Research Overview

The parish map provides a map of Cumbria or rather its pre-1974 constituant counties, that shows the parishes as they existed in approximately 1830 just prior to civil registration taking place in 1837. From this map you can click on any parish to take you to further information for that parish and help with your research. Go to the Parish Map

There are many different record sources, some of them are free and some are only available on payment. Listed below are the main records, each details page will tell you more about the records and how to find them.

Getting Started. A guide for the novice to get you started on your research. Go to Getting Started

Birth Marriage and Death Certificates. The main source of information back to 1837. Go to BMD

IGI Records. The transcriptions of the Parish Records, in some cases back to the early 1500's. Go to IGI details

Church Parish Records. Details about the church parish records and where they are kept. Go to Church Parish Records.

Monumental Inscriptions. The inscriptions in Church Cemeteries. Go to Monumental Inscriptions.

Wills and Probate. Where to find wills. Go to Wills

Manorial Records. Details of what Manorial Records are and where they are kept. Go to Manorial Record Details

Quarter Sessions. Details of what Quarter Sessions are and where they are kept. Go to Quarter Session Record Details

Tithe Records. Used for determining the history of property. Go to Tithe Records Details

Censuses. What censuses there are and where to find them. Go to Census Details

Military Records. Records for those who did military service. Go to Military Record Details

Newspapers and Trade Directories. Details of the Newspapers and Directories for Cumbria.Go to Newspaper Details

Immigration Records. Where to find details of those who left to go overseas.Go to Immigration Details

Other Records. Miscellaneous other records that can be useful for research.Go to Other Details

The Forum does have some useful documents for research and some of them are linked below. It should be noted however that some of these documents are only available to full registered members of the society, where this is the case they are marked with *. All of them require Forum log in so you will need to join up to the forum to access them, however Forum registration is free for all sections other than the member only area.

The following areas are currently available

Getting started (A guide) Go to getting started

Margaret Russell Library (At the Cumbria Archive Centre in Carlisle) Go to the library database

List of useful websites. Go to the links page

Transcriptions from the Carlisle Journal. (Requires Forum log in) Go to the Forum Carlisle Journal section

Cumbria Surname Lists by Roland Grigg.* Go to the list

Newsletter Extracts from 1976 to 1991.* Go to the extracts

Full copies of newsletters fron 1992 onwards.* (This is still work in progress) Go to the newsletters

Get assistance from other members.* Go to the member research area

CASCAT is the Cumbrian Archives On Line Catalogue showing details of the all the records held by them. The links below are to areas within CASCAT that you may find useful, however you can search the whole of CASCAT for useful documents and references.

Church of England Parishes in Cumbria in CASCAT

Ecclesiastical records for Cumbria in CASCAT

Public records for Cumbria in CASCAT

Poor Law Unions for Cumbria in CASCAT

Burial records (Local Authority cemeteries) for Cumbria in CASCAT

Official records for Cumbria in CASCAT

Non-Official records for Cumbria in CASCAT

Wills for the Carlisle Probate area from 1858-1941 plus wills from Carlisle Diocese from 1751-1858.