+----------------------------------------------------------------------+ I. UK SHIPPING RECORDS II. UK NATURALISATION RECORDS III. UK VITAL RECORDS +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ A JewishGen InfoFile *** NOTE: 2005 UPDATE UNDERWAY *** By Joe Ross I. UK SHIPPING RECORDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Certain passenger lists are held at the British Public Record Office in Kew (45 minutes from Central London). The Public Record Office does not itself offer a "search by post" service. If you are planning a visit it is wise to telephone in advance in order to confirm opening hours and to check that you have the necessary identification documents in order to gain entry. Enquiries can be directed to: Reader Services Department, The Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England TW9 4DU tel +44 (0)181 876 3444 fax +44 (0)181 878 8905 Web page: http://www.open.gov.uk/pro/prohome.htm The passenger lists were compiled by ships' masters. They are a very large class of records and there is no index of names. So searching can take a very long time. To use them you need to know the approximate date of arrival/departure, the name of the British port involved and if possible the name of the ship, because the lists are arranged by port year by year, under the name of the ship. Passenger Lists - Outwards (Reference BT 27). These date from 1890 and contain the names of all persons LEAVING Britain for places outside Europe. (so these lists outwards would cover transatlantic journeys for example) Passenger Lists - Inwards (Reference BT 26). These date from 1890 and contain the names of all persons ARRIVING in Britain from places OUTSIDE EUROPE and not within the Mediterranean Sea. (so these lists inwards would NOT cover "typical Jewish emigration from Eastern Europe and the Baltic Ports") The information given includes names, age, occupation, proposed address in Britain and the date of entry. II. UK NATURALISATION RECORDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Naturalisation records are a very useful source of information. They are held at the Public Record Office in Kew. The Public Record Office does not itself offer a "search by post" service. If you are planning a visit it is wise to telephone in advance in order to confirm opening hours and to check that you have the necessary identification documents in order to gain entry. Enquiries can be directed to: Reader Services Department, The Public Record Office, Ruskin Avenue, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England TW9 4DU tel +44 (0)181 876 3444 fax +44 (0)181 878 8905 Web page: http://www.open.gov.uk/pro/prohome.htm The look-up procedure begins with the index books (known as records HO1). These are in alphabetic surname order. There are several books spanning groups of years as shown below. They indicate surname, first name, naturalisation date and place, country of origin. So for an unusual surname it is easy to get a hit! Common names can result in several possible entries. Years covered: 1844-1900 / 1901-1910 / 1911-1914 / 1915-1924 / 1925-1930 / 1931-1935. Having obtained the naturalisation certificate number and date from the the index book it is then possible to look up the filing reference number which can be used to obtain the "duplicate copy of naturalisation certificate" (records HO334). Alternatively it is possible to look up the filing reference number for the "complete file" (records HO144). The duplicate certificate tells you name, address, date and place of birth, parents names, wife and child names. The file papers in HO144 may provide more information (can be a fascinating read - including criminal records etc) but are not always available (lost, still secret etc). UPDATE 2005 - It is now possible to search the National Archives at Kew on-line for UK Naturalisation records: http://www.catalogue.nationalarchives.gov.uk/search.asp If successful, there is also now an on-line ordering system to obtain full copies. Details at: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/recordcopying/ III. UK VITAL RECORDS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Records for births, marriages and deaths registered in England, Wales, and Scotland may be requested by post from the following addresses: England and Wales (records since 1837) Postal Applications, Office of National Statistics, Smedley Hydro, Trafalgar Road, Southport, PR8 2HH, England. Tel +44 (0)151 471 4524, Fax +44 (0)151 471 4368. Scotland (records since 1855) General Register Office for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT, Scotland. Telephone +44 (0)131 314 4446, Fax +44 (0)131 314 4400. - - - - Personal Searches In London it is possible to carry out one's own personal search of the index books for England and Wales. The relevant certificate can then be ordered if required (normally takes 4 working days). This may be done at the Public Search Room of The Family Records Centre 1 Mydellton Street London EC1R 1UW tel: +44 (0)181 392 5300 fax: +44 (0)181 392 5307 Credit card orders can be made. In Edinburgh it is possible to carry out one's own interactive search of the computerised index. The relevant certificate can then be viewed on microfiche and a copy can be ordered if required. This may be done at The General Register Office for Scotland, New Register House, Edinburgh, EH1 3YT, Scotland. tel +44 (0)131 334 4446 fax +44 (0)131 314 4400 email nrh.gros@gtnet.gov.uk Website http://www.open.gov.uk/gros/groshome.htm >From early 1998, certain online searching facilities for Scottish records will be available via the internet (at a charge) - keep checking the above website for details. - - - - Charges (as at 1996) England & Wales 15 pounds Search and certificate by post 12 pounds Certificate by post if reference number supplied 6 pounds Certificate ordered in person if reference number supplied No charge for use of search room at Mydellton Street in London Scotland 12 pounds Search and certificate by post 12 pounds One day's use of search room (with computerised index) 7 pounds Certificate ordered in person if reference number supplied - - - Northern Ireland Public Record Office 66 Balmoral Avenue Belfast. BT9 6NY tel +44 (0)1232 251318 (public enquiries) Fax +44 (0)1232 255999 Email: proni@nics.gov.uk Internet: http://proni.nics.gov.uk/index.htm Irish Republic The National Archives, Bishop Street, Dublin 8, Ireland tel + 353 (1) 407-2300 Fax + 353 (1) 407-2333 Internet: http://www.kst.dit.ie/nat-arch/general.html - - - - Other Sources Some of the indexes have been microfilmed and may be consulted at LDS Family History Libraries. -------------- Filename UK-rec.txt 28Dec97/2Apr2005/ Submitted by: Joe Ross Copyright 1996 - 2005 JewishGen Inc. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+