Genealogic is on the British LIbrary's list of approved researchers
for the Asia, Pacific and African collections.
Research can be done on British family history in India, Burma, Pakistan or Bangladesh (mostly pre-1948).
We also research history generally in Asia, the Pacific, or Africa.
If you are interested in discovering more about ancestors in India, we recommend that
you look at the indexes on the following websites:
www.fibis.org
East India Company [EIC]
The British Library holds records for the East India Company from 1600 to 1858, when it
was dissolved. The records are very useful if your ancestor was a soldier with the EIC,
an officer cadet, or a civil servant. Service records and entry papers provide a wealth of information on EIC employees.
The India Office (1858-1947)
The India Office records form the basis for much family history research. If your ancestor
was baptised, married, or buried in India their records should be held here. However, not
all records were sent to the India Office, and not all have survived.
Records of wills for those with property in India are held at the British Library. For those
who held property in England and Wales (after 1858), probate should be held at the
Principal Probate Registry in Holborn.
Army in India
Many British regiments served in India throughout the Raj. Their military records are
held at The National Archives.
Records for The Indian Army, which included the Armies of Bengal, Madras and Bombay, are are held mainly in the British Library. This Army succeeded the East India Company
Armies in 1858. These records are also very helpful for genealogists; for example,
registers of recruits for NCOs usually give place of birth and age.
Copies of the East India Register & Army List (1844-1860) and the Indian Army
List are available for consultation at the British Library.
Original Papers, Letters, Photographs, and Manuscripts
The British Library holds a number of original documents that may be relevant to your
family history, or to general Asian historical research. This collection can be searched
online at
http://minos1.bl.uk/catalogues/indiaofficeselect/welcome.asp.
The reading room also holds a good collection of contemporary maps, which can help you
to visualize where your ancestors lived.
A selection of English-language Indian newspapers is also available for consultation (NB:
at present, this is not indexed). These can be useful if further investigation is needed, for
example, on notable events, ancestors involved with crime, or a suspicious death.
Records on Other Occupations
Medical Services and Veterinary Surgeons
Nursing Services
Mercantile Mariners
Advocates
Journalists
Merchants
Missionaries
Railway Staff
Engineers
Bibliography
Martin Moir, A General Guide to the India Office Records. (London: The British Library,
1988)
IA Baxter, India Office Library & Records: A Brief Guide to Bibliographical Sources.
(London: The British Library, 2004)