Changes

A new website was introduced 28 April 2010. '''[https://www.familysearch.org/ FamilySearch]'''. '''This is a free website'''.

<br>First click on Search. To access the India and Ceylon records, then click on the map for “Asia and Middle East” and select either India , or Sri Lanka. HoweverClick on "Start researching in India".This will 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 burials), click on "view all collections". India related baptisms, marriages and burials can also be researched more directly at [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1&region=ASIA_MIDDLE_EAST '''Asia and Middle East Records''']. The searchable India records are '''transcriptions''', are described as index records and do not contain images.

From this link group of records, '''Sri 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.<ref>India List post [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2011-02/1297851646 "LDS - Asia & Middle East - Sri Lanka/Colombo"] dated 16 February 2011 </ref> Another series of images, only (not searchable)(added March 2013), accessible from the same link is [https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/India,_Gujarat_Diocese_Church_Records_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records) '''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 [https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/File:India,_Gujarat_Diocese_Church_Records_DGS_7251285_3_Baptism.jpg sample records] shown.

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 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: ''' [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1783956 World Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms], [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1809045 World Miscellaneous Marriages], [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1809046 World Miscellaneous Deaths and Burials]'''. Included in this group are records from [[St. Helena]], [[China]] and a small number from [[Indonesia]], [[Iran]], previously Persia, and a few records from India and Bangladesh.<ref>[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/World_Miscellaneous_Births_and_Baptisms,_Coverage_Table_(FamilySearch_Historical_Records) World Miscellaneous Births and Baptisms, Coverage Table (FamilySearch Historical Records)] FamilySearch Wiki. Retrieved 19 September 2014</ref>

The LDS website previously described the records for India as "Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records" for births and baptisms, marriages, deaths and burials. The current description is "Index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City". They in fact appear to be based on the India Office [[Church records|church records]] at the British Library , including the N/5 [[Princely states|Indian States]] records.<ref>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 - 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 brothers, Joseph Thorpe, 18, who died 23 Dec 1853 and was buried in the "Old Cemetery" at Guntoor, Hyderabad Residency and George Benjamin Thorpe, 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 data.</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 are known to have been '''omitted''', probably due to error.<ref>

'''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 is an alternative way to obtain a copy of a record, as '''most of the record images are now available on the pay website Find My Past[[Findmypast|findmypast]]'''. If the image is available on findmypast, this will be the most convenient method for most people.