13 December 2018
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Our top record releases for family history
This year has been a good one for genealogists everywhere, with new records released online on a weekly basis, often with the help and support of record offices, family history societies and volunteers around the country.
This year has been a good one for genealogists everywhere, with new records released online on a weekly basis, often with the help and support of record offices, family history societies and volunteers around the country.
As we come towards the end of the year we asked the top genealogy websites for their top record releases of 2018.
TheGenealogist
TheGenealogist told us: ‘Thinking back over the year the two that were most notable for us were The Lloyd George Domesday Survey, that are only to be found online at TheGenealogist, and the 1921 Census Substitute:
- The Lloyd George Domesday Survey Records and accompanying maps. 2018 saw TheGenealogist begin to release these unique records online. We have started with those from London and intend to work outwards, though it is a massive project that will be ongoing for some time. You can see more about them here on a dedicated page.
- We also increased our 1921 Census Substitute records, which we think will be of great use to researchers. It is described here.
MyHeritage
There have been lots of new releases at MyHeritage in 2018, as they told Family Tree, with their top record releases as follows:
- Sweden Household Examination Books, 1860-1947 (with over 100 million records)
- Our work to finish our various Denmark Census & Church Records collections.
- 1921 Canada Census
- 1939 Register of England & Wales
- England & Wales, Index of Wills and Probates, 1853-1943
- Yearbooks Name Index, 1890-1979
- Newspaper collections from 23 US States (32.7 million pages)
You can explore each of these on the MyHeritage website.
Forces War Records
Forces War Records told us, in June 2018 we released news about Forces War Records releasing over 1 million new World War I Casualty records. The collection is compiled from the ‘Daily War Office Casualty Lists’ and the ‘War Office Weekly Casualty List’ by His Majesty’s Stationery Office, see this page.
According to War Office statistics, the Great War 1914-18 claimed the lives of over 700,000 British soldiers. 170,000 were captured as prisoners of war and a staggering 1.6 million soldiers received a wound.
This unique collection is extensive and a very important resource for anyone researching their military ancestors from the First World War. It can be the only record of a solider having been wounded if their service records was destroyed and they weren’t discharged with a Silver War Badge.
FreeCen
The volunteers at FreeCen have been busy over the past months, and told us that the 1871 census for Leicestershire is now complete on the FreeCen website.
More census years complete for Freecen this year include:
- Argyllshire - 1871
- Gloucester - 1841
- Kinross-shire - 1851, 1861, and 1871
- Leicester - 1871
- Somerset 1851
Our pick of other 2018 record releases
Among the other records we’ve enjoyed using this year are:
FamilySearch with the release of 150 million Italian genealogy records
FindMyPast’s marriage licences from 1115 onwards, for fifteen English counties
Ancestry’s Coal Mining Accidents and Death Index for 1878-1935
QUICK LINK: Meet your fellow family history researchers, explore genealogy stalls and enjoy expert talks and workshops at Family Tree Live
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(image copyright FindMyPast)