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Montserrat Church Records

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For information about records for non-Christian religions in Montserrat, go to the Religious Records page.

Online Resources and Websites

Bishop's Transcripts

Bishop's transcripts covering the 1720s to 1740s were found in the Public Record Office in England (now The National Archives).[1] They were published 100 years ago and are now available online:

  • 1721-1729 - "St. George, Montserrat: Transcripts of Parish Registers," Caribbeana, Vol. 1 (1910):88-90, 139. Digitised by dLOC - free. Baptisms, marriages, and burials.
  • 1721-1729 - "Baptisms, Burials, and Marraiges in the Parish of St. Peter's [Montserrat]: Transcripts of Parish Registers," Caribbeana, Vol. 1 (1910):90-92, 139-140. Digitised by dLOC - free. Baptisms and burials.
  • 1721-1729 - "Baptisms, Burials, and Marriages in St. Patrick's Parish [Montserrat]: Transcripts of Parish Registers," Caribbeana, Vol. 1 (1910):92. Digitised by dLOC - free. Baptisms, marriages, and burials.
  • 1722-1729 - "St. Anthony, Montserrat: Transcripts of Parish Registers," Caribbeana, Vol. 1 (1910):42-44, 86-88, 92-93, 138-139. Digitised by dLOC - free. Baptisms, marriages, and burials.
  • 1739-1745 - "A List of Christenings & Burials in ye several Parishes of Monseratt: Transcripts of Parish Registers," Caribbeana, Vol. 1 (1910):361-364. Digitised by dLOC - free. Baptisms, marriages, and burials.

Clergymen

Historical Background

Protestant 67.1% (includes Anglican 21.8%, Methodist 17%, Pentecostal 14.1%, Seventh Day Adventist 10.5%, and Church of God 3.7%), Roman Catholic 11.6%, Rastafarian 1.4%, other 6.5%, none 2.6%, unspecified 10.8% (2001 est.) [2]

Information Recorded in the Records

Different denominations, different time periods, and practices of different record keepers will effect how much information can be found in the records. This outline will show the types of details which might be found (best case scenario):

Baptisms

In Catholic and Anglican records, children were usually baptized a few days after birth, and therefore, the baptism record proves date of birth. Other religions, such as Baptists, baptized at other points in the member's life. Baptism registers might give:

  • baptism date
  • the infant's name
  • parents' names
  • father's occupation
  • status of legitimacy
  • occasionally, names of grandparents
  • names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives
  • birth date and place
  • the family's place of residence
  • death information, as an added note or signified by a cross

Marriages

Marriage registers can give:

  • the marriage date
  • the names of the bride and groom
  • indicate whether the bride and groom were single or widowed
  • their ages
  • birth dates and places for the bride and groom
  • their residences
  • their occupations
  • birthplaces of the bride and groom
  • parents' names (after 1800)
  • the names of previous spouses and their death dates
  • names of witnesses, who might be relatives.

Burials

Burial registers may give:

  • the name of the deceased
  • the date and place of death or burial
  • the deceased's age
  • place of residence
  • cause of death
  • the names of survivors, especially a widow or widower
  • deceased's birth date and place
  • parents' names, or at least the father's name



How to Find Records

Digital Copies of Church Records in the FamilySearch Catalog

Watch for digitized copies of church records to be added to the collection of the FamilySearch Library. Some records might have viewing restrictions, and can only be viewed at a FamilySearch Center near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations. To find records:

a. Click on the records of Montserrat.
b. Click on Places within Montserrat and a list of towns will appear.
c. Click on your town if it appears, or the location which you believe was the parish which served your town or village.
d. Click on the "Church records" topic. Click on the blue links to specific record titles.
e. Some combination of these icons will appear at the far right of the listing for the record. FHL icons.png. The magnifying glass indicates that the record is indexed. Clicking on the magnifying glass will take you to the index. Clicking on the camera will take you to an online digital copy of the records.

Writing for Records

You will probably need to write to or email the national archives, the diocese, or local parish priests to find records. See Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy for help with composing letters.


Anglican (Episcopal) Church Records

Writing for Records

Catholic Church Records

Catholic Church in the Caribbean (including Saint John's-Basseterre Diocese with Montserrat)

Writing to a Local Parish

Earlier records can be held at the diocese, with more recent records still kept in the local parish. To locate the mailing address or e-mail address for a diocese or local parish, consult:






Church of God Records

Writing for Records

Methodist Church Records

Writing for Records

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

References

  1. ↑ The editor of these records stated additional bishop's transcripts for the Leeward Islands were at Fulham Palace, in the custody of the Bishop of London in 1910, but he did not have permission to publish them.
  2. ↑ "Montserrat Religions" at IndexMundi, https://www.indexmundi.com/montserrat/religions.html, accessed at 30 March 2020.
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