family
History Library Catalog (FHLC).
For any entry found, looking for copies should include checking with
listings of the appropriate archives or library and the FHLC. The FHLC tells
you what is in the collections of the LDS library in Salt Lake City, and
therefore what can be read in a family history centre on microfilm loan.
Another good idea is to take a look at the wonderful detail about surviving
church records and copies in the National Index of Parish Registers
(published by the Society of Genealogists).
Since I am located on the west coast of Canada, to follow up on index
entries for either St Benet's or Barking (both are listed in the FHLC) I
would order in a microfilm copy of the registers to the nearest family
history centre.
Checking the Contents of Boyd's
It is important to know what you have searched - does Boyd's London Burials
cover all burials for the church where you found an entry or only some?
You will get some idea by checking within the British Origins web site.
Select "about the data", a link found under the results of the search. For
this database there is a list of all parishes, numbers of entries and ranges
of years. St Benet Gracechurch has 1050 entries taken from the years 1558 to
1851. Those of you who have read about the database within the site already
know that Boyd's London Burials is limited to males only.
Any uncertainty about the completeness of Boyd's index for a particular
church can be removed by referring to the sources given above and perusing
the records.
Is it the Right Person?
No doubt you selected the entry because the name is a match, or a spelling
variant you know. How about the date of burial - is it reasonable? Do some
quick calculations against what else you know, such as dates of
birth/baptism, marriage, and baptism of children.
Might there be more than one burial for someone of this name, in roughly
this time and place? In other words, should you check other burials in the
city in case the one in Boyd's is not the one for your family?
Other Useful Sources
Consider other sources to reinforce the burial information or to eliminate
it. Among records that give more detail and which might provide answers as
to time and place and relationships - key factors in identification - are
probate, birth, marriage, London guild records, and records of military service.
Finding an entry that appears to fit your research is an exciting moment. Be
sure the delight in finding something is the spark to send you off to finish
the job.