1,278
edits
England Church Records: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
* '''Roman Catholics''' remained present in England after the split between Rome and the Church of England. They were heavily persecuted and their records extant until laws of 1778, 1791 and 1829 lifted discrimination against them, | * '''Roman Catholics''' remained present in England after the split between Rome and the Church of England. They were heavily persecuted and their records extant until laws of 1778, 1791 and 1829 lifted discrimination against them, | ||
== Baptisms == | == Types of Records == | ||
=== Baptisms === | |||
Baptism records usually contain: | Baptism records usually contain: | ||
* Child's name | * Child's name | ||
| Line 49: | Line 51: | ||
It is worth mentioning that it was common practice in families to use the same Christian name over and over again until a child survived with it. This means that individuals need to try and capture all of the family members listed watching for deaths and that same name being given to the next child of the same sex. | It is worth mentioning that it was common practice in families to use the same Christian name over and over again until a child survived with it. This means that individuals need to try and capture all of the family members listed watching for deaths and that same name being given to the next child of the same sex. | ||
== Marriages == | === Marriages === | ||
Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their 20s. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain: | Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their 20s. You may find records that show a couple’s “intent to marry” in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. Church of England parish register marriage records usually contain: | ||
* Marriage date | * Marriage date | ||
| Line 68: | Line 70: | ||
#* A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists). | #* A couple preferred not to subject themselves to publication of banns (common among upper classes and nonconformists). | ||
== Burials == | === Burials === | ||
A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Church of England parish register burial records usually contain: | A burial usually took place in the deceased’s parish a few days after the death. Church of England parish register burial records usually contain: | ||
* Burial date | * Burial date | ||
| Line 83: | Line 85: | ||
Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened, including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths. | Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened, including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths. | ||
== Bishop's Transcripts == | === Bishop's Transcripts === | ||
Beginning in 1598, ministers were required to send copies of their registers to an archdeacon or bishop annually. These copies are referred to as bishops’ transcripts, or sometimes archdeacon transcripts. As a result, two copies of many parish registers exist from 1598 to about the mid-1800s. After civil registration began in 1837, the value of keeping bishops’ transcripts diminished, so by 1870 most parishes had stopped making them. | Beginning in 1598, ministers were required to send copies of their registers to an archdeacon or bishop annually. These copies are referred to as bishops’ transcripts, or sometimes archdeacon transcripts. As a result, two copies of many parish registers exist from 1598 to about the mid-1800s. After civil registration began in 1837, the value of keeping bishops’ transcripts diminished, so by 1870 most parishes had stopped making them. | ||
| Line 105: | Line 107: | ||
England, [county name] - Church records | England, [county name] - Church records | ||
== Parish Chest Records == | === Parish Chest Records === | ||
[[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Parish Chest.jpg]] Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the [[Parish Chest Records|"parish chest"]]. Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of the parishioners was kept in this chest and are known as "parish chest records." Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. | [[Image:The Parish Chest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Parish Chest.jpg]] Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox) known as the [[Parish Chest Records|"parish chest"]]. Because the Church of England was ordered by the Crown to keep records on all their congregants, any recorded business other than the christenings, marriages and burials of the parishioners was kept in this chest and are known as "parish chest records." Some of these records still exist from the 16th century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. | ||
| Line 298: | Line 300: | ||
|} | |} | ||
=== | === IGI === | ||
Many years ago FamilySearch took a sample of Church records and included them in the International Genealogical Index(IGI). The IGI does not contain images, and has only a very small fraction of the records. The IGI is best used as a starting point before obtaining images for confirmation and further information. | Many years ago FamilySearch took a sample of Church records and included them in the International Genealogical Index(IGI). The IGI does not contain images, and has only a very small fraction of the records. The IGI is best used as a starting point before obtaining images for confirmation and further information. | ||
* [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014 England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975], index, incomplete. Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9841 Ancestry.com], [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30042/england-births-christenings-1538-1975?s=218489221 MyHeritage], ($) | * [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1473014 England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975], index, incomplete. Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9841 Ancestry.com], [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30042/england-births-christenings-1538-1975?s=218489221 MyHeritage], ($) | ||
| Line 309: | Line 311: | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9880 Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778-1988], ($), index | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9880 Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778-1988], ($), index | ||
=== | ===Other Partial Indexes === | ||
*[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ Free Registers][http://freereg.rootsweb.com/ /]- Online transcripts of baptisms, marriages, & burials, the sister project of FreeBMD and FreeCEN | *[http://www.freereg.org.uk/ Free Registers][http://freereg.rootsweb.com/ /]- Online transcripts of baptisms, marriages, & burials, the sister project of FreeBMD and FreeCEN | ||
*[http://ukga.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?action=loadDB&DB=8 Phillimore Marriages Indexing Project, 1538 - 1837], index | *[http://ukga.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?action=loadDB&DB=8 Phillimore Marriages Indexing Project, 1538 - 1837], index | ||