Strategic Research Log: (England, 1538 to 1837)

Strategic Research Log: (England, 1538 to 1837)

Ancestor’s name / Birth date / Researcher
Telephone
Research Objective(s) / Locality
The Law of Witnesses
Good legal procedure requires two or three witnesses to transactions. Family history research needs the same.
Prioritized Research Strategy
Directions: This list of important source types can serve as a reminder to search them in priority order. The priority numbers appear under “B” for birth, “M” for marriage, and “D” for death. The numbers are hyperlinked to Research Guidance in FamilySearch.org, where sources and strategies are listed. Rows at the end are for miscellaneous records that are not in the listed classes. As data is entered the rows will expand. Hyperlinks may be added that quickly link this log to files and images. Remember to search for information on the ancestor’s husband or wife, and / on all of their children. This form can accommodate all of them. When finished, transfer the key information to the Research Analysis Table for evaluation. [Create HYPERLINK HERE] The system is intended to be simple but profound, leading from basics to advanced levels. The motto is “simplify and reduce; organize and produce.” Click on the “R.G.” icons below to go to Research Guidance on those topics. Click on the “More” icons to go to a list of added sources, which you can customize.
Link to Familysearch.org / Link to FamilySearchWiki.org
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Church Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
1 / 1 / 1
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Poor Law Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
2 / 4 / 8
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Quarter Sessions / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
3 / 5 / 9
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Occupational Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
4 / 6 / 11
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Probate Records Pre-1858, / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
5 / 2 / 2
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Monumental Inscriptions/
Church Monuments / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
6 / 3 / 4
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Manorial Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
7 / 12 / 16
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Military records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
8 / 7 / 12
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Biography / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
9 / 10 / 14
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Visitations / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
10 / 14 / 15
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Land Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
11 / 13 / 17
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Newspapers / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
12 / 8 / 7
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Chancery Court Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
13 / 11 / 5
Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Family History / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
14 / 9 / 12
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Tax Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
15 / 16 / 18
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Inquisitions Post Mortem / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
16 / 15 / 18
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
School and Alumni Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
17 / 17 / --
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Death Certificate / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
18 / 20 / --
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Marriage Certificate / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
19 / 21 / --
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Birth Certificate / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
20 / 19 / 6
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Cemetery Records / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
- / 18
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
City and Regional Directories / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
-- / 22 / 19
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)
Obituary / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
-- / 23 / --
Date of search / Location/ call number / Prioritized Sources / Source (author, title, year, pages)

Probate Records, 1858 to
Present / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
B / M / D
-- / -- / 3
Miscellaneous
Date of search / Location/ call number / Source (author, title, year, pages) / Comments (purpose of search, results, years and names searched) / Document file name (make hyperlink)
Association Oath Rolls
Civil registration births, marriages, deaths
Closed Rolls
Livery and Seisins
Charter Rolls
Patent Rolls
East India Company records
Finding aids:
Smith’s Inventory of Genealogical Sources
Stuart Raymond published guides
Wagner Huguenot collection
Gentleman’s Magazine, Gentleman’s Magazine Index
Historical background, timelines
Internet searches and catalogs:

Kew Lists
The National Archives
Archon
National Register of Archives
Genuki
FamilySearch

Local and social history
Maps and gazetteers
Marriage indexes
Mordy collection (Jews)
National Index of Documentary Sources
Nonconformist church records
Parliamentary Papers and Records of Parliament
Pension records
Protestation Returns (1641/42)
Register of Kings Privy Council (published)
Societies and periodicals

David Earl Perry, 2007