Reference Centre, LDS Resources
FAQs about the I.G.I. - The Answers
As soon as I saw the reference to 504a I knew that I was looking at, in this case, a National Archives folio number. The folio number is often used in conjunction with an RG piece number for a census. So, here is how you can convert your FHS publication reference to an LDS Film number:
1. First, you must have the description of the reference record as published by the Family History Society. From the information below, you can see that their census index includes the whole of Bromley Registration District, as opposed to simply the parish of Bromley. In the description, the RG piece number is also given, namely RG1606.
Vol. I - Bromley Registration District RG piece number 1606 - includes the parishes of Beckenham, Bromley, Chelsfield, Chislehurst, Cudham, Downe, Farnborough, Foots Cray, Hayes, Keston, Knockholt, North Cray, Orpington, St. Mary Cray, St Paul's Cray, West Wickham and contains 18,000 entries.
2. Armed with the description, go to the Family History Library catalogue and do a Place Search for Bromley. That listing will give you the LDS film number for the Bromley census plus the page numbers - not to be confused with the folio numbers.
3. Next, go back to the beginning of the catalogue search and do a Film/Fiche Call Number Search putting in the film number returned in step 2, above, namely 0193505. The first listing that you will see in the search results is the list for the whole of England 1851 census. Click on that link and then be patient as you wade through all of the census film numbers until you find the listings for Kent. Under the Kent listing the following entry was found:
[RG] Piece no. 1606: Bromley (folio nos. 1-308); Chislehurst (folio nos. 309-567). FHL BRITISH Film 193505
4. Conclusion: It appears that your family was actually in Chislehurst. From the film description above, note that Chislehurst is covered on folios numbered 309 through 567. You will find your family on folio number 504a (the 'a' indicating the distinction between the recto and verso of a page) on LDS film number 0193505. The remainder of the areas within the Bromley registration district appear on successive films.
Happy hunting!
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