Primary Sources
Perhaps we should call this "near primary sources" as the original documents are paper - or possibly even velum. In this guide, when we refer to "primary sources" available on the world wide web we are referring to photographic images of original documents.
There are very few original documents online, so most of the information comes from secondary sources. This means that the original, which may be faded, damaged or illegible, has been read by someone and copied out, perhaps several times, before reaching you in a list or index. It may not be accurate. It can therefore only be used as a clue or a signpost. You must evaluate the information and check original sources whenever you can. Many archives and record offices are able to send you photocopies of the original documents for only a small charge, and you can often use the Internet to order by e-mail.
Where primary material is available, it usually has to be paid for
because of the cost of digitising the original documents, and transcribing
their contents to provide an index. Documents available online include:
census, birth, death and marriage information for Scotland
,
census information for England and Wales, wills proved by the prerogative court of Canterbury
and Scottish wills.
Researchers with ancestors who migrated from the United Kingdom to the United States, might find their ancestors name on a passenger list
at the Ellis Island website, which offers free access to the original images of records.
If your ancestors came to the UK from Eastern Europe, Asia or the West Indies, you will find a wealth of material on the Moving Here website - access to the digitised images is free. You can also access a digital
archive of The London Gazette- this lists recipients of medals, aliens
granted naturalization, changes of name by deed poll and much more.
You can use a simple key word search - it is worth trying spelling
variations
etc. It is free to search and view the PDF files.
