Changes

There are currently two Family A new website was introduced 28 April 2010. '''[https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]'''. '''This is a free website'''.<br>Details:<br>First click on Search sites. To access the India and Ceylon records, which we then click on the map for “Asia and Middle East” and select either India, or Sri Lanka. Click on "Start researching in India".This will call "Family bring you to a Search"facility which searches all the searchable databases for India (a handy new feature available from c October 2014). The direct link is [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/location/1927063 '''India''']. If you want to search a particular database (for baptisms, marriages or the new website and burials), click on "Previous version Family Searchview all collections". India related baptisms, marriages and burials can also be researched at [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&region=ASIA_MIDDLE_EAST '''Asia and Middle East Records''']. The searchable India records are '''transcriptions''', or Pv Family Search are described as index records and do not contain images.

From this group of records, '''Previous version Family SearchSri Lanka, Colombo District Dutch Reformed Church Records 1677-1990'''are also available with images online, but are not searchable. Note, this web page takes some time to load. An India List post gives some hints for browsing these [[Ceylon]] images.<brref> You can view the Indian data India List post online using the [http://wwwarchiver.familysearchrootsweb.ancestry.orgcom/th/read/engINDIA/search2011-02/frameset_search.asp Advanced Search1297851646 "LDS - Asia & Middle East - Sri Lanka/Colombo"] on dated 16 February 2011 </ref> Another series of images only (not searchable)(added March 2013), accessible from the LDS’s same link is [httphttps://www.familysearch.org/englearn/wiki/en/default.asp Previous version Family Search] website. Select country "India" ,_Gujarat_Diocese_Church_Records_(or Singapore etcFamilySearch_Historical_Records) You can also search using '''India, Gujarat Diocese Protestant Church Records, 1854-2012'''] Some of the records are in the Hindi and Gujarati languages, but there are some records in English, as evidenced by one of the [httphttps://www.familysearch.org/englearn/searchwiki/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=igien/search_IGIFile:India,_Gujarat_Diocese_Church_Records_DGS_7251285_3_Baptism.asp&clear_form=true IGI Searchjpg sample records] shown. The data is almost, but not quite as extensive. Select region “Asia”. Then select country “India” or "All countries" for a wider area including countries such as Singapore, Malaysia etc. There is a facility to add batch numbers, see below.

The Pv To confuse matters, the (small) number of records for "other" areas in Asia such as [[Macao]], [[Singapore]], [[Bencoolen]] etc available on the Family Search website also includes now are not found in the Asia category, but in the “All Published Collections” category , in a group of records called "World Miscellaneous" and may be accessed through the following links:''' [httphttps://pilotfamilysearch.org/search/collection/1783956 World Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms], [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1809045 World Miscellaneous Marriages], [https://familysearch.org/recordsearchsearch/startcollection/1809046 World Miscellaneous Deaths and Burials]'''. Included in this group are records from [[St.html#start Record Search PilotHelena]], [[China]] and a small number from [[Indonesia]], [[Iran]], which is previously Persia, and a pilot project to access online images of datafew records from India and Bangladesh.<ref>[https://familysearch. Currently org/learn/wiki/en/World_Miscellaneous_Births_and_Baptisms,_Coverage_Table_(June 2010FamilySearch_Historical_Records) it contains the data mentioned in the following paragraphWorld Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms, but this may change in the futureCoverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)] FamilySearch Wiki. Retrieved 19 September 2014</ref>

''' Changes intoduced 28 April 2010'''<br>'''Family Search has placed new The LDS website previously described the records for India as "Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records on a new website" for births and baptisms, marriages, (which deaths and burials. The current description is still "under constructionIndex based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City") [https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]'''. To access They in fact appear to be based on the India and Ceylon Office [[Church records|church records from this site, scroll down ]] at the page to “Browse by location” and select “Asia and Middle East”. HoweverBritish Library , India related records can be researched more directly including at the N/5 [[https://www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list#page=1&region=ASIA_MIDDLE_EAST '''Asia and Middle East Records'''Princely states|Indian States]]records. From this link '''Sri Lanka, Colombo District Dutch Reformed Church Records 1677-1990''' are also available with images online. Note, this web page takes some time to load. This <ref>India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIAindia/20112010-0210/1297851646 1286947107 post13 October 2010] gives some hints for browsing these </ref> However, it appears that the records from the [[CeylonLDS Microfilms for Church Records outside of the usual Presidencies#Madras Ecclesiastical Returns - Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884|Madras Ecclesiastical Returns - Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884]] imagesare '''not''' included. To confuse matters<ref>Email to User:Maureene dated 20 July 2011 indicates two brothers, Joseph Thorpe, 18, who died 23 Dec 1853 and was buried in the (small) number of records for "otherOld Cemetery" areas in Asia such as Macaoat Guntoor, Hyderabad Residency and George Benjamin Thorpe, 23, Singaporewho died 29 Jun 1858 at Jaulnah , Bencoolen etc available on who appear in the Omissions Film for Madras Burial (“film B265”) are '''not''' included in the Family Search website data.</ref> now are Please note that on an individual basis the LDS record does not found in show all the Asia category, but in details available on the "All Record Collections" category , original. Also not every India Office church record is recorded in a group of records called World Miscellaneous and may be accessed through the following links: [https://wwwLDS database.familysearch Some individual entries are known to have been '''omitted''', probably due to error.org/search/collection/show#uri=<ref>India List [http://wwwarchiver.familysearchrootsweb.organcestry.com/th/searchapiread/searchINDIA/collection2010-04/1783956 World Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms1272583754 post dated 30 April 2010]</ref> In addition, '''for privacy reasons there appear to be no records shown for dates of birth after January-March 1910, [https://wwwor marriages after January-March 1935'''.familysearch(For alternative records, refer below).org/search/collection/show#uri=http://wwwDeath records are available to 1948.familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1809045 World Miscellaneous Marriages], [httpsSome of the records contain the description Race://wwwWhite.familysearchThis should be disregarded as it is a fabrication as the original IOR church records do not contain a classification for race at all.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://www(The few records that do have a classifation for race use the terminology European not white).familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1809046 World Miscellaneous Deaths and Burials]

The original website If you are searching for a name which could have various spellings, you can search using a single letter replaced by a wildcard question mark '''?''', or the multiple character wildcard asterisk ''' *''' <ref> [httphttps://www.familysearch.org/engblog/en/default.asp Previous version searching-wildcards-familysearch-2/ Searching with Wildcards in FamilySearch] continues and in time the two sites will be merged into the new site.FamilySearch Blog</ref>

The LDS website description of Note that the records is "Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records" for births and baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. They in fact appear to be based FamilySearch databases are also available on the India Office [[Church records|church records]] at the British Library pay site Ancestry, including (world wide subscription) under the N/5 [[Princely states|Indian States]] records.<ref>titles "India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/india/2010-10/1286947107 post 13 October 2010]</ref> However, it appears that the records from the [[LDS Microfilms for Church Records outside of the usual Presidencies#Madras Ecclesiastical Returns Select Marriages 1792- Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884|Madras Ecclesiastical Returns - Omissions and Corrections 1777-1884]] are '''not''' included.<ref>Email to User:Maureene dated 20 July 2011 indicates two brothers1948"; "India, Joseph ThorpeSelect Marriages, 18, who died 23 Dec 1853 and was buried in the 1792-1948"Old Cemetery; " at GuntoorIndia, Hyderabad Residency Select Deaths and George Benjamin ThorpeBurials, 23, who died 29 Jun 1858 at Jaulnah , who appear in the Omissions Film for Madras Burial (“film B265”) are '''not''' included in the Family Search data1719-1948".</ref> Please note that on an individual basis the LDS record does not show all the details available on the original. Also not every India Office church record is recorded in the LDS database. Some individual entries These records are known to have been '''omitted''', probably due to errortranscriptions without images.<ref>India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2010-04/1272583754 post dated 30 April 2010]</ref> In addition, '''for The privacy reasons there restrictions appear to be no records shown for dates of birth after January-March 1910, or marriages after January-March 1935'''. (For alternative records, refer below). Death records are available to 1948. Some of the records contain the description Race: White. This should be disregarded same as it is a fabrication as the original IOR church records do not contain a classification for race at all. (The few records that do have a classifation for race use the terminology European not white)FamilySearch restrictions.

In additionTo find out details of microfilms which may be ordered from FamilySearch, use the Previous version Family Search website contains the LDS '''[httphttps://www.familysearch.org/eng/catalog-search FamilySearch Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp catalogue]'''Library Catalogue'''] for all the LDS microfilms, as does the new site. Currently June 2010, the catalogue on the new website has some problems, and it is better to use the original website for the Library Catalogue. <br> [http://www.londonfhc.org/ London Family History Centre] has a film catalogue for the [http://www.londonfhc.org/content/catalogue?p=Indian+Subcontinent Indian Subcontinent] and for [http://www.londonfhc.org/content/catalogue?c=221&p=Indian+Subcontinent,India India] in a different format to the main catalogue, classified by geographical region.

'''If you have found a record from the India Births, Marriages or Burials on Family Search, as stated previously please be aware that this is not a full record. It is recommended that you view the original entry from the microfilm quoted.''' This will almost always contain occupational information which may provide a valuable clue for the location of further records. In addition, you can check that there have been no transcription errors. '''Information about ordering microfilms or photocopies may be found in the article [[Family History Centres]]'''. Photocopies are free in the majority of circumstances. Note also that there will "soon" (date unknown) be is an alternative way to obtain a copy of a record, when as most of the record images become are now available on the pay website Find My Past[[Findmypast|findmypast]].

*[[Using LDS Microfilms | How to Use Church Records on Microfilm]]:Instructions on how to use the microfilmed copies of the Ecclesiatical Returns and their indexes at an LDS [[Family History Centres| Family History Centre]]. Read these instructions if you are searching for '''records of births after 1910, or marriages after 1935''' which are not shown online on FamilySearch because of privacy reasons. Note however the records sent to England '''declined in number from the early 1930s''' with minimal numbers in the 1940s.