TDC Libraries > Genealogy

Basic rules
• Start with yourself, work backwards through each generation. Work from the known to the unknown.
• Interview relatives, particularly those older than yourself. Write or talk to family members. Ask them about family names, where the people lived, when and from where they emigrated. Some records may be held within the family; e.g. letters, school yearbooks, wills, photographs, Birth, Marriage and Death certificates.
• Write down what you find and where. What institution? Which collection of records? What volume and page number? Which microfilm reel? This is important as you may want to go back at a later stage.
• Record the sources searched, even if the results are negative.
• Search every possible surname spelling, including phonetic and typographic errors. Re-check material already gathered - clerical errors creep into documents and dates may have been entered incorrectly.
• Various family history charts recommended by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists can be downloaded from their web site
• Many genealogical computer programs are now available. A local Genealogy group maybe able to advise the pros and cons of the various programs.
• Bloodline: Nelson resources for genealogists is produced by Nelson Public Libraries. It gives information on where to go locally for particular resources and is available at Richmond Library (Reference only) or online at here.

Ancestry.com

This database is available in all our libraries. It is free to use but please do book as it is very popular.
This database enables genealogists, researchers or people interested in family history to search for their ancestors from Census, Births, Deaths and Marriage records and more... It covers the USA, Canada, England, Wales, and Ireland. It contains Census records for both Scotland and England from 1841-1901 which are particularly useful, often giving the birth place, occupations and other vital clues.
Please Note: Only available in our libraries and not from our web site

The Bint Collection - Waimea South Genealogy and History Collection

This is held in a small separate room at Richmond Library. If your ancestors lived in this area or were born here there may well be some information in this collection.

Tips for searching the catalogue

Select the subject field and enter some of these subject keywords:

• Genealogy (this brings up any subject heading containing the word genealogy)
• Pioneers Nelson
• New Zealand genealogy
• Scotland genealogy

Select Quickfind (a keyword search that looks for the words in the title, subtitle, author or subject field) and enter some of these terms
• Family history
• Clans Scotland
• Genealogy computer (brings up books to help you digitise your family history or use the Internet to find your family)

Please ask Library staff if you need help using any of these resources.

Family History Websites

The number of useful websites is increasing. Some you need to pay for and some are free.

http://www.genealogy.org.nz/
New Zealand society of Genealogists – as well as information about Genealogy in New Zealand, it gives contacts for your local Genealogy group

http://www.findmypast.com/home.jsp
A relatively new pay-for site – great for U.K records, has original documents

http://www.geocities.com/madderngenealogy/cemeteriesNZ
Online New Zealand Cemeteries list (not complete)
Also http://nzgenealogy.rootschat.net/cemetery.html
and http://fhr.kiwicelts.com/ list of cemeteries of N.Z., maps and much more.

http://www.rootsuk.com
Initial searches on this database are free; if you want full records or transcripts you pay for credits at reasonable prices e.g. ₤5 buys you 100 credits

http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
An excellent site if you have Scots ancestry. It is a pay-for site in which you buy credits e.g. ₤6 for 30 credits to be used within 90 consecutive days

http://www.ozgenonline.com/
Australia’s Family history web server

http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/Libraries/resources_genealogy.htm
Hasting Public Library has an extensive list of websites

http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/
Has information about immigrant ships, ship photographs,, passenger lists, shipboard diaries and more.

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Home/
New Zealand Birth, Death and Marriage Historical Records website - you can search for historic data such as:

- Births that occurred at least 100 years ago
- Stillbirths that occurred at least 50 years ago
- Marriages that occurred at least 80 years ago
- Deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago or the deceased's date of birth was at least 80 years ago.

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp
This is the Church of the Latter Day Saints free Family History site.

http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/bloodline/
Bloodline is a guide to genealogical resources in the Nelson area

http://ww1.applications.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/early-settlers/
You can search the Nelson City Council Early Settlers Database to find information about your ancestors who made the long voyage from Europe to settle in the Nelson Region.

Search results give brief information that allows you to order cetificates online.