Federation Of Family History Societies

National Burial Index Edition 3

 

Many people have been eagerly awaiting the next edition of the NBI and asking as to when it will appear. The NBI team cannot give a definite answer as the introduction of new software and other problems with technical issues beyond our control had to be resolved. However, it is anticipated that distribution of the data on CD should be possible early in the New Year. The good news is that records submitted go beyond the wonderful total of 18 million. (To date only approximately 10 million appear on the findmypast.co.uk site). Congratulations are due to all societies, groups and individuals for their outstanding efforts.
Pricing of the new edition and the cost of upgrades from NBI2 to NBI3, as well as ordering and distribution details, have been completed and these will be posted to societies, the general public, and on the Federation website, www.ffhs.org.uk and www.GENfair.co.uk as soon as possible.

The National Burial Index is a collection of burial records transcribed and indexed from local parish records, non-conformist records, cemeteries, or crematoria, in England and Wales. What a boon for genealogists to have access to an index which does for burials what the International Genealogical Index does for baptisms and marriages. With the support of most members of the Federation of Family History Societies, other organisations and individuals, the NBI is now recognised as an essential finding-aid.

The project began in the Spring 1996 with attention focused at first on the 1813-1837 parish register records but those from all periods are now included. Initially, there was much debate about the inclusion of information from other sources such as monumental inscriptions, wills, death duty registers, and obituaries. However, it was felt important to keep the collection of records as simple as possible so that societies and co-ordinators would be able to keep their source listings under strict control – and ensure the task was not seen as never ending.

The National Burial Index presents the following information - if given in the original source: Name(s) of deceased, date of burial, age, parish, county, attribution code, and whether or not the records have been checked and corrected. The amount of detail in the Index is purposefully limited, so that the searcher is encouraged to approach the Society or individual who transcribed the records to obtain further information or can refer back to the original parish record. The source or Attribution code is therefore all important for it tells the searcher by whom the transcription was first generated.

Carol McLee
FFHS Projects Officer