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Wales Church Records: Difference between revisions
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This information is organized by diocese and then alphabetically by parish. To find the name of the diocese for a specific parish, consult one of the gazetteers listed in [[Wales Gazetteers]] or the The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers in [[Wales Maps]]. | This information is organized by diocese and then alphabetically by parish. To find the name of the diocese for a specific parish, consult one of the gazetteers listed in [[Wales Gazetteers]] or the The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers in [[Wales Maps]]. | ||
==Types of Records and the Information They Contain== | ===Types of Records and the Information They Contain=== | ||
=== Christenings (Baptisms) === | ==== Christenings (Baptisms) ==== | ||
Children were usually christened (baptized) within a few weeks of birth. Christening records give at least the infant’s name and the christening (baptismal) date. You may also find the father’s name and occupation, the mother’s first name, the child’s birth date and legitimacy, and the family’s place of residence or street address. Sometimes a later entry will record the child’s acceptance into the congregation. | Children were usually christened (baptized) within a few weeks of birth. Christening records give at least the infant’s name and the christening (baptismal) date. You may also find the father’s name and occupation, the mother’s first name, the child’s birth date and legitimacy, and the family’s place of residence or street address. Sometimes a later entry will record the child’s acceptance into the congregation. | ||
=== Marriages === | ==== Marriages ==== | ||
Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the Welsh married in their mid-20s. | Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the Welsh married in their mid-20s. | ||
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There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry: | There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry: | ||
====By Banns==== | =====By Banns===== | ||
You may find records that show a couple’s "intent to marry," called banns, in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Unless they obtained a license, couples were required to have the minister announce their intent to marry or post notice on the church door for three consecutive Sundays. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers are almost identical to marriage registers, except for the witnesses and marriage date. | You may find records that show a couple’s "intent to marry," called banns, in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Unless they obtained a license, couples were required to have the minister announce their intent to marry or post notice on the church door for three consecutive Sundays. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754, officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers are almost identical to marriage registers, except for the witnesses and marriage date. | ||
The banns should have been recorded in both the bride’s and the groom’s parishes. The marriage is recorded only in the parish where it took place. Sometimes, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. | The banns should have been recorded in both the bride’s and the groom’s parishes. The marriage is recorded only in the parish where it took place. Sometimes, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. | ||
====By License==== | =====By License===== | ||
A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when: | A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when: | ||
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Marriage licenses could be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, archdeacons, or their surrogates within their respective jurisdictions. If a couple married by license but the bond or allegation can not be found in the records for that diocese, check the records of the Vicar General and the Faculty Office which had a higher level of jurisdiction. | Marriage licenses could be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, archdeacons, or their surrogates within their respective jurisdictions. If a couple married by license but the bond or allegation can not be found in the records for that diocese, check the records of the Vicar General and the Faculty Office which had a higher level of jurisdiction. | ||
=== Burials === | ==== Burials ==== | ||
Before-1813 burial records give the deceased name and burial date and sometimes the age, place of residence, cause of death, or occupation. The husband’s or father’s name is sometimes given. Post-1813 records have the name, age, residence, burial date, and minister’s signature. | Before-1813 burial records give the deceased name and burial date and sometimes the age, place of residence, cause of death, or occupation. The husband’s or father’s name is sometimes given. Post-1813 records have the name, age, residence, burial date, and minister’s signature. Burial registers may mention infant children who were not christened, including stillbirths. Christening records never record stillbirths. A married woman in Wales whose husband had died might have reverted to her maiden name and eventually be buried under that name. | ||
==== Parish Chest Records ==== | |||
=== Parish Chest Records === | |||
Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox), known as the parish chest. Records kept by the parish other than the parish registers were called parish chest records. Some of these records exist from the sixteenth century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. | Church records were kept in a chest (or strongbox), known as the parish chest. Records kept by the parish other than the parish registers were called parish chest records. Some of these records exist from the sixteenth century, but many do not begin until the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. | ||
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Many parish chest records are available at county record offices. These records include: | Many parish chest records are available at county record offices. These records include: | ||
==== Vestry Minutes ==== | ===== Vestry Minutes ===== | ||
A vestry is a parish’s presiding council. Minutes of vestry meetings often mention individuals, appointments of parish officers, and other affairs, such as agreements for the care of illegitimate children and lists of apprentices, parish newcomers, officials, and men eligible to serve as parish officers. | A vestry is a parish’s presiding council. Minutes of vestry meetings often mention individuals, appointments of parish officers, and other affairs, such as agreements for the care of illegitimate children and lists of apprentices, parish newcomers, officials, and men eligible to serve as parish officers. | ||
===== Poor and Other Rates ===== | |||
==== Poor and Other Rates ==== | |||
Parishes recorded payments made to the poor and rates, or taxes, assessed to meet welfare needs. Parishes charged rates for such costs as night watch, lighting, highway, pest control, constable expenses, sewer, and victim’s or soldier’s relief. They kept records of assessment, receipt, and disbursement. | Parishes recorded payments made to the poor and rates, or taxes, assessed to meet welfare needs. Parishes charged rates for such costs as night watch, lighting, highway, pest control, constable expenses, sewer, and victim’s or soldier’s relief. They kept records of assessment, receipt, and disbursement. | ||
===== Bastardy Bonds ===== | |||
==== Bastardy Bonds ==== | When an unmarried woman was expecting a child, parish officials pressured her to reveal the father’s name, so the father, not the parish, had financial responsibility for the child. A bond of indemnification, also known as a bastardy bond, guaranteed that the father was responsible for the child. Bastardy bonds or records of the mother’s examination before the parish authorities may exist in the parish chest records or among quarter session records (see [[Wales Court Records]]). Churchwardens (church officials) sometimes bypassed the bond with a gentlemen agreement, records of which are among churchwardens’ accounts or vestry minutes. | ||
===== Churchwardens Accounts ===== | |||
When an unmarried woman was expecting a child, parish officials pressured her to reveal the father’s name, so the father, not the parish, had financial responsibility for the child. A bond of indemnification, also known as a bastardy bond, guaranteed that the father was responsible for the child. Bastardy bonds or records of the mother’s examination before the parish authorities may exist in the parish chest records or among quarter session records (see [[Wales Court Records]]). | |||
Churchwardens (church officials) sometimes bypassed the bond with a gentlemen agreement, records of which are among churchwardens’ accounts or vestry minutes. | |||
==== Churchwardens Accounts ==== | |||
Churchwardens, generally appointed at the Easter vestry meetings, were responsible to the bishop or the magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behavior. They were to report misbehavior of the vicar or other vestry members as well. Churchwarden’s records often list men qualified to serve as churchwardens. | Churchwardens, generally appointed at the Easter vestry meetings, were responsible to the bishop or the magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behavior. They were to report misbehavior of the vicar or other vestry members as well. Churchwarden’s records often list men qualified to serve as churchwardens. | ||
===== Settlement and Removal Records ===== | |||
==== Settlement and Removal Records ==== | |||
Before 1834 every individual had a place of legal settlement or residence. The parish of settlement was responsible for the welfare of family members, including elderly family members. A removal order was a document that directed a constable to transport the family back to their parish of settlement. Some settlement and removal records can be found among the quarter session records (see [[Wales Court Records]] for more information.) | Before 1834 every individual had a place of legal settlement or residence. The parish of settlement was responsible for the welfare of family members, including elderly family members. A removal order was a document that directed a constable to transport the family back to their parish of settlement. Some settlement and removal records can be found among the quarter session records (see [[Wales Court Records]] for more information.) | ||
===== Apprenticeship Records ===== | |||
==== Apprenticeship Records ==== | |||
A child’s father often arranged his apprenticeship, but sometimes the parish arranged a child’s apprenticeship since it was cheaper for the parish to pay for an apprenticeship than to support a poor child. Apprenticeship records often list the apprentice’s father, his master, the length of apprenticeship, and the occupation. The child’s name may also be in vestry minutes where the vestry decided to put the child out as an apprentice. You may also find apprenticeship information in other sources; see [[Wales Occupations]]. | A child’s father often arranged his apprenticeship, but sometimes the parish arranged a child’s apprenticeship since it was cheaper for the parish to pay for an apprenticeship than to support a poor child. Apprenticeship records often list the apprentice’s father, his master, the length of apprenticeship, and the occupation. The child’s name may also be in vestry minutes where the vestry decided to put the child out as an apprentice. You may also find apprenticeship information in other sources; see [[Wales Occupations]]. | ||
==== Church Court Records ==== | |||
=== Church Court Records === | Record of the general business of the church courts. These courts deal with the following: presentments, naming individuals who committed offenses such as adultery, fornication, swearing, failure to attend church, heresy, drunkenness and those refusing to have their children christened.<br> | ||
Record of the general business of the church courts. These courts deal with the following: presentments, naming individuals who committed offenses such as adultery, fornication, swearing, failure to attend church, heresy, drunkenness and those refusing to have their children christened. | |||
Contents: Act Books: Day by day actions of the court serves as an index to other records. Ecclesiastical Cause papers: Examination of those giving testimony for the court. Gives names, ages, birthplaces, and other residences, and length of time in the community plus information on problem in question. | Contents: Act Books: Day by day actions of the court serves as an index to other records. Ecclesiastical Cause papers: Examination of those giving testimony for the court. Gives names, ages, birthplaces, and other residences, and length of time in the community plus information on problem in question. | ||