Nature of Source
Membership records of non-political mutual societies established to assist members financially in time of illness, old age and hardship. They were funded and governed by their members and included friendly societies, building societies, loan societies, trade unions and industrial and provident societies.
By law society rulebooks had to be submitted to the Registrar and these are held by The National Archives. Earlier rulebooks were submitted to the Quarter Sessions. The annual reports produced by the Registrar from 1852 are found in the Parliamentary Papers. From the late 17th century many societies operated purely along fraternal social lines and as charitable institutions such as Freemasons and the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes. Also consider looking for the women and juvenile branches of a friendly society. The name of the organisation did not necessarily indicate the occupation of its members.
See also
Business & Company Records
Freemason Records
Trade Union Records
Where Found
The National Archives (Series FS, Records of the Registry of Friendly Societies, relating to the regulation of friendly societies, building societies, loan societies, trade unions, and industrial and provident societies)
County Record Offices (Rulebooks submitted to the Quarter Sessions and surviving society records including minute books, accounts, rulebooks, registers and press cuttings. Find the details of a local UK archive from a searchable list of over 2,500 archives hosted by The National Archives)
British Library (Various records and ephemera)
British Library Newspaper Collections (House journals)
Parliamentary Archives (Annual reports including statistics membership, income and national listings of friendly societies)
National Records of Scotland (Records of the Assistant Registrar of Friendly Societies for Scotland)
The John Goodchild Collection (This is a private collection amassed by Mr Goodchild from the 1950s to the present day and includes material relating to friendly and fraternal societies. The collection relates primarily, but not exclusively, to the area of the former West Riding of Yorkshire)
Period Covered
1800 – Onwards
Genealogical Value
- Name, occupation, place of birth, address, age, meeting places, date of death.
Further References
- Logan, Roger. An Introduction to Friendly Society Records: Federation of Family History Societies, 2000
- Cordery, Simon. British Friendly Societies, 1750-1914: Palgrave, 2003
- Gosden, P H J H. The Friendly Societies in England, 1815-1875: Manchester University Press, 1961
- Dennis, Victoria Solt. Discovering Friendly and Fraternal Societies: : Their Badges and Regalia: Shire Publications, 2005
Websites
https://archive.is/k86hP (Friendly Societies Research Group. Archive website of the research group based at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Open University)
www.friendlysocieties.co.uk/index.htm (This site contains a wealth of information about what is currently happening within Friendly Societies plus interesting historical, planning and background details. The Directory of Friendly Societies has links to a Society’s own web site)
https://mutuals.fca.org.uk (Financial Conduct Authority: Mutuals Public Register: The Register is a public record of mutual societies registered by the FCA. It has information for societies currently registered and those no longer registered)
https://awfhs.org/friendly-societies/#more-4139 (Airedale & Wharfedale Family History Society: Friendly Societies, by Stanley Merridew)
www.shepherdsfriendly.co.uk/resources/the-history-of-friendly-societies (The Shepherds Friendly Society: The History of Friendly Societies)
www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/crafts-and-trades (National Records of Scotland Research Guide: Crafts and Trades)
www.financialmutuals.org (Association of Financial Mutuals, incorporating the Association of Mutual Insurers and the Association of Friendly Societies)
www.financialmutuals.org/owned-by-you/what-is-a-mutual (Association of Financial Mutuals: What is a mutual?)
www.financialmutuals.org/owned-by-you/mutuals-a-history (Association of Financial Mutuals: Mutuals – a history)
www.financialmutuals.org/our-members/tracing-a-society (Association of Financial Mutuals: Mutuals: Tracing a Society or Mutual Insurer: Search the list of current members of the Association or the register of closed societies to find the new name of the Society, or the organisation it has transferred to)
https://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk (The National Archives Podcast: Charities and their Records for Family Historians)
www.thanetdruids.co.uk (Ancient Order of Druids. The Order of Druids is a modern social and benevolent society inaugurated on the 29th November 1781)
Online Databases
https://www.bl.uk (British Library Catalogue)
www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/catalogues-and-indexes (National Records of Scotland Catalogue)
CD Roms
S & N Genealogy Supplies (Foresters’ Directory)
Stepping Stones (The Foresters’ Directory 1916)
