Cornwall Record Office - Online Catalogue

[cornishmaid]

For those who don't know, Cornwall Record Centre have a searchable catalogue of documents etc held there.

The link is:
crocat.cornwall.gov.uk/dserve/dserve.exe?dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Search.tcl

Not all their collection has been catalogued as yet, but in addition to the archives listed on A2A, this is a useful resource. Just bear in mind that when you search you need to complete different searches for different variations of names etc.

Happy hunting ;D

[trencrom]

I am finding a2a a bit cumbersome to search --for example, if you search "Thomas" and "Lelant" you will get as a result any collection that mentions either in any way, even if the relevant documents do not mention both together. Does anyone have tips on how to refine a search and make it less time-consuming?

[Cornish Terrier]

At the moment the answer is, unfortunately, NO!

I have also tried A2A but probably went about it a different way.

In my case I tried a search for anything on Trewhella (and var.) and, I think, used a search term including 'wildcards' to try and bring up any entry referring to the name.

From there it was a case of save it all to file and search later.

I did something similar with the Phillips family but I would have to go back and check just how I did that.

In fact, I have had a similar problem to yours doing a Google Search for something else.

Will have to think about it (and hope someone else comes up with the answer in the meantime) - but there has to be a solution.

[Mal]

I have found some useful reference numbers relating to wills and the likem but what do I have to do next? eg. Ak/456/xyz---- and then what? I have clicked on the number for the overview but nothing happens.....

[Cornish Terrier]

That is the reference number for the file held at the Cornwall Record Office.

Near the top of the page you should see something similar to this:-

To find out more about the archives described below, contact Cornwall Record Office

"Cornwall Record Office" should be underlined and in red and if you click on it you will be presented with a new screen showing all the contact details for the CRO or whichever repository holds the files you are interested in.

Sadly, it appears you cannot actually access these files online.

[donne]

There is a distinction between A2A and the CRO online catalogue. If you know, or can locate the reference number classification from A2A, you can often search within that classification in the CRO catalogue. This is specially useful for wills, for example, which have the 'AP' prefix. With the catalogue, you can search within the AP classification for particular names. As CT has said, the wills are not extracted, either in the CRO catalogue or A2A and the only way to obtain a copy is by post from the CRO - though with copy charges of 80 pence a sheet you may be surprised at the cost!

Some documents catalogued in A2A have been comprehensively extracted, with an on-line record of names, dates and events. If you are lucky, some of the documents of interest may be available in this form, and this may be sufficient for your needs. To see all that A2A has to offer, click 'catalogue in full', after you have located the catalogue you are interested in (it's at the top of the page). Unfortunately, A2A goes not seem to have a very good search mechanism, but the wealth of information there makes it worth the effort.

[Mal]

Strange thing is that I have found some of these files "open" on line, other's not!!!

[donne]

Well, I'd certainly be interested in any further on-line info from the CRO, but I've not discovered anyhting similar in my field of interest. Maybe it's part of the 'on-going catalogue development' it mentions on the web site?

[donne]

Just wanted to say 'thank you' to cornishmaid and other contributors to this thread.

I've just done a more throrough search of the CRO catalogue and this threw up some very relevant documents of which I was previously unaware. As a bonus the on-line extracts were very informative in their own right, although eventually I'll need to inspect the originals. I thought that most CRO catalogue entries (with the exception of wills) were duplicated on A2A - this proves to be not the case.

[Cornish Terrier]

Maolcom - thanks to Roger's last post I have taken another look at the CRO online catalogue.

I suggest very strongly that you do the same.

Click on the Link provided by Cornishmaid in the first posting on this thread.

This should bring you to the Search the Catalogue page.

In the Search Options fill in only the very first box entitled Any Text.

I just tried the name KEIGWIN and came up with two pages of documents.

Numbers 15 to 30 are all Wills.

Some of these are not actually KEIGWIN Wills but I suspect the name appears in them.

Now - you will notice that those numbers on the left of the page are in BOLD.

If you place your mouse pointer over them they turn BLUE.

Simply click on any one you like and guess what - YOU GET THE DETAILS (main ones anyway) of the Document.

;D ;D ;D

Some of these are quite lengthy and detailed so very well worth a look.

No. 16 is the 1709 Will of John JEFFERY and it mentions quite a few relatives in ST LEVAN.

All that worked ok.

But I then tried PHILLIPS.
The same function is available however clicking on the number produces a very basic idea of what the document is.
If you then click on the Catalogue Number a new screen appears indicating 'too many documents'.

Not exactly sure what that means but there were over 800 results found for the search.

Nevertheless - you will be able to find enough on the KEIGWINs to keep you occupied for a little while.

You can try CARVOSSO as well - I have not done that.

[Cornish Terrier]

I recommend to all to have a look at this site as there are lots of goodies to be found.

Having just spent quite a bit of time at it I have one suggestion to make.

Initially - VIEW RECORDS BY PARISH.

When you access the site via the link provided by Cornishmaid you will be linked directly to the search page.

Simply enter the Parish Name in the top box and hit 'enter'.

This will bring up a list of all records relating to that Parish - Including WILLS!

In some cases (e.g. Paul) by clicking on the number at left you will get an abstract of the document which can be very useful.

I searched on TOWEDNACK and found three Leases of interest from the 1600's which gave some detail of properties leased by my family.

Even if you can not get to see the contents of a document, particularly a Will, you will at least know that it is there and available.

Of the three Parishes I have looked at - Sennen, Towednack and Zennor - there is a multitude of pre-1700 Wills that, given the dearth of PRs, could prove to be a huge aid in trying to piece together the families of those Parishes.

Have a look and Enjoy!

[Mal]

Okay... got that far, now what if I actually want to see the document? Can I request it? How much does it cost?

[Cornish Terrier]

From just having a look around the Catalogue again I would suggest you utilise the contact information that can be found at the top right section of the page.

There is a telephone number and email address there so perhaps drop an email and check on how you might get to see the particular document.

I would say that you may be able to get a copy of the document sent to you but I have no idea of the cost.

So try an email and see what the response is.

CT

[Mal]

I'll do it dreckly!