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History of Parish Registers in England (view source)
Revision as of 22:32, 22 February 2016
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These entries were made on paper, sometimes upon loose sheets, and sixty years later these registers were ordered to be copied upon parchment in books, so that the registers which still survive dating back to '''1538-9''' perhaps about 1400 to 1500 in number—so any parish which survived this date are rarely the original entries. Some of the earliest paper registers had disappeared even before the transcription was ordered in '''1598'''. | These entries were made on paper, sometimes upon loose sheets, and sixty years later these registers were ordered to be copied upon parchment in books, so that the registers which still survive dating back to '''1538-9''' perhaps about 1400 to 1500 in number—so any parish which survived this date are rarely the original entries. Some of the earliest paper registers had disappeared even before the transcription was ordered in '''1598'''. | ||
'''1558''' Queen Elizabeth passed another law duplicate of her | '''1558''' Queen Elizabeth passed another law duplicate of her father's . Many more registers began at this date. Many of these very early records are hard to read plus being written in Latin and are often very sparse - giving only the fathers name at a Christening and only the persons name in a burial entry. | ||
Between '''1538''' and '''1558''' when Queen Elisabeth repeated the law of her father. The bishop in their visitations were to see that the names of sponsors were duly entered in the registers of baptism. The parishioners penalty was divided between the poor box and repairs for the church. | Between '''1538''' and '''1558''' when Queen Elisabeth repeated the law of her father. The bishop in their visitations were to see that the names of sponsors were duly entered in the registers of baptism. The parishioners penalty was divided between the poor box and repairs for the church. | ||
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The registers were the property of the incumbent minister and each parish was required to maintain a chest in the parish church for the safe keeping of the same. In time other records were kept in the chest such as poor law records, which were actually the civil parish records. Other records kept in the chest were removal orders, bastardy bonds, overseers of the poor accounts, etc. Tithe award and Maps, Enclosure Awards and Maps, Church Wardens Accounts, etc. | The registers were the property of the incumbent minister and each parish was required to maintain a chest in the parish church for the safe keeping of the same. In time other records were kept in the chest such as poor law records, which were actually the civil parish records. Other records kept in the chest were removal orders, bastardy bonds, overseers of the poor accounts, etc. Tithe award and Maps, Enclosure Awards and Maps, Church Wardens Accounts, etc. | ||
'''1597''' - Registers were to be made of parchment instead of paper, and annual reports of all parish register entries were required to be sent to the appropriate bishop, called [[Bishop's Transcripts]] (BT). No doubt the reason we have gaps in some of the early parish registers or they do not exist at all, is that the paper had | '''1597''' - Registers were to be made of parchment instead of paper, and annual reports of all parish register entries were required to be sent to the appropriate bishop, called [[Bishop's Transcripts]] (BT). No doubt the reason we have gaps in some of the early parish registers or they do not exist at all, is that the paper had disintegrated and were not available. In some areas earlier registers were destroyed at this time and some were recopied on parchment. | ||
Some ministers made copies for the Bishop as entries were made in the register, some waited until the end of the year to make these copies. Some entries could have been missed. Most often the original parish entry is more complete. | Some ministers made copies for the Bishop as entries were made in the register, some waited until the end of the year to make these copies. Some entries could have been missed. Most often the original parish entry is more complete. | ||
In '''1603''' Every parish chest should have three locks one for Priest and two parish clerks to have keys. Only could be opened when all three could be present. Priests sometime keep notes in day books with entries of Chr. Marr. and Bur. and was kept until all could get to the chest. Other problems with parish registers. Sometimes private baptisms did not get into the records. Early registers did not have any form to follow in recording the date and was left entirely up to the ministers. So depended on minister how much information he wished to give. | In '''1603''' Every parish chest should have three locks one for Priest and two parish clerks to have keys. Only could be opened when all three could be present. Priests sometime keep notes in day books with entries of Christenings (Chr.), Marriages (Marr.) and Burials (Bur.) and was kept until all could get to the chest. Other problems with parish registers. Sometimes private baptisms did not get into the records. Early registers did not have any form to follow in recording the date and was left entirely up to the ministers. So depended on minister how much information he wished to give. | ||
'''1641-42''' protestation rolls. | '''1641-42''' protestation rolls. | ||
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'''1642-60''' The Civil War when registers were neglected and B.T's were not required. Remember this was the war between parliamentary forces and the Royalists and during this tine Charles I was beheaded. | '''1642-60''' The Civil War when registers were neglected and B.T's were not required. Remember this was the war between parliamentary forces and the Royalists and during this tine Charles I was beheaded. | ||
In '''1653''' Cromwell whose army had defeated the Royalists was made Lord Protector and acted as king. A Puritan. The parish church of England was disorganized, many ministers fled for their lives, some were able to hide their registers and other registers were destroyed. Cromwell ruled that there would be no one religion in England all religions could be | In '''1653''' Cromwell whose army had defeated the Royalists was made Lord Protector and acted as king. A Puritan. The parish church of England was disorganized, many ministers fled for their lives, some were able to hide their registers and other registers were destroyed. Cromwell ruled that there would be no one religion in England all religions could be practiced. Only marriages to be performed were by the Justice of the Peace and were civil marriages. Took parish clerk of church and made him a civil parish clerk and recorded in the civil parishes deaths, births and marriages. | ||
'''1653''' under Cormwell the government took away from the ministers not only the custody of the registers, but even the | '''1653''' under Cormwell the government took away from the ministers not only the custody of the registers, but even the solemnization of the marriage ceremony. The marriage ceremony was entrusted to the justices to form a new Parish Register (not Registrar) elected by all the ratepayers in a parish, and sworn before and approved by a magistrate. | ||
In the restoration of '''1650''' of Charles they went back to the church to keep chr. marr. and bur. The civil records that were kept were filed in with the parish in their registers. | In the restoration of '''1650''' of Charles they went back to the church to keep chr. marr. and bur. The civil records that were kept were filed in with the parish in their registers. | ||
After '''1650''' it is quite usual to find entries explaining the | After '''1650''' it is quite usual to find entries explaining the situation during the Interregnum. One rector stated that on 23 April 1643 "''Our church was defaced our font thrown down and new forms of prayer appointed''". Another minister not quite so bold wrote "''When the war, more than a civil war was raging most grimly between royalists and parliamentarians throughout the greatest part of England, I lived well because I lay low''". | ||
'''1656''' was the year of the plague and many burial entries in the parishes. Also the fire of London destroyed London Bridge and many of the records of London destroyed at that time. | '''1656''' was the year of the plague and many burial entries in the parishes. Also the fire of London destroyed London Bridge and many of the records of London destroyed at that time. | ||
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Between '''1666''' and '''1669''' had to be buried with a wool burial shroud. | Between '''1666''' and '''1669''' had to be buried with a wool burial shroud. | ||
'''1673''' affidavit from Magistrates required for burial in | '''1673''' affidavit from Magistrates required for burial in woolen shroud. If Affidavit appears on burial records means that person was buried in wool. | ||
'''1680''' Charles 11 passed an Act requiring all corpses to be buried in wool, to bolster the woollen industry. affidavit required only from Minister. | '''1680''' Charles 11 passed an Act requiring all corpses to be buried in wool, to bolster the woollen industry. affidavit required only from Minister. | ||
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This act was not carried out very well because in '''1705''' it was thought necessary to pass an act of indemnity on behalf of the clergy who had neglected to obey this mandate. | This act was not carried out very well because in '''1705''' it was thought necessary to pass an act of indemnity on behalf of the clergy who had neglected to obey this mandate. | ||
'''1695''' A fine of forty shillings for | '''1695''' A fine of forty shillings for anyone failing to report birth within 5 days of the birth. Vicars were likewise fined for failure to keep a record of those who were born and not christened. Such recording cost the parents sixpence. | ||
'''1733''' Latin discontinued in parish records. What a big relief, but we still have to struggle with the old English handwriting. | '''1733''' Latin discontinued in parish records. What a big relief, but we still have to struggle with the old English handwriting. | ||
'''1752''' The Gregorian | '''1752''' The Gregorian Calendar adopted and the first day of the year was changed from March 25th (Ladyday) to January 1st. Up to 1752 use double dating between Jan.1st to Mar. 25th. | ||
'''1754''' Lord Hardwick's Act. Required separate registers for | '''1754''' Lord Hardwick's Act. Required separate registers for marriages (plus banns books). These were recorded on printed forms. The act exempted only Quakers and Jews from being married in the Church of England. The act was passed for the preventing of Clandestine (secret) marriages. This law required that separate registers be kept for marriages. Prior to this time the record of marriages had been entered with the christenings and burials. To make the Act more effective, a special printed form was devised which called for the signatures of the officiating minister, the two witnesses and those of the bride and groom. An indication of the marital status of the bride and groom (spinster, bachelor, widow, widower) and their resident parish was given. Marriages were to be either by banns (announced from the pulpit on three successive Sundays) or by license and could not be performed in parochial chapelries unless special permission was obtained. | ||
It ordered that records should be | It ordered that records should be kept both of banns and of marriages, that these should be in books of vellum or good and durable paper, to be provided by the churchwardens. The entries ware to be signed by the parties and tc follow a prescribed form, and the registers were to be carefully kept and preserved for public use. | ||
'''1783-1793''' Another tax on register entries. The Stamp Act of 1783 granted to the crown a stamp duty of threepence upon every register entry of burial, marriage, birth or christening, the officiating minister, who collected the duty being allowed a commission of 10 per cent for his trouble. Two years later this act was extended to cover Nonconformists. This legislation was the 2nd attempt tc to use the register for fiscal purposes. | '''1783-1793''' Another tax on register entries. The Stamp Act of 1783 granted to the crown a stamp duty of threepence upon every register entry of burial, marriage, birth or christening, the officiating minister, who collected the duty being allowed a commission of 10 per cent for his trouble. Two years later this act was extended to cover Nonconformists. This legislation was the 2nd attempt tc to use the register for fiscal purposes. | ||