Family History Sources at Hinckley Library

Introduction

Tracing family history can be a very rewarding pastime, and there are many books in the Local Studies Collection which will show you how to get started and how to pursue the interest.

In addition to the sources listed here the Library also collects photographs, ephemera, pamphlets, and parish magazines, all of which can be useful to local and family historians.

The Library staff are happy to show you the resources available, but regret that they are unable to undertake research for you. The Leicestershire Genealogical Research Service, at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland, offers a research service for which a charge is made.

The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.)

The 1992 edition of this microfiche index of names, compiled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for the counties of Leicestershire, Rutland and Warwickshire is available in the Library.
The I.G.I. lists names and events from parish registers and other sources, and gives dates and locations of baptisms and marriages. Death or funeral details are not included in the I.G.I., except for infant deaths.
The I.G.I. includes little information for events after 1870, and does not include all parish and non-conformist baptismal and marriage records.
The I.G.I. gives the following details –
- Surname: similar surnames are filed together with references from variant names.
- First name: listed as in the original records. Abbreviated names are common, as also are names in Latin.
- Date order: date, type and location (parish and church) of events, together with for baptisms/christenings – the parents` names; and for marriages – spouses` and maiden names of women.
If you find a likely ancestor listed in the I.G.I. you should always refer to the original register to authenticate the entry.
The I.G.I. is also available through the internet at www.familysearch.org

Parish Registers

Records of burials, marriages and baptisms for the following parishes are available on microfiche. Details are on the Parish Register pages

Non-conformist church records

The following records are available on microfilm:

Earl Shilton - Independent	Births and baptisms	1810 – 1823
Hinckley - Independent	Births and baptisms	1767 - 1836
Hinckley - Presbyterian (Great Meeting)	Births and baptisms	1706 - 1837
	Burials	1787 - 1794
		1813 - 1837
Spring Gardens (General Baptist)	Births	1776 - 1836
Wesleyan (includes baptisms from Barwell, Burage, Earl Shilton, Sapcote, Sharnford and Wykin)	Births and baptisms	1796 - 1837
	Deaths	1803 - 1807
Market Bosworth – Independent	Baptisms	1812 - 1822
	Births and baptisms	1825 - 1836
	Membership roll	1799 - 1836
Thurlaston – Baptist	Births and baptisms	1798 - 1837
Ullesthorpe – Independent	Births and baptisms	1805 - 1827
	Baptisms	1826 - 1836
	Burials	1820 - 1831

Town Directories

Directories from Leicestershire towns and villages for the years 1790 – 1856 and 1861 – 1892 are available on microfiche.
The Library also holds a photocopy file of the Hinckley entries from directories for the years 1791 – 1973.

Census Returns

Census enumerators` returns on microfilm or microfiche. Details are on the Census Returns pages
Full census coverage for Leicestershire and Rutland is available at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

Newspapers

The following newspapers are available on microfilm –

Hinckley Echo March 1900 – November 1951 [not published 1924 – 1925]
Hinckley Free Press 1897 – May 1900
Hinckley Guardian November 1922 – 1925
Hinckley Journal February 1859 – 1862
Hinckley News 1861 – 1892
Hinckley Times 1889 – current [latest year in hard copy]
Midland Counties Tribune and Warwickshire County Graphic November 1924 – 1926

Useful addresses

The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicester, LE18 2AH
Tel. 0116 257 1080