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Ancestors from the Caribbean

The Colonial Office

Records of the former Colonial Office are now held by TNA (opens new window) and these can be of great use. They include:

  • Original correspondence - this includes: 
    • Accounts of rebellions and invasions
    • Payments for relief following such events
    • Land grants
    • Reports and proceedings from courts
    • Grants of freedom returns
    • Militia lists
    • Inhabitants lists
    • Petitions
    • Testimonials for grants of naturalisation
    • Civil servant applications.
  • Registers of correspondence - these are most useful as finding aids for original correspondence.
  • Entry books and out letters - volumes of letters sent out by the Colonial Office to governments, officials and individuals between the 17th century and 1926.
  • Blue Books - the books record population, education, employment, religion and import and export statistics for each colony. They also hold lists of public employees.
  • Sessional papers - these are local government proceedings and include grants of freedom and government appointments.
  • Government gazettes - information contained in these varies across the colonies, but some may contain useful information including: 
    • Births, marriages and deaths notices
    • Probate matters
    • Tax lists
    • Voters lists
    • Notices of the arrival and departure of shipping (some with lists of first class passengers)
    • Lists of public servants
    • Lists of applicants for gun, liquor and dog licences
    • Sales and transfers of land and property
    • Grants of naturalisation.
  • Acts - These include: 
    • Grants of freedom
    • Grants of land
    • Grants of naturalisation
    • People transported or deported
    • Sales of land for debt recovery
    • Appointments of officials
  • Naval Office returns - These record information about ships arriving and departing.