Devon Family History Society was established in 1976. It is one of the largest groups in the UK and is a member of SWAG (the South West Area Group of FHSs) which is a regional group that includes 12 societies. It currently has over 5000 members.
Their main aims are to encourage the transcription of records relating to the county of Devon and to further the study of genealogy.
Information about Devon Family History Society
Society Indexes
The group has transcribed many indexes, which include:
- 1861 Census
- Baptisms
- Burials
- Cemetery Registers
- Data from the Plymouth Herald
- Devon Coastguards
- Marriages
- Methodist Obituaries
- Monumental Inscriptions
- Strays
- Strays (Jersey Hospital admissions 1873-1882: people born in Devon)
Members have free access to the indexes on their site.
A list of parish registers for which the Society has published books of baptisms, marriages and burials is accessible on their site, which includes the years covered by the books in each instance. It also states the deanery to which the individual parish is connected.
Society Publications
Many publications are sold by the Society, which incorporate:
- Baptism Books 1813-1839
- Burial Books 1813-1837
- Chronological Crib for Family Historians: Timeline 1086-1971
- Coverage of Devon Parishes in the International Genealogical Index (IGI)
- Devon Union Workhouses and their Records
- Directories
- Epidemics and Diseases in Devon
- Exeter Theatre Fire 5 September 1887
- Genealogy Books
- Hospitals and Asylums of Devon and their Records
- Inns, Taverns and Ale Houses
- Local History Books
- Maps
- Marriage Books 1754-1812, 1813-1837
- Occupations and Descriptions of Yesteryear Folk
- Sherford Marriage Banns 1824-1929
- Sort out the Census UK and abroad
- Stoke Damerel Military Burials 1786-1797
The Society has also published many books in conjunction with Devon Record Office and North Devon Record Office, which include:
- Apprentices Registers
- Asylum Records
- Bastardy Records
- Census Indexes
- Court Registers
- Dartmoor Convicts Inquests
- Devon Constabulary Monthly Returns
- Freeholders Registers
- Homes for Friendless and Fallen Girls Exeter Registers
- Insolvent Debtor Registers
- Lunatic Paupers Registers
Books published with Devon Record Office and North Devon Record Office also include:
- Marriage Notice Books
- Nonconformist Register Transcripts
- Pedlars Indorsements
- Prison Ladies Photographs 1870s
- Register of Pedlars Certificates of the City of Exeter 1871-1874
- Return of Deaths: Eastern District Exeter
- School Admission Registers
- School Registers
- Vaccination Registers
- Vagrants Committed to Gaol
- Workhouse Register Transcripts
Research Service
On payment of a fee, the Society is prepared to search in their Research Centre called Tree House on your behalf.
Website:
http://www.devonfhs.org.uk