FamilySearch

What's new at the FamilySearch website?
FamilySearch has created a new collection of Kent electoral rolls. This collection spans a broad range from 1570 to 1907 and consists of some 132,000 images. Included in the collection are a few militia muster rolls (for Faversham). The collection contains other types of related records, such as jury service lists (which were often drawn from electoral rolls). This collection can only be browsed at the moment.

FamilySearch has also added some 1.2 million parish records for Plymouth and West Devon. These are baptism, marriage and burial records that date from 1538 to 1912 and can be searched by name.

Access is free to both sets of records.

National Archives of Ireland

The National Archives of Ireland has created a special website specifically devoted to genealogy. Included are the 1901 and 1911 census records, tithe applotment books from 1823 to 1837 and soldier’s wills from 1914 to 1917. Eventually, the website is expected to contain all the genealogy records in the custody of the Irish National Archives, including Calendars of Wills and Administrations, 1858 – 1922; Nineteenth century census survivals, 1821-51; Valuation Office House and Field Books, 1848 – 60; Census Search Forms for the 1841 and 1851 censuses.  Please note the website states there are many incorrect entries, locations, names and spellings in the tithe entries. These are being corrected over time. Access is free.

British National Archives

The British National Archives has made good progress in digitizing their collection of World War I war unit diaries. A war unit diary is essentially a collection of field reports by various military units. A typical war unit diary contains daily operational reports from the front lines as well as local intelligence summaries. These war diaries were written between 1914 and 1923 by various British and colonial units that served in various theatres of war. Most of the unit diaries cover activity in France, Germany and Belgium. War unit diaries can contain a wealth of information for people looking for their ancestors and they are one of the most requested items in the British Archives reading rooms. In order to search these diaries, you need to know the regiment and battalion of your ancestor.

Chronicling America

On 22 October 2012, the website Chronicling America posted its 5 millionth historic newspaper page onto its website. The Chronicling America project now covers more than 800 newspapers from 25 different states spanning the period from 1836 to 1922.  This website was originally launched by the Library of Congress in 2007.  Access is free.

UK National Archives Documents Online

Digital microfilm allows you to search and download some of The National Archives' most popular records, which were previously available on microfilm. The Archives owns a large collection of microfilmed records, which they have now made more accessible by making them available online. Many of the records are indexes, which will be helpful in locating other relevant records.
These documents are free of charge to download and are delivered as large pdf files. Be aware that each download contains a whole piece, which could be up to 800 pages long. NA have not indexed the detail within the records and so you cannot search them in the same way as you can search for a medal card, for example. Instead you will need to scroll through the pdfs, much as you would when using a microfilm.  With most of the items only part of the series is available online, not the whole series.  Still, this collection is well worth a look at Documents Online.

Mundia

Mundia is the new family history site from Ancestry.com, a global platform offering access to more than 13 million family trees from all parts of the world with more than 1.4 billion profiles, and is available in multiple languages.  Basic membership to Mundia is free.
With Mundia, you can:

• Build your family tree. Then grow it by sharing and collaborating with others.
• Receive hints about matching ancestors and relatives in other members' trees.
• Contact other members and find unknown living relatives.
• Keep up to date with your family through comments, stories, and photos posted within your family circle.

Church of Ireland Records

The Church of Ireland has put online parish registers of baptisms, marriages and burials for the parish of Delgany (Glendalough) and vicinity in North Wicklow. The records (together with an index of names) span the years 1666 to 1900. Access is free. The complete Delgany parish registers can also be conveniently downloaded as a pdf.