furness family history society

RESEARCH IN FURNESS

Archive and reference sources: The Barrow Record Office and Local Studies Library (BROLSL) has an excellent collection of records and books relating to Furness, including full sets of the transactions of the relevant historical societies. Archives relating to Furness are, in the main, located in this Office; however, as Furness was in Lancashire until 1974, some relevant original records are in the Lancashire Record Office in Preston. (The Cumbria Archive Service guide for genealogical researchers entitled “CUMBRIAN ANCESTORS” is an important research tool.) There is a Mormon Family History Centre (FHC) in Barrow, though this is comparatively new, does not yet have a computer service and has only a basic stock; features of particular value are the 1891 census returns for England and Boyd’s Marriage Index. The Furness Family History Society (FnFHS) has produced many personal indexes with more in development.

CHURCH RECORDS

Church of England: Parish records of Furness proper and south Copeland are deposited in the BROLSL, while those from Cartmel are in Kendal . Diocesan records relating to Furness and Cartmel are held in the BROLSL, while those for Copeland are in Carlisle. (Kirby Ireleth is a peculiar of the Dean and Chapter of York and all records from this parish are held in the Borthwick Institute in York.)

Non-conformist records: Very few non-conformist records are available locally. Roman Catholic registers are retained in the churches.

Directories: The BROLSL has the best available set of local street directories and year books.

Electoral registers: The BROLSL has the Barrow Burgess Rolls for 1867-8 and the Barrow electoral registers from 1882. There are a few nineteenth century fragments for other areas of Furness. (It is understood that the Lancashire Record Office has a better collection of non-Barrow registers.).

IGI: Both the FnFHS and the BROLSL hold copies of the IGI. Another copy is in the Lancaster FHC.

Newspapers: The BROLSL has an excellent collection of local newspapers.

Population census: The BROLSL has the census returns for Furness (fully indexed).

Quarter sessions: The quarter session records are in Preston Record Office, where there is a very extensive card index.

Registration of births, marriages and deaths: The BROLSL has a microfiche copy of the national Births, Marriages and Deaths Register Index. There are Superintendent Registrars at Barrow, Millom and Ulverston.

Burials: The records for Barrow cemetery are available in the cemetery office, with a microfiche copy in the BROLSL; a personal index to these records has been constructed by the FnFHS. The Dalton cemetery records are in the Barrow cemetery office, with a copy in the BROLSL. Copies of the Ulverston and Grange cemetery records are available in the BROLSL. The FnFHS has published microfiches of many parish burial registers.

Wills: Preston Record Office has a copy of the Calendar of Probate. The BROLSL has copies of some local wills; wills proved at Lancaster are lodged in Preston Record Office.

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