Researching your ancestors' occupation or trade
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A look at the available archives and resources for researching your ancestors' occupation or trade.
There are now sevaral archives containing records on specific occupations or trades. This is a list of those now available on Ancestry or Findmypast (both pay-to-view), or on free websites. Other places to try are trade directories, and search on Google Books limiting the search to 19th century (or whichever century is applicable) will probably reveal general background information on how the trade or occupation was conducted.
This is an example of the type of occupation records that are available.
- Post Office
- Postal Service Appointment Books 1737-1969 Ancestry
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Medical Registers 1859-1959 Ancestry
- UK & Ireland Medical Directories 1845 - 1942 Ancestry
- Roll of the Indian Medical Service 1615 - 1930 Ancestry
- Midwives Roll 1904 - 1959 Ancestry>
- Dentist Registers 1879 - 1942 Ancestry
- Medical and Dental Students Registers 1882 - 1937 Ancestry
- Physiotherapy and Masseuse Registers 1895 - 1980 Ancestry
- Railways
- Railway Employment Records 1833-1963 Ancestry
- Great Western Railway Magazine 1838-1943 Ancestry
- Southern Railway Magazine 1840-1942 Ancestry
- Scotland, Highland Railway Company 1854-1900 Ancestry
- Industry, Manufacture and Engineering
- British Industry History (history of companies, specific industries, obituaries, etc.) gracesguide.co.uk.
- Mechanical Engineer Records 1870-1930 Ancestry
- Civil Engineer Lists 1818-1930 Ancestry
- Civil Engineer Records 1820-1930 Ancestry
- Civil Engineer Photographs 1829-1923 Ancestry
- Electrical Engineering Apprentices and Trainees, 1902-1934 findmypast.co.uk
- Trade Union Records findmypast.co.uk
- Includes:
- Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners
- Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, Cabinetmakers & Joiners
- General Union of Carpenters and Joiners
- Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers
- Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Artists, Designers, Engravers and Process Workers
- Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers
- Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants
- National Union of Railwaymen
- United Society of Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilders
- Legal Profession
- Articles of Clerkship 1756-1874 (apprentice clerks who wanted to become an attorney or solicitor) Ancestry
- Law List, England and Wales, (names of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals) 1843 Ancestry
Find your Essex Ancestors in the Parish Registers
The Essex Record Office 'ERO' are custodians of the parish registers of Essex. Ancestry.co.uk have now transcribed the entire collection of Essex parish registers. Search now on Ancestry for your Essex ancestors. Then on the results page click on ‘request image’ and you will be taken to the ERO website where you can purchase an image of the relevant page.
Visit our Parish Registers of Essex page for more information.
Find your Ancestors in the Newspapers
Newspaper archives are now a very important source of information for researching your family tree.
Try our example search to help you discover if your ancestors are in the British Newspaper Archive.
Looking for pictures to add to your family tree album?
Ebay is a good source of old images of Essex towns and villages. If you're looking for pictures to add to your family tree album, then try one of the auctions, or there are several 'Buy It Now' shops offering postcards which have been touched up and improved - so if you're unsure about bidding, try these.
Link below already formatted for Essex and Postcards.
HISTORY HOUSE
Essex Places A-Z
Essex History
Your Ancestors
British History
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