Family Tree I saw a BBC TV program a few years ago. Some celebrity looked for his ancestors and relatives who may have been living somewhere and who he wanted to meet. He investigated his family archi

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Family Tree I saw a BBC TV program a few years ago. Some celebrity looked for his ancestors and relatives who may have been living somewhere and who he wanted to meet.

He investigated his family archives and historical British archives in different places across the UK. He got an access to civil status registers, court archives and as I can remeber, some majors books.

All these documents were in a very good condition. I don't remember the oldest one where he found mentions of his ancestors. I think, it was of 17 century or so.

Is it true, that British archives are in such a good condition and everyone looking for their family roots can get an access to them? Is it easy to make your genealogical tree in the UK?

And have those who live in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand now and whose family had come from the UK made attempts to find there roots in the UK?

Mar 29, 2019 5:42 PM

Comments · 8

Yes it is but we can’t go back indefinitely. That’s because much of the archives were destroyed by Henry VIII as I recall. Everything now is online, but many folks still go about it through exploration of the physical archives and rummaging through cemeteries, newspaper clippings. It’s quite an art form and time consuming

March 29, 2019

I have some experience in this field. While there is always the potential of cost, especially if you hire a professional, there are also many less costly avenues for research. I’ve been doing this for many years and my biggest cost has been time. It is time-consuming when you’re very careful with your sources. I’ve found sources in England for non-wealthy ancestors as early as 1800 (and I’m sure I could find earlier documents) and there are newspapers that go back much further. It is often a matter of using your imagination and persistence to unearth documentation.

March 30, 2019

No I cannot afford to trace my family tree.

March 29, 2019

Yes archives in the UK go back that far but most families can only trace their family back to about 1860-1880 when social institutions like churches and charities began keeping records.

A few can trace back their ancestry to the 1700's some more lucky ones can trace their ancestry back further. But it is not easy for most people, it involves a lot of work and money and years of searching. Unless you are very rich, the wealthy families tend to keep their records intact.

Also it is very easy to make mistakes if you are not an expert in old records to make mistakes and follow the wrong line. The BBC who has access to experts and lots of money have often; had to abandon some celebrity programs when their family tree was uninteresting. And did not fit into the particular topic they wanted the program to reflect. Such as

Grandparents were slaves or a slave trader.

Grandparents were jewish and changed surname to English.

Grandparents were polish refugees.

Grandparents were social reformers

Grandparents were extremely poor.

Grandparents fought bravely in a battle or war.

Grandparents were on the pilgrim ships to America.

Grandparents were Quakers or Puritans many who went to America.

Each program is particularly trying to show or indirectly teach about an aspect of UK history.

All records are open and available to look at online, there may be a charge in some cases and to follow each link will cost a great deal of money.

March 29, 2019