Welcome to Searcher's Tips
When first starting out, researching your family tree will seem like a simple task. Unfortunately, once you venture into the resources available and learn the limitations of the records, it can quickly become very confusing, frustrating and potentially expensive. Sadly, this is the point where many who have dived into the challenge with gusto will give up, lost in a mass of confused information and not knowing where to turn.
The idea behind these pages is to go from first steps and explain exactly how each type of resource can help you in your search, how to get the most from records available and the pitfalls you might come across. Whilst much of this information will seem very basic to the seasoned researcher, it is often surprising how easily you can miss an obvious line of enquiry once buried in the detail of a family mystery and sometimes a refresher of the basics can help you to look at a problem with fresh eyes.
I will not claim to be an expert, my knowledge comes from my own experience over more years than I would comfortably admit. I am sure some will dispute my advice, as we all have our prefered methods, and others may agree but might have useful tips to add. To both groups I would say, please don't keep it to yourself. There are links on every page you can use to contact us and contributions are always welcome. You never know, your tip could be the one that breaks down someone's brick wall.
How to use this section
The Hints and Tips section of this site has been written as a series of articles, as much as possible it has been laid out in approximately the order a researcher might approach each resource type, for instance you would be unlikely to use the census returns before making use of the GRO records. The information provided will primarily relate to English and Welsh record sources, although records relating to Scotland and Ireland, which are often quite different, will be touched upon.
For quick reference, there is a menu of the topics covered to the left, some of these pages have yet to be completed but will appear in due course. If you spot any factual errors in this information, please let us know and the pages will be amended as soon as the correction has been verified. If you feel we have missed a particularly useful resource from the list please let us know, perhaps you would like to write your own article to go with it?
Members tips submissions which are not covered above will appear in a separate section as and when they are sent to us (hint, hint), and full credit will be given to the submitter unless he or she wishes to remain anonymous, if that is the case please let us know. Submissions can be accessed from the same menu on the left and will be orgainsed under their relevant headings.
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