Essex Family History Society

This section lists county associations of Essex providing details about each one and what resources and publications they offer.

• East of London
• Essex
• Waltham Forest

East of London Family History Society

The Group was formed in 1978 by people who shared an interest in genealogical research, and covers the Eastern area of Greater London. It has over 1800 members worldwide. 

Their aims are to promote and encourage interest in family history, genealogy, heraldry and local history.

Information about East of London Family History Society

Information on their site incorporates:

• Birth Record Locations
• Burial Record Locations
• Cemetery Information
• Diary of Branch Meetings
• Local Archives Locations
• Marriage Record Locations
• Photographs

The Society also has many online projects, which include:

• Baptism Indexes
• Bethnal Green Church Rate Books
• Bow Poor Rate 1837
• Burial Indexes
• Cemetery Indexes
• Census Indexes
• Holy Trinity Minorities Marriages 1676-1754
• Marriage Indexes
• Poplar Mortuary Index 1911-1983
• Shadwell Poor Rate 1725
• Whitechapel Watch Rate 1800, 1805

Please note the online projects are only accessible to members.

Society Databases

Some databases and other items are freely available on their site, which incorporate:

• Cockney Ancestor
• East London Federation of Suffragettes 1915 AGM Report
• Stepney Street Index: 1871 Census
• Surnames currently being researched by members

Website:
https://www.eolfhs.org.uk

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Essex Family History Society

The Society was formed in 1974, becoming a registered charity in 1984.  Their aims are to encourage and promote the study of Genealogy within the county.  They have branches in Chelmsford, Colchester, Harlow, Saffron Walden and Southend on Sea.

Information about Essex Family History Society

Society Branches

Chelmsford (Chairman):

Mr Paul Stirland
23 Leys Road
Wivenhoe
Colchester
CO7 9EX

Meetings are held in the Galleywood Heritage Centre, Galleywood Common, Margaretting Road, Chelmsford.  Many meetings are held by the Society.

Colchester (Chairman):

Mrs Pauline Adlem
112 Colchester Road
White Colne
Colchester
CO6 2PP

Meetings are held at Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street, Colchester, CO1 2QB.  Many meetings are held by the Society.

Harlow (Chairman):

Miss Elizabeth Cox
9 Riverside Court
Cambridge Road
Harlow
Essex
CM20 2AD

Telephone:

01279 434267

Email:

emt.cox2@btinternet.com

Secretary:

Mrs Sue Spiller
31 Ash Tree Field
Harlow
CM20 1QD

Email:

suespiller@yahoo.co.uk

Harlow branch covers Harlow, Epping, Ongar, Hatfield Heath, Hatfield Broad Oak and surrounding villages.  Meetings are held at St Johns’ Arts and Recreation Centre, Market Street, Harlow, CM17 0AJ.

Saffron Walden (Chairman):

Mrs Janice Sharpe
4 Victoria Avenue
Saffron Walden
Essex
CB11 3AE

Telephone:

01799 527718

Email:

Sharpejms1@aol.com

Meetings are held at Saffron Walden Baptist Church Lower Hall (Audley Road entrance), CB11 3HD.

Southend on Sea (Chairman):

Mr Eric Jude
53 Gordon Road
Southend on Sea
SS1 1NF

Email:

eric_j_jude@hotmail.com

Secretary:

Mrs Heather Feather
52 Symons Avenue
Leigh-on-Sea
SS9 5QE

Email:

heather@feather1.demon.co.uk

Meetings are held at The Avenue Baptist Church Hall, Milton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 7JX

Society Research Centre

The Society has a Research Centre in Chelmsford, situated on the first floor of Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6YT. 

Research Centre Booking

You are advised to book in advance of your visit, but only one session can be booked per day. 

If places are available at the end of your session, you may be able to stay for the next session.  You have to state if you wish to have the first or second session, and whether you wish to book a computer or microfiche reader.  You are required to obtain a CARN card to visit the Centre.

Parish Map

A parish map, showing the location of parishes in Essex, is available on their site.

Society Publications

Many publications are available for sale, which include:

• Burial Indexes
• Essex Poor Law Documents 
• Memorial Inscriptions
• Parish Register Transcriptions

Research Service

For payment of a fee, the Association can conduct searches in the following indexes:

• Burials
• Monumental Inscriptions
• National Wills Index 1853-1943
• Parish Registers

Website:
http://www.esfh.org.uk

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Waltham Forest Family History Society

The association was established in 1978 to promote and encourage interest in genealogy.  They cater for people who have South West Essex ancestry.  They plan visits to archives and museums and discuss topics at workshops.  

Information about Waltham Forest Family History Society

The Society has a large collection of records and magazines and are involved with the transcription of local records and memorial inscriptions.

Society Databases

Databases that can be searched on their site include:

• 1831 Census Indexes Walthamstow and Leyton
• 1918 Absent Voters Lists for Walthamstow
• Baptism Indexes
• Burial Indexes
• Monumental Inscriptions

Website: 
http://www.wffhs.org.uk