England, Kent, Register of Electors - FamilySearch Historical Records

Image Visibility
Whenever possible, FamilySearch makes images available for all users. However, ultimate rights to view images on our website are granted by the record custodians. The England, Kent, Register of Electors collection is available to the Family History Library, FamilySearch Centers, and to members of the supporting organization. The images can be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you.

For those in the United Kingdom, images may also be viewed by visiting the Kent History and Library Centre in Maidstone, England.

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of Register of Electors for the county of Kent. This collection also contains a few militia muster rolls for Faversham. Availability of records varies by year and locality.

Electoral rolls have been published annually since 1928. Most electoral rolls list everyone over 18 in a household.

Collection Content
Register of Electors generally contain the following information:


 * Name of Proprietor
 * Name of Occupier
 * Date of registration
 * Residence

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:


 * Name of voter
 * Place of residence

To search this collection by name: Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

To browse the collection by image: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the appropriate "Division" ⇒Select the appropriate "Record type and year range" which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

Use these records to identify relatives that may not be found in parish registers.

As with census records, electoral rolls can determine residences of adults and when someone arrives at a residence or moves away from it.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.
 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Search the records of nearby localities.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.


 * Collection Citation:

"England, Kent, Register of Electors, 1570 - 1907" Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2017. Kent Archives Office, Maidstone.

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