David Daniell wrote: > Can anyone clarify when and for what purpose passports became > essential? It quite often comes up. > David > > On 21/10/2008, at 12:35 PM, Russell Ridout wrote: > > Mark Herber, in Ancestral Trails, writes: "Passports were not required until 1914 (so most people did not apply for one) but some were issued as early as 1794, principally to diplomats or merchants. They included photographs (from 1914) and, since 1921, were in similar form to those we use today. A register of passport applications and of the passports issued from 1794 to 1948 is at the PRO (TNA) in class FO 610, noting applicants' names and destinations. The entries are in date order, but there are name indexes for 1851-1862 and 1874-1916 in class FO 611." David Steel Adelaide, South Australia

Many thanks David, but I was really wanting to know where and when they were *necessary* as distinct from when they were available or became generally used by British Subjects. Similarly, I think, a visa is not at the moment required by all countries. cheers David On 21/10/2008, at 1:50 PM, David Steel wrote: > David Daniell wrote: >> Can anyone clarify when and for what purpose passports became >> essential? It quite often comes up. >> David >> >> On 21/10/2008, at 12:35 PM, Russell Ridout wrote: >> >> > Mark Herber, in Ancestral Trails, writes: > > "Passports were not required until 1914 (so most people did not apply > for one) but some were issued as early as 1794, principally to > diplomats > or merchants. They included photographs (from 1914) and, since 1921, > were in similar form to those we use today. A register of passport > applications and of the passports issued from 1794 to 1948 is at the > PRO > (TNA) in class FO 610, noting applicants' names and destinations. > The > entries are in date order, but there are name indexes for 1851-1862 > and > 1874-1916 in class FO 611." > > David Steel > Adelaide, South Australia > _____________________________________________ > > Have you considered adding "postems" to "your" events on www.freebmd.org.uk > , giving your contact details? Other researchers will then be able > to make contact. Click on the info button to add your postem. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message