Useful Family History Internet Links
Cornwall Family History Society Help & Advice
Find valuable online resources for your genealogical research with the Cornwall Family History Society’s curated list of useful family history internet links. Access tools and databases to aid your ancestry search.
Cornwall Based Organisations
Kresen Kernow
Kresen Kernow (‘Cornwall Centre’) is home to the world’s largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs related to Cornwall’s history. A fantastic resource for: General Genealogy, Cornwall Genealogy, UK Genealogy, Worldwide Genealogy, Wills, Censuses, Newspapers and Local History.
https://kresenkernow.org/
Associations
Devon Family History Society
Our neighbouring county society, several parishes changed between Cornwall and Devon
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk
Federation of Family History Societies (FFHS)
The umbrella organization for family history societies
http://www.familyhistoryfederation.com
Fellowship of First Fleeters
An organisation comprised of descendants of those who arrived in Sydney Cove with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788 & also those interested in the First Fleet
fellowshipfirstfleeters.org.au
London Cornish Association
The London Cornish Association is a non-political, non-sectarian, cultural and social organisation which promotes and fosters fellowship and goodwill among Cornish people in London and elsewhere
http://www.londoncornish.co.uk
Society of Genealogists
The SOG library and family history centre
http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml
Military
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Ancestry
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Royal Naval Service Records
You can find the service records for most ratings
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/royal-navy-service.asp
Royal Navy and Royal Marine Casualty Lists
Casualty lists from pre-1914 to 2008, including both world wars, listed alphabetically and chronologically by ship. By including the inter-war and post-war years, providing background information and allowing for the addition of photographs of those lost, this is a valuable complement to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site
http://www.naval-history.net
The National Archives
UK Government records and information
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
WW2 Medals to Merchant Seamen
BT 395 contains a record of world war two medals claimed and issued to merchant seamen from 1946 to 2002
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/seamens-medals.asp
WW1 Medal Cards
The medal rolls index, known as the medal index cards
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp
General Genealogy
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Ancestry
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Devon Family History Society
Our neighbouring county society, several parishes changed between Cornwall and Devon
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk
FamilySearch
Genealogy collection of the Church of the Latter Day Saints
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
Find My Past
Pay for view
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
FreeBMD
Free Births, Marriages, and Death registration indexes
http://freebmd.org.uk/
FreeCen
Free UK Census
http://www.freecen.org.uk/
My Trees
The world’s largest pedigree-linked database
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/
Rootsweb
The oldest and largest genealogical site
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Society of Genealogists
The SOG library and family history centre
http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml
The National Archives
UK Government records and information
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Cornwall Genealogy
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Ancestry
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Devon Family History Society
Our neighbouring county society, several parishes changed between Cornwall and Devon
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk
FamilySearch
Genealogy collection of the Church of the Latter Day Saints
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
Find My Past
Pay for view
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
GENUKI
Genealogy for UK and Ireland
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Cornwall/index.html
Liskeard Area Graves
Cemeteries and graves from around Liskeard http://www.cornishgraves.org.uk/
My Trees
The world’s largest pedigree-linked database
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/
On-Line Parish Clerks for Cornwall
Details on a parish-by-parish basis
http://www.opc-cornwall.org/
Rootsweb
The oldest and largest genealogical site
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Society of Genealogists
The SOG library and family history centre
http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml
St Cleer Dissenters Chapel Graves
The St Cleer general cemetery website
http://www.thedissentersgeneralchapel.co.uk/
West Penwith Resources
Transcripts and information on West Penwith
http://west-penwith.org.uk/index.htm
UK Genealogy
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Ancestry
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Devon Family History Society
Our neighbouring county society, several parishes changed between Cornwall and Devon
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk
FamilySearch
Genealogy collection of the Church of the Latter Day Saints
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
Find My Past
Pay for view
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
GENUKI
Genealogy for UK and Ireland
http://www.genuki.org.uk/
My Trees
The world’s largest pedigree-linked database
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/
Rootsweb
The oldest and largest genealogical site
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Scotland’s People
Scottish GRO index and parish records – pay for view
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
Society of Genealogists
The SOG library and family history centre
http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml
The National Archives
UK Government records and information
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Worldwide Genealogy
Ancestry
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
FamilySearch
Genealogy collection of the Church of the Latter Day Saints
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
Find My Past
Pay for view
http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
House History and Genealogy
https://www.raleighrealtyhomes.com/blog/house-history-and-genealogy.html
My Trees
The world’s largest pedigree-linked database
http://www.kindredkonnections.com/
Our Public Records
A guide to help people getting started in tracing their European roots, with resources for each country to help with the search
https://ourpublicrecords.org/europe-family-records/
Public Record Office of Victoria (Aus)
Has shipping lists for 1839-1923 and other government records
http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/
Rootsweb
The oldest and largest genealogical site
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Society of Genealogists
The SOG library and family history centre
http://www.sog.org.uk/index.shtml
Southwest Wisconsin Cornish Society – Home Facebook
Maps
Modern Maps and Aerial Photographs
Modern maps of the UK
http://www.multimap.com/
Old Maps of the UK
Early Ordnance Survey maps
http://www.old-maps.co.uk
Certificates
General Register Office
Wills
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Public Record Office of Victoria (Aus)
Has shipping lists for 1839-1923 and other government records
http://www.prov.vic.gov.au/
The National Archives
UK Government records and information
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Wills
The PCC wills on DocumentsOnline are all registered copy wills meaning they are copies of original probates
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wills.asp
Census
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Ancestry
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Family Search
Genealogy collection of the Church of the Latter Day Saints
http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
The National Archives
UK Government records and information
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
Search Engines
Cyndi’s List
A comprehensive list of genealogical sites
http://www.cyndislist.com
Dogpile
Search engine which searches other search engines
http://www.dogpile.com
Sales
Devon Family History Society
Our neighbouring county society, several parishes changed between Cornwall and Devon
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk
The Parish Chest
On-line genealogy shop
http://www.parishchest.com/
Local History
Access 2 Archives
The A2A database contains catalogues describing archives held locally in England and Wales and dating from the eighth century to the present day
http://www.a2a.org.uk
Cornwall Record Office – Cornwall County Council
Professional archive service for Cornwall
https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/community-and-living/records-archives-and-cornish-studies/
Fal World Wide History Group
A group local to the Fal River area of Cornwall
http://beehive.thisiscornwall.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=siteHome&id=2035
Polperro Press
Local history books with particular reference to Polperro and smuggling
http://www.polperropress.co.uk/page/view_all_titles/
St Ives Trust Archive Study Centre
Information centre for people who want to know more about St Ives and its people
http://www.stivestrust.co.uk/
St Mawes Village Site
A link to the village of St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula
http://www.stmawes.info/st-mawes-village
West Penwith Resources
Transcripts and information on West Penwith
http://west-penwith.org.uk/index.htm
Newspapers
Historical Directories
Free images of UK directories including at least 23 from Cornwall
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/
London, Belfast and Edinburgh Gazettes
London, Edinburgh and Belfast Gazettes online
http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk
Miscellaneous
AAA State of Play
Genealogy for kids: building a family tree
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/genealogy-for-kids-building-a-family-tree/
AIRPM – Using AI for Genealogical Research
https://www.aiprm.com/education/ai-for-genealogical-research/
Association for Cornish Heritage
About Cornwall’s historic and cultural heritage
http://www.cornwallheritage.com
Charlestown History Group
Protecting and promoting the history of Charlestown, Cornwall http://www.thedissentersgeneralchapel.co.uk/
Curious Fox
Village-by-village contact site
http://www.curiousfox.com
Deciphering Old Handwriting
Deciphering old handwriting
http://www.amberskyline.com/treasuremaps/oldhand.html
Ellis Island (USA)
USA immigration records through Ellis Island from 1892
http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/
Genes Reunited
From the stable of Friends Reunited, established for genealogists
http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/
Finding Your Family from Ship’s Passenger Lists
Useful tips and links
https://www.cruisedirect.com/finding-your-family-ships-passenger-lists
Historical Directories
Free images of UK directories including at least 23 from Cornwall
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/
HMY Yachts
Researching your family history from ships passenger lists
https://www.hmy.com/researching-your-familys-history-from-ships-passenger-lists/
Nick Leverton
A history and first hand report of the extraordinary life of non conformist Cornish missionary Rev. Nicholas Leverton, taken from a family manuscript written in 1670 by fellow Cornishman Rev. Charles Morton educator of Daniel Defoe, and Harvard Vice President.
https://www.nickleverton.com/
On-Line Parish Clerks for Cornwall
Details on a parish-by-parish basis
http://www.opc-cornwall.org/
St Cleer’s Dissenters’ Chapel
Burial information for the chapel
http://www.thedissentersgeneralchapel.co.uk/
The Parish Chest
On-line genealogy shop
http://www.parishchest.com/
