New Records Added in the Second Half of November

New Records Added in the Second Half of November

8.8 million new records from sixteen new historical record collections have been added in the second half of November. These collections include a wide assortment of military, burial, death, and probate records from Germany, Australia, the United States, and the U.K.

Here is the full breakdown of records in these collections:

CollectionDescription Number of RecordsLink to Search
United States, Index of Burials, 1900-2019
An index of records from various cemeteries located in the United States.
492,002 recordsSearch collection now
Australia, Index of Burials, 1900-2019
An index of records from various cemeteries located in Australia.438,587 records

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England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Index of Will Registers, 1384-1858

An index of wills proved before the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and other jurisdictions.979,653 records

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United Kingdom, Royal Navy Ratings’ Service Records, 1853-1928
An index of Royal Navy service records for ratings who entered the service between 1853 and 1928.
803,684 recordsSearch collection now
United Kingdom, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Royal Navy Reserve Ratings’ Records of Service, 1908-1958

An index of service record cards of Royal Naval Reserves, mainly those who served during the First World War.129,896 records

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United Kingdom, Royal Air Force Officers’ Index, 1918-1919

An index of service records of those who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War (1914–1918).
101,411 records


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United Kingdom, Royal Marines’ Service Records, 1842-1925

An index of service registers of men who joined the Royal Marines between 1842 and 1925.
112,012 records
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United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen’s Campaign Medals, 1939-1945

An index of medals awarded to merchant seamen for their service in the Second World War (1939–1945).108,387 records
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United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen’s Campaign Medals, 1914-1918

An index of recipients of British War Medals, Mercantile Marine Medals, and Silver War Badges issued to merchant seamen and officers in the First World War.157,424 recordsSearch collection now
United Kingdom, Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards, 1935-1990

An index of recommendations for military honors and awards between 1935 and 1990 to British Army personnel and army personnel from British dominions.78,497 records
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United Kingdom, Royal Navy Officers’ Service Records, 1756-1931
An index of service records for officers who joined the Royal Navy between 1756 and 1931.66,686 records
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United Kingdom, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Index, 1903-1922
An index of First World War service records for officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). 59,784 records
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United Kingdom, Index of Death Duty Registers, 1796-1811
An index of country court death duty registers between 1796 and 1811.51,146 records
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United Kingdom, Admiralty and War Office: Royal Naval Division: Records of Service, 1914-1919
An index of service records of ratings and officers in the Royal Naval Division (RND) during the First World War.50,017 records
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United States, Index of Burials, 1900–2019

This collection includes records from various cemeteries located in the United States. A record may include the name of the cemetery, given name and surname of the deceased, age, city, date of birth, date of death, and religion.

Note that some records are pre-1900. Cemetery records are especially helpful for identifying ancestors who may not have been documented in other records, such as children who died young or women.

Australia, Index of Burials, 1900–2019

This collection includes records from various cemeteries located in Australia. A record may include the name of the cemetery, given name and surname of the deceased, age, city, date of birth, date of death, and religion.

Cemetery records are especially helpful for identifying ancestors who were not documented in other records, such as children who died young or women.

England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Index of Will Registers, 1384–1858

This collection includes the majority of registered wills proved before the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and other jurisdictions that exercised probate jurisdiction in the place of the Court, the most important of which was the Court for Probate of Wills and Granting of Administrations which exercised sole probate jurisdiction in England and Wales from 1653 to 1659. The records contain the following searchable information: name of the person for whom the will was created (including a title if given), the location where the person lived, and the date of the will.

Until January 1858, all wills had to be proved by the church and other courts. The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was the most important of these courts dealing with relatively wealthy individuals living mainly in the south of England and most of Wales.The earliest registers in this collection were constituted at a later date and contain the texts of wills proved before the archbishop of Canterbury or his officials before the Prerogative Court of Canterbury came into existence. Sentences in causes heard by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related jurisdictions, if registered, were also registered in this collection until some time in the latter part of the eighteenth century. English is the predominant language used in these documents. The use of Latin (and to a lesser extent Norman-French) quickly declined after the early wills. By the 16th century, Latin was no longer being used.

The contents of this and other U.K. collections in this update originate from the National Archives and contain public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

United Kingdom, Royal Navy Ratings’ Service Records, 1853–1928

This collection is an index of over 800,000 Royal Navy service records for ratings who entered the service between 1853 and 1928. A rate or rating is a junior enlisted member who is not a warrant officer or commissioned officer. The information in this index can include the following: given name and surname of the individual, year of birth, town of birth, official service number, and years of service.

An individual must have enlisted before 1929 to have a record within this collection. Some of the records cover periods of service up to at least 1950. Included in this collection are continuous service engagement books from 1853 to 1872, registers of seamen’s services from 1873 to 1924, registers of seamen’s services from 1925–1928, and continuous record (CR) cards from 1929–1950. A record may indicate that the rating was promoted to warrant officer.

The original records may contain the names of ships on which the rating served, with dates of joining and discharge from each ship, period of time actually served, any engagements not completed and the reason for noncompletion, service numbers (CS) up to 1872, and official numbers (ON) from 1873 onwards. Beginning in 1892 greater detail is included in the records, such as: occupation, good conduct badges issued, notes made about character and ability, physical appearance, wounds suffered, and date of death (if occurred in service).

United Kingdom, Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Royal Navy Reserve Ratings’ Records of Service, 1908–1958

This collection contains service record cards of Royal Naval Reserves, mainly those who served during the First World War. The indexed records may include the following searchable information: first name, last name, date of birth, birthplace, and service number of the individual.

Each record covers a 5-year term of service in the Royal Navy Reserve, so there may be more than one record for a person. A reservist will have a different service number for each term. Full records may also include the following: address, parents’ full names, physical description, date of enrollment, training undertaken, names of ships on which the rating served with dates of joining and discharge from each ship, period of time actually served, and any engagements not completed.

United Kingdom, Royal Air Force Officers’ Index, 1918–1919

This collection includes service records of over 99,000 officers who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War (1914–1918). Indexed records may include the first and last name as well as the date of birth.

The records were created from the inception of the RAF in April 1918. However, they include retrospective details of earlier service in the Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service, where appropriate. The full records may also provide the place of birth, next of kin, occupation, date of commission, subsequent promotion(s), the units the officer served in (including the dates he joined and left the units), details of specialist courses attended, information about the type of aircraft flown, details of any honors and awards, the dates they were announced in the London Gazette, the date the officer relinquished his commission, and his date of death or his retirement date.

United Kingdom, Royal Marines’ Service Records, 1842–1925

This collection includes service registers of men who joined the Royal Marines between 1842 and 1925. The indexed records contain the following searchable information: first and last name, date of birth, and date of enlistment.

These records were originally created in 1884 but include records created retrospectively for anyone who had joined earlier and was still serving in 1884. If you cannot find a record for a Marine in this collection, the person may have been an officer or the Marine had left the service by 1884. The information in the full records may also include the following: place of birth, occupation, religion, place of enlistment, physical description, names of ships and shore stations served on, details of conduct or promotion and medal entitlement.

United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen’s Campaign Medals, 1939–1945

This collection lists the medals awarded to merchant seamen for their service in the Second World War (1939–1945), with the exception of the Arctic Star. The medals were claimed and issued from 1946 to 2002. Medals were not automatically issued, but had to be claimed by the merchant seaman. The indexed records may include the first and last name of the seaman as well as the date of birth.

Nine types of medals were awarded to British merchant seamen who served in the Second World War and who met the qualifications for each medal. Eight of the medals are included in this collection. The Arctic Star was not awarded until 2012 and records of its award do not exist in this collection. Each full record may also include the seaman’s discharge book numbers, place of birth, and medals, ribbons, and clasps issued.

United Kingdom, Index of Merchant Seamen’s Campaign Medals, 1914–1918

These records identify recipients of British War Medals, Mercantile Marine Medals, and Silver War Badges issued to merchant seamen and officers in the First World War. A record may include the first name, last name, place of birth, and date of birth of the recipient.

There are different qualifications for each type of medal. The Mercantile Marine Medal was awarded to those who served at sea for at least six months, and on at least one voyage through a danger zone. The British War Medal was automatically awarded to all recipients of the Mercantile Marine Medal. The Silver War Badge was awarded to those who were no longer fit for sea service.

For British War Medals and Mercantile Marine Medals, original records may include medals, ribbons, and clasps issued, the mercantile marine office (M.M.O.) to which the medals were sent (in some instances a home address may be noted in this section), and discharge/RS2 number(s). Ribbons were issued in lieu of medals until the medals were minted. Clasps were awarded for taking part in a particular battle or action. Occasionally a seaman did not receive a medal. In these cases it is most likely that the merchant seaman did not fulfill the necessary criteria for receiving a medal.

United Kingdom, Recommendations for Military Honours and Awards, 1935–1990

These records include recommendations for military honors and awards between 1935 and 1990 to British Army personnel and army personnel from British dominions. This collection also includes some awards to members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Air Force, and decorations exchanged between British and Allied armies. A record may include last name, first name, rank, service number, regiment, theatre of combat or operation, award, and date of announcement in the London Gazette.

The recommendations were made for various reasons, such as gallantry in the face of the enemy, meritorious service, and distinguished service. The collection includes recommendations for the following awards: Victoria Cross, George Cross, Most Honorable Order of the Bath (Military Division), Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (Military Division), Distinguished Service Order, Indian Order of Merit, Royal Red Cross, Military Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Burma Gallantry Medal, George Medal, Military Medal, British Empire Medal, mentions in despatches, and foreign awards to British recipients.

United Kingdom, Royal Navy Officers’ Service Records, 1756–1931

This collection includes service records for officers who joined the Royal Navy between 1756 and 1931. The collection includes service records for commissioned officers joining the Navy until 1917 and warrant officers joining until 1931. They also feature the records of Royal Marines officers commissioned between 1793 and 1925. Indexed records may include last name, first name, rank, and date of appointment.

An officer may have multiple service records. Commissioned officers include admirals (also known as flag officers), commodores, captains, commanders, and lieutenants. Warrant officers include gunners, boatswains, carpenters, surgeons’ mates, armourers, sailmakers, masters at arms, caulkers, ropemakers, coopers, masters (pre-1808), surgeons (pre-1843), pursers (pre-1843), chaplains (pre-1843) and engineers (pre-1847). Full records may also include the following information: name of ship served on, date of entry and discharge from each ship, date of death, date and place of birth and next of kin.

United Kingdom, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Index, 1903–1922

This collection includes First World War service records for officers and ratings of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). This includes the service records of ratings who joined the RNVR between 1903, when the RNVR was formed, and 1919, and officers who joined between 1914 and 1922. Indexed records may include the following: first name, last name, division and service number, date of birth, and period of service.

Full records may also include the following: former occupation, physical description, dates and periods of engagement, ships or units served in, and remarks about character and ability. In rare instances a record may include the place of birth. Officer records typically include additional information such as rank, appointments, honors and awards, dates of promotion, and name and address of next of kin.

United Kingdom, Index of Death Duty Registers, 1796–1811

These records are country court death duty registers between 1796 and 1811. A country court was any church court apart from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). Indexed records include first and last name of the deceased, and the place and date of the will that was signed.

Further comments could be added to the registers for up to 50 years after the first entry and so they can include additional information such as date of death of spouse, dates of death or marriage of beneficiaries, births of posthumous children and grandchildren, change of address, references to law suits and cross-references to other entries. During the period 1796–1811, only personal estates valued at £20 or more were liable to death duty — leases, freeholds and real estate were not liable and do not appear in these records. Full records may also contain the date and place of death, the value of the estate, name and place of residence of the executor or executrix, names of the inheritors and their relationship to the deceased, any special arrangements, and the amount of tax that was paid.

United Kingdom, Admiralty and War Office: Royal Naval Division: Records of Service, 1914–1919

These are service records of ratings and officers in the Royal Naval Division (RND) during the First World War. They consist of all the surviving service records for anyone who joined the RND between 1914 and 1919. Indexed service records may include first and last name, date of birth, service number, and rank.

The Royal Naval Division, formed in September 1914, fought on land alongside the army in the First World War. It consisted of personnel brought together from the Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Fleet Reserve, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, a brigade of Royal Marines, the Royal Navy, and the army. Full service records may also include the following: home address, occupation, religion, place of birth, name and address of next-of-kin, career in the RND, where served and significant events during this time, awards and details of action, wounds sustained along with which hospital treated them, height, chest measurement, weight, complexion, color of hair and eyes, swimming ability, and distinguishing features, including descriptions of tattoos.

Summary

Searching all of these collections in MyHeritage SuperSearch™ is free and MyHeritage users will benefit from Record Matches. Our Record Matching technology will automatically find relevant historical records revealing new information about their ancestors who appear in these records. A Data or Complete subscription is required to view the records, save them to your family tree, and access Record Matches.

We hope these collections will expand the horizons of your family history research. Let us know what you discover!

Comments

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  • Pieter Ciere

    December 16, 2019

    I’m very interested in my heritage results. Keep up the good work!

  • Esther M.A. Knight Ellis

    December 19, 2019

    I have not been able to track my fathers tour of duty in the British Army. He survived being rescued from the beaches in Dunkirk, having been a soldier on the beaches when Germany first arrived on the same beaches. I would be so very happy if this could be done. I hear periodically from My Heritage letting me know of a male with the name of everything close but not in the full name of Victor Morris Knight. Is this new technology going to make it easier to search for my father. My parents were married in 1940/1 so he was home in Britain sometime before1941after spending a long stay in a hospital after his rescue. Esther Knight Ellis (U.S.A)

  • Dorothy Burditt

    December 21, 2019

    Are these avaiable on My Heritage site?

    • E

      Esther

      December 24, 2019

      Yes! These records are now available at . Enjoy!