Family History links
The following are various websites which will be helpful when researching family history.
Bolton related sites
Family History
Lancashire regiments
Mass Observation
UK Records offices
Bolton related sites
Bolton History Centre pages
The section you are in now.
Bolton Council Website
Access to all the Council's online services.
Bolton Library and Local Studies Catalogue
Browse the Local Studies catalogue or book online.
Bolton Steam Museum
A museum run by the volunteers of the Northern Mill Engine Society. Keep an eye out for their free open days when you can literally see Bolton's industrial heritage in motion.
Halliwell History Society
Halliwell Local History Society was formed in 1986 by a group of people who were intent on recording and keeping alive the history of the Halliwell Township.
Bolton Remembers the war
An oral history project
Bolton Revisited
A project documenting local stories and images contributed by Boltonians.
Links in a chain
A site celebrating the lives and achievements of over 540 local men and women who have served their communities as Mayors of Bolton since 1838.
Horwich Heritage
On this website you will find details of how to become a member of Horwich Heritage, dates of forthcoming meetings and events, a list of publications available from the society and information about the permanent exhibition and archive at the Heritage Centre.
Manchester, Bolton and Bury canal
The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal ran from Salford to Prestolee, near Little Lever, from where one arm ran to Bolton and another to Bury.
www.penninewaterways.co.uk/mbb
Thomas Shires Collection
The Thomas Shires Collection is a website dedicated to the photographs of Thomas Atherton Shires who lived and worked in Bolton at the end of the 19th century and the very beginning of the 20th century.
http://thomasshirescollection.co.uk/
Greater Manchester Lives
Greater Manchester Lives is a searchable website which allows users to find information about documents, books, maps, photographs and more held by archives and local history libraries within Greater Manchester.
http://www.gmlives.org.uk/index.html
Family History
A2A database
Contains catalogues describing archives held throughout England and dating from the 1900s to the present day.
Ancestry Library Edition
This is a subscription only site but access is free to History Centre users.
BBC Family history
BBC site on how to start your family history
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/get_started/
British Isles Genealogy
Web sources on Family History in the UK and Ireland
Church of The Latter Day Saints
Search site of the LDS (Mormon) Church and a site listing all the Family History Centres run by the Church in the UK.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Search the Debt of Honour Register
Family History Societies
Includes a number of useful online leaflets and contact details for Family History Societies.
Family History Society of Cheshire
Founded in 1969 to advance the study of family history and genealogy.
Find My Past
Research your UK ancestry and create your family tree. Requires a subscription to access premium services.
Free BMD (Births, Marriages, Deaths)
A site provide free Internet access to transcribed records
Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society
The Society has 14 branches in the Lancashire area
https://www.lfhhs.org.uk/home.php
Manchester and Lancashire Family History Society
The society was formed in 1964 and is now one of the largest family history societies in the world
National Archives
Search the online catalogues and lists including the 1901 census Surname Index.
Official UK Statistics
On-Line Parish Clerks Lancashire
Rootsweb
Genealogical resources with searchable databases and much more.
Worldgenweb
Voluntary based organization dedicated to providing genealogical and historical records and resources for world-wide access
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Lancashire regiments
Queen’s Lancashire Regiment
http://www.lancashireinfantrymuseum.org.uk/the-regiments/
Fusiliers Museum, Bury
www.fusiliersmuseum-lancashire.org.uk
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Mass Observation
Mass Observation Archive
View this incredible archive online. This is a subscription only site but access is free to History Centre users.
www.massobservation.amdigital.co.uk
Bolton Worktown
Browse photographs taken in Bolton by Humphrey Spender, and view related material from the Mass Observation.
The official Mass Observation site
Up to date information about the archive.
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UK Records offices
Manchester Council Website
Manchester Council's online services