This section lists the county associations of Warwickshire, providing details about each one and what resources and publications they offer. Details regarding the following Societies are included in this page:
Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry (Midland Ancestors)
The association was established in 1963 and covers the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
The Society is now known as Midland Ancestors.
It is an affiliated society of The Birmingham and Midland Institute and of The Federation of Family History Societies.
They cover the modern metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton as well as areas of the old counties before the boundary changes of the 19th and 20th centuries.
The combined boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton are sometimes known as ‘The Black Country’.
Information
Mrs Jackie Cotterill
c/o Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry
5 Sanderling Court
Kidderminster
Worcestershire
DY10 4TS
Email:
gensec@bmsgh.org
Society Branches
Several branches are operated by the Society, which include those in Staffordshire:
North Staffs
Location:
The St John’s Centre
Newcastle Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 6QD
Email:
Branch Centre Parking
Free parking is available to the side of the centre, and should this be full, street parking is available in Harpfields Road and Flash Lane. The Society asks that you do not park in Vicarage Lane.
Society Resources
The branch has an extensive library of books and other items, which can be borrowed by members. These resources include:
- Card Index of surnames currently being researched by members
- Census Indexes
- Court Rolls
- Genealogy Local History and Immigration Source Records
- Hearth Tax Returns
- History Books
- International Genealogical Index (IGI)
- Local History Books
- Maps: Handlist of pre 1840 Estate Maps in Stafford Record Office
- Monumental Inscriptions
- Nonconformist Registers
- Parish Register Transcriptions
- Poll Books
- Railway Records in Stafford Record Office
- Reference Books
- Workhouse Register Transcripts
The Library is only available if a Research Evening has been scheduled.
Some fiches are also held by the organisation, which can be borrowed by members. These fiches include Census Indexes and Monumental Inscriptions.
Branch Website:
http://www.bmsgh.org/branches/northstaffs/index.html
Wolverhampton
Location:
All Saints Church Hall
Vicar Street
Sedgley
Dudley
West Midlands
DY3 3SD
Contact:
Penny Smith
22 Broxwood Park
Tettenhall Wood
Wolverhampton
WV6 8LZ
Telephone:
01902 250929
Email:
The main Society also has branches in Warwickshire, which include:
Birmingham
Location:
The Birmingham and Midland Institute
Margaret Street
Birmingham
B3 3BS
Contact (General Secretary):
Mrs Jackie Cotterill
5 Sanderling Court
Kidderminster
DY10 4TS
Email:
Kenilworth
Location:
Senior Citizens Club
Abbey End
Kenilworth
CV8 1QJ
Email:
The main Society also has branches in Worcestershire, which incorporate:
Bromsgrove
Location:
The Methodist Centre
19 Stratford Road
Bromsgrove
B60 1AS
Contact (Chairman):
Many databases are accessible through the branch’s website, including:
- Bromsgrove Lowne of 1723: First entry in Churchwardens Book 1723. Lownes raised money for the parish by taxing landowners
- Diseases through History
- Enumerators for Bromsgrove 1841 Census
- Evesham Index: Extracts from Census Returns, Directories, entries from local and national newspapers, GRO Birth, Death and Marriage entries, Medal Rolls and Memorial Inscriptions
- Worcestershire Parish Boundaries 1839
Some databases are accessible to members only, which include:
- Bromsgrove Wills
- Census Transcriptions
- Pigot’s Directory of Worcestershire 1835
- Times Digital Archive and Dictionary of National Biography
- Universal British Directory 1793-98
Some microfiche can be loaned to Society members, including:
- Census Indexes
- International Genealogical Index
- Monumental Inscriptions
A list of surnames currently being researched by members is also accessible.
Website:
http://www.bromsgrovebmsgh.co.uk/cms/index.php
Stourbridge
Location:
St Peter’s Church Hall
Pedmore Lane
Pedmore
Stourbridge
DY9 0SW
Email:
The organisation also has a branch in the South of England in London:
Contact:
David Kerr
19 Riverside View
Milton Ernest
Bedford
MK44 1SG
Email:
chairmanlondonbranch@bmsgh.org
Society Main Reference Library
Many resources are accessible in the organisation’s main Reference Library, which incorporate:
- Cemetery Register Images
- Census Returns
- Family Histories
- Monumental Inscriptions
- Parish Registers
- Reference Books
- Trade Directories
- Wills
Society Lending Library
The Society also operates a lending library, located at The Dickens Room, BMI, Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BS. It is open where a Society meeting is taking place at the BMI. Books can also be borrowed by post, but the Society asks that you pay the postage costs.
Members are also able to use the Genealogical and Heraldic section of the BMI if they produce a copy of the Society’s Annual Programme.
Society Publications
Many publications are sold by the Society, which include:
- Burial Records
- Census Indexes
- Maps
- Monumental Inscriptions
- Parish Register Images
Members’ Interests
A list of surnames currently being researched by members is available on the site.
Website:
http://www.bmsgh.org
Coventry Family History Society
Formed in 1994, the Society aims to encourage and promote the study of genealogy especially in the city of Coventry and its outskirts. It proves help and support to you if you are conducting research into your Coventry ancestors.
Information
Ella Johnson
c/o Coventry Family History Society
18 Sherlock Road
Coventry
CV5 8EY
Email:
enquiries@covfhs.org
History Centre
The Local Studies Library and Coventry Archives have merged in one location. Their address is:
Jordan Well
Coventry
CV1 5QP
History Centre Resources
Many resources are accessible in Coventry History Centre, which include:
- 1881 Census Indexes
- Apprentices and Freemen Records
- Cemetery Records
- Census Returns
- Court Records
- Directories
- Electoral Registers
- GRO Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths 1837-1997
- International Genealogical Index (IGI)
- Monumental Inscriptions
- Newspapers
- Nonconformist Church Registers
- Parish Registers
- Persons Indexes
- ROlls of the Fallen
- School Records
- Tithe Apportionments
- Trade Union Records
- Wills
Society Publications
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Against All Odds (WW1, WW2 and post-war years)
- All in a Day’s Work (Coventry Women)
- Black Death in Coventry
- CFHS Journals 1994-2000
- Greens of Lighthorne 1500-1900
- Hawkesbury School 1885-1908
- Holy Trinity, Coventry and its Vicars
- J J Ward’s Warwickshire in Photographs 1905-1935
- Schooldays Remembered: Earlsdon School 1882-2002
- Warwick County Asylum
Website:
http://www.covfhs.org.uk
Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Family History Society
Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Family History Society was originally known as the Nuneaton History Group. In 1998, the Society expanded its original area and thus changed its name to reflect this.
Information
Nuneaton and North Warwickshire Family History Society Chairman
Jacqui Simkins
Langley Mill Farm
Sutton Coldfield
B75 7HR
Email:
wesimkinsandson@btconnect.com
Society Journal Back Issues
Back Issues of their Journals 1995-2012 are available on their site.
Society Databases
Other databases are freely accessible, which include:
- 1901 Nuneaton Census Index
- Lichfield Marriage Bonds Index
- Ryerson Death Index (Australia)
Society Research Service
Baptism, marriage and burial indexes have been compiled by the Society, and, for a fee, access to these indexes is provided.
Society Publications
Many publications are available for sale, which include:
- Arbury Estate Papers
- Baptism Indexes
- Burial Indexes
- Census Indexes
- Hartshill: Swain Stevens’ Charitable Gift 1774-1850
- Hatched, Matched and Despatched in Bedworth
- Hatched, Matched and Despatched in No Man’s Heath 1875-1996
- Hatched, Matched and Despatched in Wolvey 1752-1911
- Lichfield Diocese ‘Suspected Papists’ in 1767
- Local History Books
- Marriage Indexes
- North Warwickshire Directories and Nuneaton Street Index
- Reference Books and Aids
- Selected Roman Catholic Records for North Warwickshire
- Tamworth St Editha Settlement Certificates 1690-1813
Website:
https://nanwfhs.org.uk/
Rugby Family History Group
Rugby Family History Group aims to aid and encourage the study of genealogy, including conducting research, especially in Rugby and its surrounding areas.
Information
Mr Tim Weedon
c/o Rugby Family History Group
Kilchomen
The Hill Drive
Lutterworth
Leicestershire
LE17 4BJ
Email:
timweedon@clara.co.uk
Society Parishes
A list of parishes in the area covered by the Society is accessible, these incorporating parts of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire included in the Rugby Union.
Society Projects
The Society is currently transcribing names found on War Memorials in the Rugby area.
Society Publications
Some publications are available for sale, which include:
- Census Indexes
- Monumental Inscriptions – Clifton Road Cemetery
- Parish Register Transcriptions
Members’ Interests
A list of surnames currently being researched by members is accessible.
Website:
https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/organisation/rugby-family-history-group