Databases - Searchable Collections

Increasingly, many records that were previously only available to researchers by visiting one of the archives, are now available online.  With many of these, the indexes are free to search, but you may need to purchase credits or a subscription to view these original documents.

• Ancestry.com - Ancestry have a huge library of online searchable resources which include the UK Census Collection 1841 - 1901, Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes, Court, Land and Probate Records, Newspaper and Periodicals, BT Telephone Directories and other Directory listings.  You can pay a yearly subscription to view all the English records or otherwise buy credits.  Ancestry also hold records for other countries such as the US census and others.  This site also allows you to upload your family trees and interact with others searching the same surnames.
• British Origins - The British Origins website specialises in England and Welsh genealogy and family history and gives access to records held by the Society of Genealogists.  Collections cover the period 1267-1910 and include the England & Wales 1841 & 1871 Census, Boyd's Marriage Index, Bank of England Wills, Apprenticeship records, Militia Attestations, to name but a few.  Please note that this site requires a subscription to view records, but hard copies of some records can be ordered from the Society of Genealogists.
• Family History Online - Over 67 million searchable records provided by the Federation of Family History Societies including parish registers, memorial inscriptions, censuses, poor law documents and others that have been compiled by Family History Societies.  The indexes are free to search, although you will need to purchase a minimum of £5.00 credit to view records which is then valid for 6 months.
• Find My Past - This contains database collections of census records, civil registrations of births, marriages and deaths and also some parish records of baptisms, marriages and burials.  There is also a section Ancestors on Board Passenger Lists which contains UK outbound passenger lists of ships sailing to destinations worldwide between 1890 and 1960, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA.  Here you can find immigrants and emigrants, but also the names of businessman, diplomats and tourists.  The indexes are free to search, but to view records you will need to purchase credits or one of their subscription services.