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  2. Family History Federation
  3. Devon Family History Society

Devon Family History Society

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with the Devon Family History Society which now has a membership of approximately 5,000, making it one of the largest family history societies in the UK.

The Devon Family History Society, formed in 1976, now has a membership of approximately 5,000, making it one of the largest family history societies in the UK.

The society is a registered charity (no. 282490), a member of the Federation of Family History Societies and of SWAG, the South West Area Group of FHSs, which is a regional group of 12 societies. Contact with other societies encourages mutual interests and reciprocal research.

US Servicemen In North Devon, England 1943-1945

This unique collection gives details of the US servicemen who served at the Assault Training Centre in North Devon, which was set up in 1942. It was established during the Second World War as a centre to develop and practice amphibious assault exercises to prepare for the Normandy landing on D-Day.

The records allow you to view an image of the original service club visitors book along with details such as name, theatre of operation, residence, state and additional notes on the servicemen.

The books were transcribed by the Devon Family History Society volunteers.

Search US Servicemen In North Devon, England 1943-1945

Devon Social & Institutional Records

Do you have family roots in Devon? If so, you can now search this extraordinarily rich set of records to find paupers and vagrants, apprentices, peddlers and tradesmen.

Find out if they got married, were vaccinated against smallpox or got Christmas presents while their father was fighting WW1.

This collection is published in partnership with Devon Family History Society and the Family History Federation.

Search Devon Social & Institutional Records

Vital records

The Devon Family History Society have also greatly contributed to our collection of vital records for Devon. This incudes records of baptisms, marriages and burials.

If you have ancestry in the Devon area, then these records will be crucial to uncovering key details about their major life events.

Additional information from the society

The Devon Family Historian

Our quarterly journal with articles full of background information about the lives and times of Devon families and other information helping members to keep themselves well informed about developments in family history. Each edition includes a booklet of names being researched by new members. Extracts from editions 1-100 are available online to members.

New members

All new members receive a copy of Searching for Devon Ancestors, an information booklet containing useful details on where to find genealogical and historical records in Devon, plus a publications list and an A3 parish map to help you locate your Devon roots.

Members' area

Members may add up to 50 names of interests on the members' area. Search the names that other Devon FHS members have posted.

•Free access to Devon Strays Index
•Free access to 1851 census Index
•Free access to parish maps to print
•Free access to Devon Family Historian extracts editions 1-100
•Free access to monumental inscriptions
•Free access to Devon coastguards
•Advice on finding marriages in Devon before 1754


Tree House Research Centre

Unit 1, 7-9 King Street, Exeter. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10.30am-4.00pm. Entrance is free to members, visitors pay a small fee. Search our holdings and resources via the Tree House webpage. A research service is also available.

Devon FHS' online shop

At our One Stop Shop, you can join the society or renew your membership, browse and order from our huge range of baptism, marriage and burial booklets, Deanery CDs, historic Devon Facsimile Book CDs and a wide range of other publications.

All of our services may be accessed via our award winning website www.devonfhs.org.uk and enquiries posted on our www board.