Getting Started
There are many ways you can get started in searching your family history. You can look at your parents birth certificates' to locate the family names of your father and mother. A marriage certificate would be even better as this lists not only the couples' names, but the names of the fathers and their professions. A good idea is to speak to older generations of family to see if they can provide information on who family members were. Check through family documents for photographs and documents which can provide clues to family connection or identity. This should start to build up a picture of the immediate family tree.
For persons born outside the UK, you may need to approach the Embassy or High Commission of the country where the birth, death or marriage took place.
For advice on historical searches, contact the Wigan and Leigh Register Office on 01942 705000. Any certificate requested can be supplied for a fee of £7.00 per certificate. Application forms are downloadable:
Please note we only have information on people who were born, died or married in the Wigan MBC district, for a much wider search you would be advised to go to the Family Records Centre.
Or you may wish to consult some of the alternative sources listed below.
Alternative sources for family searches:
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The General Register Office (external link) is responsible for ensuring registration information is collected and maintain a central archive facility. It is responsible for all online, telephone, fax and postal enquiries.
Address: General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport PR8 2JD
Telephone: 0870 2437788
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The Family Records Centre (external link) provides the face-to-face service where indexes can be searched. It can provide records of Birth, Death and Marriage for England and Wales from 1837. You can search the indexes and they also have available census data.
Address: 1 Myddleton Street, London EC1R 1UW
Telephone: 0870 2437788
Email: webmaster@familyrecords.gov.uk
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Documents are held at the National Archives (external link).
