Biographical, historical and family history
National Archives research guides
Useful information from the National Archives to help with your research on family history and more.
Ancestry Library Edition
Masses of information for family history researchers, including census records, births marriages and deaths and much more. This is a paid-for site, but you can access it for free at ERO and in Essex Libraries.
Find My Past
UK family history records, news and tutorials. This is a paid-for site, but you can access it for free at ERO and in Essex Libraries. You will need to register for an account to use the site.
Freebmd.org.uk
Searchable indexes of birth, marriage and death records for England and Wales, 1837-1983. The indexes are free to use both at ERO and at home. The site is an ongoing project, and the indexes are incomplete. There is also useful information about civil registration districts and how boundaries have changed over time here.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Biographies of over 60,000 people who have shaped the history and culture of the British Isles, from Romans times to the 21st century. Access the site for free at ERO, in Essex Libraries or at home by signing in with an Essex Library Card number.
The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland
The ultimate reference work on family names of the UK covering English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish, Cornish and immigrant surnames. Access the site for free at ERO, in Essex Libraries or at home by signing in with an Essex Library Card number.
General Register Office index to births, marriages and deaths
Index to births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales since 1837, provided by the General Register Office. You will need to register for an account to use this service.
Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates for Essex
Order copies of birth, marriage or death certificates for Essex from the Essex Record Office. This includes certificates issues in the area administered by Essex County Council (i.e. not areas run by other councils, including Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham, and Redbridge).
Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates for England and Wales
Order copies of birth, marriage or death certificates for events registered in England or Wales from the General Register Office.
Wills after 1858 in England and Wales
Find a will or probate document post-1858. Find more information about historic wills here.
Workhouses.org.uk
A wealth of information about Victorian workhouses.
Who's Who and Who was Who
From 1849 right up to this year – the noteworthy and influential in all walks of life. Log in with an Essex Library Card to access the site at ERO, in Essex Libraries, or at home.
Genuki.org.uk
Useful information about a variety of family history sources, and where you can find them.
Family Search
Worldwide genealogical records, free to search.
