Research: British India Ancestors is the newest course from The National Institute for Genealogical Studies.

Written by genealogist, writer, and historical researcher Emma Jolly, this course gives an introduction to researching ancestors in India, during the time of British involvement and rule. The course focuses mainly on British ancestors, but includes records that are relevant to other Europeans in India, as well as Anglo-Indians.

Topics covered include:

Module 1: East India Company & Beginnings of British Involvement in India

1857 Indian Mutiny
India Office Records & direct rule from Britain
Rise of Indian nationalism
1947 Independence
Life (and records) from 1948

Module 2: Maps & Place Names

Changing Borders of ‘British India’
Princely States & other areas beyond direct British control
Variants in spelling & place name changes
Travel to & from India: changes over time
Suez Canal
Passenger Lists
Ship Records

Module 3: Vital Events, Church Records & Probate

Online Indexes
Digital Books
Church records (Anglican & non-Anglican)
Civil registration
Transcription Forms
Baptism Record
Marriage Record
Burial Record
Christianity in India
Schools & orphanages
Cemeteries
Probate in India
Probate pre-1727
Probate in the UK

Module 4: Armed Forces & Merchant Seaman

East India Company’s Armies
Cadet Papers
Other Records of Officers
Printed Books
Hodson’s Index
Soldiers and NCOs
Soldiers in the British Army who served in India
Indian Army
Officers
British Army
Other Ranks
Indian Navy & Royal Indian Marine/Navy
East India Company Naval Service
East Indiamen
EIC Mercantile Marine
Bengal Marine
Bengal Pilot Service 1669-1948
Bombay Marine 1613-1830
Indian Navy (1830-1863) & Royal Indian Marine/Navy (1877-1948)
British Merchant Seamen
Officers’ Records
Royal Navy
Royal Indian Air Force & Royal Air Force in India
Chaplains, Medical Service (and Subordinate), Veterinary Corps & Bandsmen
Indian Army Nursing Services & Women’s Auxiliary Corps
Nursing
India & Burma

Module 5 : Occupations

Main occupations of the British in India (outside of the armed forces)
Civil servants: covenanted & uncovenanted (EIC)
Uncovenanted Civil Servants
Civil Service from 1749
Entry Papers: Index of Writers’ Petitions
India Office & Burma Office
Civil Service records in the Raj period
Trade: tea, jute, coffee and other products
Merchant Travel to India
Country Trade & Free Mariners
Tea Trade
Assam history
Tea companies
Coffee Planting
Railways
History of the Railways
Life as a Railway Worker
Indian Railway Companies
Staff Records
State Railways
Railway Companies
Module 6 : Miscellaneous Records

Memoirs, letters & diaries online & in collections around the world
Directories: what exists and what exists online
Newspapers and online databases
Newspapers
Family papers
Other published sources & how to access them

To learn more and register for Research: British India Ancestors, see our website.