Q. I would very much like to have copies of any entries in Census returns which are proven to relate to my ancestors. Are you able to obtain these for me?

A. I am able and willing to provide A4 printouts of any relevant Census entries (1841-1901, for all parts of England, Wales, the Channel Islands or Isle of Man) which can be located using the online indexes available on Ancestry.co.uk - see www.ancestry.co.uk. I am also happy to carry out any searches necessary to find these in the first place, at my usual rates, as part of my general research service. I adjust my search methods to overcome inaccuracies in the indexes.

Q. Postage can be so expensive - do you offer any alternative method of delivery?

A. I can normally send electronic JPG or PDF format copies of original Census entries attached to an email. This often proves a useful alternative for overseas enquirers and, in view of the Royal Mail's "large letter" pricing, now for those living in the UK as well, especially if a large number of Census copies are required. These image files can then be printed by the recipient using a PC and printer in exactly the same way as I would do myself, saving on both postage and my fees, a further advantage being that they can be viewed, enlarged and worked with on screen, in a way that hard copies cannot until scanned and saved. Adobe PDF files are especially helpful, I find, for the range of printing and other options available with them.

Q. I have had problems trying to receive some large image files which other people have sent me as attachments. Do you have any comments or suggestions, please?

A. I find that with a reasonably good broadband connection, sending and receiving files up to about 3MB (usually around 2 - 4 pages) at one time presents no problem. Anything over that I would in any case normally split into more manageable parts and attach to more than one email. This is often unavoidable anyway, as my own ISP will not allow me to send much more than 3MB of files attached to a single email.

Q. I do not have a broadband connection, as I have always found dial-up perfectly adequate for my needs. Is it still possible to receive such large files by email?

A. I am afraid that I would not recommend this. Although theoretically it may be possible, it is a very lengthy process without a broadband connection, and there is always the risk of a "time-out", which is a particularly annoying thing to happen when one is in the middle of downloading, for example, an ancestral Census entry!

Q. I would still prefer not to have a large packet of printouts sent to me by post. Can you not provide copies of the digital images to me on CD instead?

A. Yes of course, if preferred I can instead make up a CD-R with any number of such image files, up to a maximum of about 700MB per CD, and send this by post.

Q. What do you charge for printouts, or digital copies, sent by email or on CD, of Census entries and other items which you are readily able to access in full online?

A. I do not make any specific charge per sheet for A4 copies which I can produce here at home using a PC and printer. I charge only for the time taken, at my usual hourly rate, plus postage at cost and also any Internet fees (that is, fees I pay for online access to records available on pay-per-view or subscription websites) where applicable. If digital copies, sent by email or on CD, are preferred, I again charge only for my time, Internet expenses and (where applicable) postage. However, I do find that it takes quite a time to "process" large numbers of copies, especially, of course, if it is necessary first to search for relevant entries in Census indexes and so on.

Q. I may require printouts from other sources readily available online - PCC Wills, for instance - which I understand you will search. Can you provide copies from these?

A. Yes, I am happy to provide hard copies of PCC Wills found via "Documents Online", or digital copies sent either by email or on CD, on the terms given above.

Q. I also need copies of baptisms at Nonconformist Chapels, mainly before 1838, from registers held at The National Archives. I was pleased to find that indexes of many of them are included in the International Genealogical Index - available free online at www.familysearch.org - while some others are indexed on the related Vital Records Index CDs. Are you able to obtain copies from these registers?

A. Many of the original records of Nonconformist groups are now available (and indexed) on the http://bmdregisters.co.uk website. This will eventually allow full online access to a much wider range of the Nonconformist registers and related sources deposited at The National Archives than is included in the IGI or VRI - for instance any available records of deaths and burials, which do not have much coverage in those other indexes. Basic index searches are free of charge, while more advanced searches of the database can be made, and digital images of pages from the original records in question downloaded, on payment of fees. Please see this "official" website itself for details. Although it might well be more economical for you to make searches and printouts yourself if at all possible, I am prepared to make searches and copies as required, preferably when undertaking more general research work and usually, in order to keep costs down, in conjunction with searches in the IGI and VRI.

Q. Is there no other way of obtaining printouts - all I need is a couple of copies from one of the Kent Nonconformist registers in the "RG4" series, found via the IGI?

A. Many of the Nonconformist registers for Kent (most of them ending around 1837 or before), deposited at The National Archives, are also available on microfilm at, for instance, the Centre for Kentish Studies. It is possible to make printouts from these there, or pay for CKS staff to do so. It is always worth checking with local Record Offices, too, for any original Nonconformist registers (both before and after 1837) which are deposited there rather than at TNA. This is certainly the case, for example, with CKS, which does hold quite a number of original Nonconformist registers, as well as microfilm copies of those for Kent of which the originals are held at TNA.

Q. I would like copies of original parish register entries, Wills proved in the local Kent Courts (Dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury and Peculiars of Shoreham and Cliffe), Marriage Licence Bonds and Allegations, Settlement Papers and so on. My ancestors all came from Kent for many generations back, but I live elsewhere and am not able to travel back there very often. Are you able to obtain these for me, as I know that visitors to the Record Offices in Kent can make printouts for themselves?

A. I can often make such copies but do have to charge for my time and expenses in addition to the costs of the copies themselves.

Q. I would like a copy of the baptismal entry for my great-great-grandfather. I even have full details of this entry, which I was delighted to find in a microfilm copy of an original parish register on a recent visit to one of the Record Offices in Kent, but although I did note the reference, I did not have time to obtain a printout and I am unlikely to be able to return in the near future. Can you help me with this, please?

A. It may be some little time before I am able to visit the relevant Record Office. I am though then able to scan and email any such copies if required, as well as (or instead of) sending them by post. The full reference you supplied will certainly be useful, though not absolutely essential, as I am quite used to looking up references!

Q. Is it possible instead to have Archives staff make printouts or other copies for me and would this be quicker, given that they are "on the spot" in the Record Offices?

A. Yes, Record Office staff are usually happy to make such copies as part of the Archives Service's general research service and this may indeed very well be quicker. However, they do warn that even when using this service, there may be delays, due to the volume of requests received and the many other demands on staff time.

Q. What are the hourly fees charged for this service, can you tell me please?

A. Since these are naturally adjusted from time to time, you will need to contact the Kent Archives Service direct for further details. For current fees and charges, or simply to contact them for further advice or help, please see the research service section of the Kent Archives Service website, at:-

www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/archives-and-local-history/collections-and-research/research-service.htm

Q. Although my ancestors were from Kent, I have found that some documents relating to them are held in London (but are not, as yet, readily available on the Internet, to my knowledge). These include some of their Wills which, for dates after 1857, I have found are held at the Principal Probate Registry. Are you able to obtain copies from records like this, held in London, or can you offer any other suggestions?

A. I am not able to offer to obtain copies from such "London" sources (although in the case of the example given, this may change quite soon, with the promise of better online access to the PPR Wills). However, a fellow member of AGRA, Mr. Sydney Smith (email:- sydney.smith7@ntlworld.com), in addition to his well known West Kent Marriage Index, 1538-1812, offers a full London research service and may also be willing to quote for obtaining printouts from sources only available there, or ordering copies of Wills. Naturally, a number of other researchers do offer such London research services and some of them also appear in the list of AGRA members. A useful "Subject Index of Members' Special Interests", including the geographical areas in which they specialise, is available on AGRA's website, at www.agra.org.uk/page5.html

Matthew Copus
307 Dale Street
Chatham
Kent ME4 6QR

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