We send Strays to the National Strays Index and to the appropriate County Societies. We also have our own 'In County and 'Out of County' Strays Index.

A stray can be described as an event recorded outside the place where one would normally expect it to occur - generally outside the county where one would expect it to occur. For example, if the baptism of William Smith, known to be born in say Riddings, Dbys. were found in the parish of Selston, Notts. then this baptism would be a Derbyshire stray. Similarly the burial of Mary Clark, widow, formerly of Glossop, Dbys. found in the burial registers of Hanslope, Bucks. would be a Derbyshire stray. A bride from Hasland and the groom from Chesterfield recorded as marrying in Trinity United Reform Church, Leeds, Yorks. would both be Derbyshire strays.

Besides collecting these strays in our STRAYS INDEX at DARG, we feel that we must include another group of people - those who have 'strayed' within their own county boundaries. Joseph Brooks of Chapel-en-le-Frith who is found being baptised at Melbourne parish church (his mother's home town and the church in which his parents were married) is just as much a stray, perhaps more so, than the above William Smith who merely strayed several miles, but in doing so crossed the county boundary. Would the descendants of Elizabeth Bradley of Bakewell ever think of looking at the parish of Kniveton to find her burial, unless they knew of a previous connection? As there is no gravestone to her memory, there would be no chance of finding her in an M.I. index. Do you see the point we are making? These in county strays are just as important as out of county ones, and could save many people hours of tedious searching parish by parish to find that elusive ancestor.

If you find strays as you do your research, and you surely will, please spare a little time to write them down and let us have them, either as you have written them, or on 5"x3" slips, the surname at the top left hand side, the source of the information at the bottom and the rest of the information in between. Slips are added to our index every week, so it is growing steadily. It is there to help YOU. We ask you to use it and add to it.

We have a growing index of information from many sources which includes the following.

Some Parish Register entries and Census information from other Counties.
Coroners' Claims, Inquests		Quarter Sessions	Licensed Victuallers
Occupiers of Land	Tithes	Workhouse Records	School Records

See Other Records for more details.

• DARG's records are not for sale, nor available on computer, but we are very happy to answer enquiries by post. No charges are levied, but donations are always welcome, either from fellow enthusiasts, or from those who benefit from our services.

• We can supply full details of specific memorial inscriptions in churchyards and cemeteries or from parish registers, etc. by post, provided they are accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Overseas enquirers please note that foreign stamps cannot be used as return postage, therefore please include a donation (in sterling) to cover - at least - the cost of return postage.

• We do not have an email address. All communications MUST be by post or by telephone; however as indicated above, we cannot answer queries by post without the cost of return postage. A list of current UK postal charges is available on the Royal Mail website.
  • For postal enquiries please write to Winifred Waterall, 86 High Street, Loscoe, Heanor, Derbyshire DE75 7LF, UK. We are unable to accept foreign cheques, so all donations must be in sterling. Please make cheques payable to "Derbyshire Ancestral Research Group" ("DARG" alone in not acceptable at our Bank) - thank you.

  • For telephone enquiries on Library holdings please call Margaret Brooksbank, telephone 01773 604916.

• Note: our offer of searches is restricted to our own transcripts and other material in our own Library (as listed on these pages). It does NOT extend to collections elsewhere.

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