Sussex Family History Society

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

• Eastbourne and District
• Hastings and Rother
• Sussex

Eastbourne and District Family History Society

The Society was formed in 1986, its aims being to promote and encourage the study of genealogy and to preserve archival material.

Information

Society Parishes

The association covers ‘Eastbourne District’. Parishes in this area include:

Society Books

An extensive library of books and other publications are held by the Society, which can be borrowed by members.  You can pre-order these publications, and they will be brought to the next monthly meeting.  They require 3 days notice.

Society Publications

Many publications are sold by the association, which you are able to purchase before their meetings.  If you cannot get to their meetings, you can also purchase the following publications on their site:

• BMDs extracted from Eastbourne Gazette 1862-1920
• Census Indexes
• Contiguous Parishes Series
• East Sussex Contributors to Irish Protestant Relief 1642
• Hailsham Cemetery Burials 1872-1972
• Local History Books
• Maps
• Memorial Inscriptions
• Parish Register Transcriptions
• Reference Books
• Sussex and Surrey Family History Pedigrees
• Tithe Awards

Some publications do not just cover Eastbourne and District, but all over Sussex, and other counties of the United Kingdom.

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

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Hastings and Rother Family History Society

The association was formed in 1986 and has members worldwide. The area covered is known as 1066 country because of its connection to the Battle of Hastings, fought in 1066.

Information

Society Journal

A quarterly journal is published by the Society, which includes book reviews, articles and news regarding HRFHS dates and events.

Society Research Room

Many resources are held in their research room named The Tomlin Room, which is named after the late president and founder member Stan Tomlin.  Resources held incorporate:

• Burial Indexes
• Census Indexes
• Emigration Records
• Maps
• Memorial Inscriptions
• Parish Histories
• Parish Register Transcripts
• Photographs
• Street Directories for the Hastings area
• Union Workhouses (Battle, Hastings, Rye) Births, Deaths and Census Returns

Society Publications

Many publications are available for sale, which incorporate:

• Beckley Village Hall Centenary 1905-2005
• Burial Indexes
• Cemetery Records
• Census Indexes
• East Sussex Villages
• From Beckley to New South Wales 1837-1841: Information regarding those who emigrated to New South Wales 
• Hop Token Issuers and their Tokens
• Legends of Sir Cloudesley Shovell and his visit to Hastings in 1691
• Local History Books
• Memorial Inscriptions
• Parish Register Transcriptions
• Reference Books
• Surnames taken from old Photographs (Index)

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

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Sussex Family History Group

Founded in 1972, the Sussex Family History Group has approximately 4000 members Worldwide. It has seven meeting centres around the county which are in Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Bognor Regis and West Meads, Horsham, Uckfield, Worthing and Chichester.

Information

Society Library

The Society’s Library is situated in Woollards Way, Brighton, BN1 9BP.

Library Resources

Many resources are accessible in the Library, which incorporate:

• Apprentices
• Census Indexes
• Directories
• Family Histories and Pedigrees
• Hearth Tax Lists
• International Genealogical Index (IGI)
• Land Tax Lists
• Lewes Wills Register 1680-1858
• Marriage Licences
• Members’ Interests
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Parish Register Transcripts
• Reference Books

Society Research Service

The Society is prepared to conduct searches in their marriage index covering 1538-1837, and ask that you send a stamped addressed envelope, or an addressed envelope with two International Reply Coupons if you are overseas. 

You have to provide details of the approximate area the marriage took place in, and are asked not to send copies of charts or any documents.  Searches will only be undertaken for a twenty year period.

Society Databases

Some databases are accessible on their site, which include West Sussex Probate Inventories.

Other databases are available to members only, which include:

• Census Indexes
• Occupational Database
• SFHG Sussex Baptismal Index
• Surnames currently being researched by members
• Sussex People Index
• Sussex Wills Depository (Index accessible to all, but transcriptions only accessible to members)
• Tombstone and Burials Index

Society Maps and Photographs

Numerous maps and photographs are available on the site, along with a list of Sussex Census References 1841-1901.

Society Publications

Many publications are sold by the Society, which include:

• Assizes 1625-1800
• Association Oath Rolls for Sussex and Cinque Ports 1696
• Census Indexes
• Church Court Deponents 1556-1694
• Convicts transported to Australia 1789-1867
• Criminals and Victims 1767-1850 (3 volumes)
• East Sussex Bastardy Papers 1594-1845
• Land Tax 1815
• Lay Subsidy 1552
• Maps
• Marriage Index 1538-1837: Includes people from Sussex marrying outside Sussex
• Medieval Sheriffs of Sussex and Surrey 1066-1400
• Monumental Inscriptions
• Nonconformist Registers
• Parish Register Transcripts
• Reference Books
• Removal Orders 1662-1862
• Settlement Certificates and Parish Apprentices 1575-1837
• Sussex Family Historian 1973-2013
• Sussex Genealogical Centre 1979-1986
• Sussex Poor 1661-1850 (2 volumes)

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