England Nonconformist Church Records: Difference between revisions

For detailed histories of each of the major nonconformist denominations, see [[England Church History]]  

A law passed in 1836 required many nonconformist groups to send their registers into the Public Record Office. The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of those that were deposited. Many of these records have been extracted, and the names appear on [https://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] under 'Records.'  

The FamilySearch Library has some of the RG 4 and RG 5 records and most of the RG 4 series of what the FamilySearch Library has was extracted and put into the International genealogical Index, which is included in the global records search on FamilySearch.org.

*Steel, Donald J. ''Sources for Nonconformist Genealogy and Family History''. London, England: Phillimore, 1973. (FS Library book {{FSC|385911|title-id|disp=942 V26ste, vol. 2}}.)

*''Sources for Roman Catholic and Jewish Genealogy and Family History''. London, England: Phillimore, 1974. (FS Library book {{FSC|386622|title-id|disp=942 V26ste, vol. 3}}.)<br>

For information about the different denominations, you may contact their respective historical societies:  

Many congregations did not keep consistent records. In January 1743 officials formed a central registry for births for all three denominations, called [[Dr. Williams' Library, Non-Conformist Collection|Dr. Williams' Library]]. This registry contains about 50,000 birth records. Information recorded includes the child’s name, parents’ names, birth date, address, names of witnesses, registration information, and sometimes the grandparents’ names.  

The original records of Dr. William's Library are housed at [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/familyhistory/bmd/step1a.htm The National Archives] near London, England. Copies of these records are on microfilm in the [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library]. They include:  

*{{FSC|346925|title-id|disp=Dissenting deputies registers, 1728-1837}}

*The birth records from Dr. Williams' Library are indexed in the ''British Isles Vital Records Index'', which is available at the FamilySearch Library and at[https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch centers].

*Some nonconformist church records also available on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. Read more about it in [[England Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records]] and [[England and Wales Nonconformist Index for RG 4-8 (Record Groups 4-8) - FamilySearch Historical Records|England and Wales Nonconformist Index for RG 4-8 (Record Groups 4-8) - FamilySearch Historical Records]]

*Nonconformist church birth/baptism, marriage and death records are also indexed on the website called [http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/bmdr/ The Genealogist].

Charles Surman compiled a biographical card index of Congregational ministers which was given to Dr Williams' Library in 1960. The [http://surman.english.qmul.ac.uk/ Surman Index Online] makes the contents available electronically via the internet for the first time. The index includes the names of about 32,000 ministers, and, where known, their dates, details of their education, ministries or other employment, together with the sources used. It covers the period from the mid-seventeenth century to 1972, and though it focuses on England and Wales, it includes Congregational ministers serving abroad provided they trained or served as ministers in Britain. Although intended as an index of Congregational ministers, it also gives details of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Presbyterians.  

*Breed, Geoffrey R. ''My Ancestors Were Baptists: How Can I Find Out More About Them?'' London, England: Society of Genealogists, 2002, 4th ed. (FS Library book {{FSC|1058099|title-id|disp=942 K23bg}}.)

*Clifford, D. J. H. ''My Ancestors Were Congregationalists in England &amp; Wales: How Can I Find Out More About Them?'' London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1997, 2nd rev. ed. (FS Library book {{FSC|682402|title-id|disp=942 K23cdj}}.)

*Ruston, Alan R. ''My Ancestors Were English Presbyterians/Unitarians: How Can I Find Out More About Them?'' London, England: Society of Genealogists, 2001, 2nd ed. (FS Library book {{FSC|1058266|title-id|disp=942 K23ra}}.)

*Leary, William. ''My Ancestors Were Methodists: How Can I Find Out More About Them?'' 2nd ed. London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1999. (FS Library book {{FSC|967769|title-id|disp=942 D27l}} 1999.)

Many Methodist records are indexed in a searchable online database called [http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/ BMDRegisters]. A basic search is free but there is a fee for advanced searching and to download images. <br>  

The records of the Metropolitan Registry are also available on microfilm at the {{FSC|301863|title-id|disp=FamilySearch Library}} (FS Library). In addition, the library holds copies of records of individual circuits and congregations. Many of the records are indexed in the {{FSC|742262|title-id|disp=British Isles Vital Records Index}}, which is available at the FS Library, [https://www.familysearch.org/centers/locations/ FamilySearch centers], and other archives and libraries. See [[England Vital Records Index - FamilySearch Historical Records]]<br>  

|Hertfordshire, London N of Thames Middlesex<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Archdioceses and Dioceses - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Archdioceses_and_Dioceses_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

*Registers from the city of Worcester—baptisms 1685-1837, 3 marriages (1801, 1827, 1828), deaths 1774-1806, are on {{FSC|254847|item|disp=FS Library film 1999506}}.

*Registers of Father Bruno Cantrill in London 1726-1755 on {{FSC|301084|item|disp=FS Library film 0547198}}.

*The notebook and supplementary documents of Rev. Monox Hervey covering marriages and baptisms from 1729-1756 on {{FSC|391978|item|disp=FS Library film 0599709}}.

*Registers of Fr. Joseph Alexiuc Smallwood in London 1730-1750 on {{FSC|301084|item|disp=FS Library film 0547198}}.

*Registers of Fr. Arthur Pacificus Baker near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London 1747-1773 on {{FSC|301084|item|disp=FS Library film 0547198}}.

*Registers of the domestic chapel at Arundel Castle, (Duke of Norfolk and household), afterwards the public chapel at Arundel 1749-1835 with list of burials in the Fitzalan chapel at Arundel on {{FSC|392118|item|disp=FS Library film 0599713}}.

*''St. James Palace Catholic Chapel'', later ''Somerset House Chapel'' 1671 onwards on {{FSC|302342|item|disp=FS Library film 0599717}}.

*''Portuguese Chapel'' 1696-1849 with most on {{FSC|302342|item|disp=FS Library film 0599717}}.

*''Spanish Chapel'', later ''St. James’ Spanish Place'', 1730 onwards, indexes of which occur on {{FSC|629117|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6903845 (1)}} (christenings 1730-1772) and {{FSC|629117|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6903845 (1)}} (marriages 1730-1822).

In 1837 and 1858, when Non-Anglican registers were called in, few Catholic clergy chose to deposit theirs—76 mainly northern ones out of 587 churches—and they remain either with them, in their Diocesan archives, in the central Catholic Archives, or in county archives. Gandy (''Catholic Missions and Registers, 1994'') has analyzed all the extant registers as well as the many transcripts published by Phillimore’s and the Catholic Record Society, and this is the definitive list of what is available and where, however the FamilySearch Catalog is a useful adjunct as much has been filmed.

Some registers have been published by the Catholic Record Society. The {{FSC|415522|title-id|disp=FamilySearch Library}} has most of these published registers, and depending on the area, may have microfilms of some Catholic parish registers. Currently, unlike in Scotland, and most other church registers of the United Kingdom, the vast genealogical treasures of the Roman Catholic parish registers have mostly never been centrally located--at least on a national basis, for preservation and security, nor microfilming/imaging purposes.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Records, Registers, Births, Baptisms, Confirmations - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Records,_Registers,_Births,_Baptisms,_Confirmations_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

There were a few Catholic churchyards, but the majority of Catholics were buried in Anglican ones, with some receiving large numbers of Catholics, examples in London being St. Pancras, St. Sepulchre Newgate/Holborn, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, St. Andrew Holborn, and St. James Clerkenwell. In most cases there is nothing to distinguish them in the registers, but in others the word ''papist'' may have been added, or the name of the officiating minister may be recognizably Catholic, or there might be a notation ''Catholic priest ''under his name, for example in the Formby, Lancashire registers. Likewise, some Anglican clergy just did not record the Catholics who were buried, or were not aware of who they were if they had been buried secretly at night with an illegal Catholic ceremony. Perhaps some of these were papists who had been excommunicated by the Established Church and were thus not supposed to be buried in consecrated ground. When the new borough cemeteries were built after 1853 then Catholics preferred these if within reach, or the Catholic sections of urban cemeteries. Cremation has not been popular amongst practising Catholics. In London the main Catholic cemeteries were:  

*''Kensal Green'' in the northwest opened in 1858, burials transcribed 1858-1876 on {{FSC|606911|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6343226-7 (11)}}* and monumental inscriptions on {{FSC|606931|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6343228 (1)}}*.

*''All Souls, Chelsea'' transcribed 1845-1858 on {{FSC|606362|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6343215 (2)}}* or {{FSC|606362|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6344548 (2}})*.

There are special registers for the armed services, for example for the army the Roman Catholic Chaplaincy at Aldershot has baptisms, marriages and burials, (but not war deaths), which have been copied, and the Curragh British Army Camp Catholic parish in Kildare, Ireland has baptisms and marriages 1855-1880 on {{FSC|346684|item|disp=FS Library film 0926111}}. Some Catholic priests kept death registers, but with only the name and age of the deceased, and the place of burial. Some priests kept a list of the sick they had visited, especially when the last rites were necessary. Catholic churches have lists of names of the deceased arranged by day and month so that masses may be said for them on the anniversary of their death.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Records, Deaths, Burials - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Records,_Deaths,_Burials_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

Types of clergy include ''regulars'' who were priests or clergy living under vows, following a rule of life and belonging to an order such as Benedictines or Jesuits; and ''secular or seminary priests'' ministered to English congregations but did not belong to a religious order. A ''vicar apostolic'' was a Catholic bishop in a country without an ecclesiastical hierarchy, so equivalent to a diocesan bishop. The Catholic Record Society’s ''Miscellanea VII'' contains a fascinating article on priests in England and Wales in 1692. The chart below gives examples from the section on the Archdeaconry of Hampshire and Somerset.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Records, Archives, Charities, Organizations, Clergy - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Records,_Archives,_Charities,_Organizations,_Clergy_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

During the penal period those who survived as Catholics were largely gentry and their Catholic servants and estate workers. The gentry were literate and educated and there are a great many family papers in existence which detail the lower classes in the household as well as the more affluent. These may be deposited in record offices or may still be with the family. The Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, now part of the National Archives, keeps a list of known ones, where they are and how they may be accessed, and this is searchable online. There are also a large number of local histories of Catholic families. Good places to start the search are: The five volumes of Gillow’s ''Bibliographic Dictionary of the English Catholics'' on {{FSC|265310|item|disp=FS Library films 0896646-8}}, for which there is also an index and finding list by Bevan (Index and Finding List to Joseph Gillow’s Bibliographical Dictionary of the English Catholics. J.W. Arrowsmith Ltd for John Bevan, Bristol, England. {{FSC|265310|item|disp=FS Catalog book 942 D3giL index)}}.  

*Foley’s ''Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus'' in 8 volumes on {{FSC|262947|item|disp=FS Library films 0599477-83}}.

Catholic priests and men and women in religious orders are very well documented and occur in most Catholic families, even though you are unlikely to be descended from one. Some folks are, as celibacy was not a requirement until the 16th century, and a few monks, nuns etc. entered an order after having had a family life, (and perhaps a few were naughty!) However, it is worth examining the records since any ancestor is likely to have had one or more siblings in a Catholic order, and their parentage and history will offer clues to your ancestor’s. The ''Catholic Directory'' is a good place to start, and then contact the appropriate diocesan archives which probably has a biography and perhaps a lot more. The Catholic Archive Society has been active in assisting amateur archivists at various Catholic institutions and orders to sort their material. 19^th century material is becoming available as each diocese now has a record office which accepts deposits of this older material. Some bishops have designated the County Archives as their Diocesan Record Office in a similar manner to Anglican churches, and the FS Library is microfilming as time and resources permit.  

|Records of the English cannonesses of the Holy Sepulchre at '''Liége''' now at '''New Hall, Essex''' 1652-1793 on {{FSC|392034|item|disp=FS Library film 0599710}}.

|Registers of the English Benedictine nuns of '''Pontoise''', now at '''Teignmouth''', Devon 1680-1713 on {{FSC|392034|item|disp=FS Library film 0599710}}.

|English Benedictine nuns in '''Flanders''' 1598-1687, annals of their five communities on {{FSC|338796|item|disp=FS Library film 0599467}}.

|English Benedictine nuns of our Blessed Lady of Good Hope in '''Paris''', now at St. Benedict’s Priory, '''Colwich, Staffordshire''', notes and obituaries 1652-1861 on {{FSC|300908|item|disp=FS Library film 0599708}}.

|The '''Douay''' College diaries, 3rd, 4th and 5th, 1598-1654: with the Rheims report 1579-80, and the 7th diary 1715-1778, preceded by a summary of events 1691-1715 on {{FSC|300985|item|disp=FS Library films 0599708-9}} and {{FSC|300985|item|disp=FS Library film 0599714}}.

|Obituary notices of the English Benedictine nuns of '''Ghent''' in Flanders, and at '''Preston, Lancashire''' 1527-1811 on {{FSC|301084|item|disp=FS Library film 0547198}}

|Annals of the English College at '''Seville''' with accounts of other foundations at '''Vallodolid''', St. Lucar, Lisbon and '''St. Omers''' on {{FSC|391978|item|disp=FS Library film 0599709}}.

|Registers of the English Poor Clare nuns at '''Gravelines''' with notes of foundations at '''Aire, Dunkirk''' and '''Rouen''' 1608-1837 on {{FSC|391978|item|disp=FS Library film 0599709}}.

|English Benedictine nuns of '''Brussels''' and '''Winchester''' 1598-1856 on {{FSC|391978|item|disp=FS Library film 0599709}}.

|Register book of St. Gregory’s College at '''Paris''' 1667-1786 on {{FSC|301084|item|disp=FS Library film 0547198}}.

In ''Miscellanea VII'' on {{FSC|391841|item|disp=FS Library film 0599708}} is an example of notes and obituaries of Catholic nuns, including a picture of the convent and facsimiles of signatures of some of the senior sisters. A sample obituary is shown below.  

Gandy (''Catholic Family History: A Bibliography of General Sources''. Self-published, 1996) lists many more. A fascinating history of the late 16th century missioner’s safe-house at Grosmont Priory in Yorkshire can be found in Boddy (''Catholic Missioners at Grosmont Priory''. North Yorkshire County Record Office. {{FSC|179215|item|disp=FS Catalog book 942.74/G8 K2b)}}. It gives great detail about the local Catholics as well as the missioners themselves.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Records, Priests, Family and Estate Papers, Religious Orders - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Records,_Priests,_Family_and_Estate_Papers,_Religious_Orders_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

Wills of notable Catholics, which may well mention household members, may have been microfilmed, thus that for Christopher Stonehouse (c1564-1631) of Dunsley, in the parish of Whitby, Yorkshire is on film 0,599,467. The CFHS maintains an index to beneficiaries of Lancashire wills, with 23,000 names at present.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Church Records, Schools, Orphanages, Status Animarum, Wills - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Church_Records,_Schools,_Orphanages,_Status_Animarum,_Wills_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

Amongst the national records which can be used to trace Catholic families are ''Recusant Rolls'' from 1591-1691. These are lists of fines and forfeits for non-attendance at the local parish church, and contain large numbers of Catholics as well as other dissenters. They mainly refer to the more prominent offenders, and some are on film, for instance roll 1 (1592-3) is on {{FSC|301047|item|disp=FS Library film 0599711}}; roll 2 (1593-4) on {{FSC|301047|item|disp=FS Library film 0599722}}, and rolls 3-4 (1594-6) on {{FSC|301047|item|disp=FS Library film 0990031}}. In the early taxation records called the ''Lay Subsidy Rolls'' Catholics were taxed at double the regular rate and can therefore be readily identified.  

It should be noted that there was a great difference between ''reputed/suspected/known recusants'' and those actually ''convicted'' in a court such as Quarter sessions. The term ''superstitious'' is also used for Catholics, as in the ''Commission for Superstitious Lands'', an anti-Catholic enquiry in the 1690s. The Catholic Record Society has published a number of such national records, for example English Catholics who attended mass at the Spanish Embassy on Palm Sunday 1613/14 are the subject of a paper in Miscellanea VII on {{FSC|391841|item|disp=FS Library film 0599708}}; examples are below.  

<br> Convicted recusants, primarily Catholics, who went through a formal procedure to conform to the Church of England are detailed in the ''Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer’s Memoranda Rolls'' which are at the PRO in series E 368. Their lands and property were returned and fines usually excused as the state was more interested in the conformity than the money. However, in some cases the conversion was temporary and the same names appear again for similar offences. ''Catholic Ancestor'' has published lists of those conforming between 1590 and 1625. Lists of Catholics called ''Returns of Papists'' were made in 1680, 1705, 1706, 1767 (the most thorough) and 1780 and what survives are in the House of Lords Record Office in Westminster. Some give only statistics, but those for the dioceses of Chester, Durham and Hereford give names, ages, relationship within household, addresses, and how long in residence Many are published, for example the important 1767 return in Vol 1 Diocese of Chester with a separate index, and Vol 2 Other Dioceses which are in the {{FSC|91507item|disp=FS Catalog book under 942 K25}} but are not filmed yet. These parliamentary summaries contain only initials, and the full names are in the originals in the Quarter Sessions records which happily are available on film.  

<br> '''Chart: Brentford, Middlesex return of Papists 1711 in Quarter Sessions —''' {{FSC|131641|item|disp=FS Library film 2068200}}  

<br> '''Chart: Kensington, Middlesex return of Papists 1711 in Petty Sessions —''' {{FSC|131641|item|disp=FS Library film 2068200}}  

(Signed and sealed) Nich. Goodwin<br> Jermyn Wicks<br> J.A. Cawley<br> Thomas Cullum<br> Peter Lavigne<br> Henry Fox<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholics in Early Non-Catholic Records - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholics_in_Early_Non-Catholic_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

'''Chart: Return of Papists in Winchester Diocese 1767'''<br>{{FSC|426351|item|disp=FS Library film 1544503}}<br> A variety of amounts of detail were provided as shown here.  

During the penal period Catholics could not be educated at the universities since this would involve denying their beliefs. Some did go, nonetheless, and many went instead to the Inns of Court on London where the oath was not applied so rigorously.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholics in Additional Early Non-Catholic Records - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholics_in_Additional_Early_Non-Catholic_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

A full set is housed at the Catholic National Library, and the FS Library holds the 1880, 1950, 1964, 1973, and 1978 editions, together with its successor, ''The Catholic Directory of England and Wales'' from 1986 in {{FSC|810109|item|disp=FS Catalog book 942 K22c}}. The obituaries from the Laity’s Directory were reprinted in Volume 12 of the CRS Records Series.  

The earlier ''Miscellanea'' publications of the CRS are on several films. As an example of the variety of contents, Vol 17 on {{FSC|392034|item|disp=FS Library film 0599710}} contains:  

*The Tablet from 1840.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Catholic Historical Societies, Publications, Newspapers - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Catholic_Historical_Societies,_Publications,_Newspapers_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

For information on records not available at the FamilySearch Library, [https://www.crs.org.uk/ contact the Catholic Record Society.]

Historical membership records for most of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint congregations (called Wards or Branches) are now located in the FamilySearch Library in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. Many additional copies (originals) are found in the Church History Library. Currently, these records may only be viewed in the FamilySearch Library. Digitization for most of these records has not been completed. Dates of living baptisms are mostly available for church members.  These baptismal dates may be viewed in FamilySearch.org's Family Tree. However, there are (yet) many early convert baptisms which have supposedly been indexed (at least), but which are not made conveniently accessible in the Family Tree at this time. There is a hope and expectation that FamilySearch will prioritize the completed living early baptismal (indexed) data (the pre-1920 baptisms) by making it available in an accessible online format at some point in the near future. [Note to Church members: Just about all other ordinances for the living and by proxy (for deceased loved-ones) performed in nearly 180 years-worth of temple proxy work, are mostly available and found in FamilySearch.org's Family Tree. The place of baptism is never given. The place and original date[s] of living baptisms are found in the microfilmed branch/ward membership records of the town in which they occurred. Look in census records to help you determine where your ancestor resided in order to help determine in which the likely township or city a person was likely to have been baptized.]

Here is a digital version of an [https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/150018-redirection '''excellent FamilySearch Library reference aid, called ''LDS in Britain'' for finding local branch records in England'''], with colored maps. Those records held in the FamilySearch Library's collection have not yet been digitized. However, the [https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/ '''Church History Library'''], which has also acquired at least a majority of branch membership records, has digitized some of these records and they are accessible for research online. For those that have not been digitized, by submitting a "Request" to digitize (see the online catalog entry), one can obtain access for a limited time period. Allow approximately two to three months (sometimes longer) for digitization processing.

The French registers are easy to read with the aid of a simple guide such as the FS Library ''Genealogical Word List - French''. However, the dates and names need to be carefully noted.  

The French churches all have baptism and marriage registers but not burial registers as none had their own burial grounds. Most, if not all by now, have been transcribed and published by the Huguenot Society and the originals filmed. As examples, there are four films, starting at {{FSC|31284|item|disp=FS Library film 0466707}}, for the London Walloon Church, Threadneedle Street, and several French Spitalfields churches starting in 1687 are filmed and have indexed printouts. The contents of the published registers can be exemplified by the Walloon or Strangers’ Church in Canterbury edited by Hovenden on {{FSC|296860|item|disp=FS Library films 0086956-7}} containing:  

|1643, Mars 9 '''Ester''', fille de Dauid '''DE LESPAU''' et de Judith LE NOBLE, sa femme. ''Tem'': Jean le Keux, Salmon de Lespau, Anne, femme de Mr. Steaple, anglois; Rachel le Noble.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Records of Huguenots, Walloons, Flemish Religions - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Records_of_Huguenots,_Walloons,_Flemish_Religions_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

'''''Témoignages'''''—Certificates of sound doctrine and good behaviour from their previous congregation presented to the new one. These are the most important of the documents after the registers as they state when the family arrived and from whence. Those for the London Walloon Church, Threadneedle Street 1669-1789 have been published by W. and S. Minet and are also on {{FSC|31284|item|disp=FS Library film 0466698}}.  

There are a huge number of Huguenot family histories and Wagner collected about 900 Huguenot pedigrees, both sources being well represented in the FS Library. A large number of Huguenots left wills, many of which have been indexed and abstracted by Wagner and are at the Huguenot Library.  

Gwynn’s two publications (Records of Huguenots in the British Isles, pages 1-9 in Volume F, World Conference on Records and Genealogical Seminar, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA 5-8 August 1969. Genealogical Society of Utah. {{FSC|17515|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6039361(1)}} and Huguenot Heritage: The History and Contribution of the Huguenots in Britain. Routledge) , Currer-Briggs and Gambier (''Huguenot Ancestry''. Phillimore, 1985), and Delaforce (Undated, about 1981.''Family History Research'' Vol I “The French Connection”. Regency Press, London.) are good places to start, and Kershaw and Pearsall (''Immigrants and Aliens. A Guide to Sources on UK immigration and citizenship.'' PRO Publications, 2000) have details of the PRO holdings. The Huguenot and Walloon Research Association are about to publish a valuable index to the French Protestant Hospital records and a ''Guide to Protestant Ancestry Research'', an article by Tsushima describes their work.  

''The Huguenot Society of London'' has lead the way in gathering and publishing records of a particular religious group. The ''Proceedings'' run from 1885 and their record series (the''Quarto Series'') from 1887 to date, many giving complete transcriptions of archive material, for example the ''Returns of Aliens, Denizations'' and ''Naturalizations'' and ''Oaths of Naturalization'' from the PRO, and all of the London French church registers. Both the ''Quarto Series'' and the ''Proceedings'' are on film and there is a comprehensive (but not all-name) index by Marmoy (''General Index to the Proceedings and the Quarto Series of Publications of the Huguenot Society of London, 1885-1985''. Huguenot Society. {{FSC|501804|item|disp=FS Catalog book 942.1 C42m}}). Ramsay-Sharp (''Huguenot Surname Index Quarto Series Volumes 1-40''. Society of Australian Genealogists) has completely surname-indexed volumes 1-40 of the Quarto Series.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Huguenot Records - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Huguenot_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

*[http://www.huguenotsociety.org.uk/ The Huguenot Society]<br>University College London <br>Gower Street <br>London WC1E 6BT England

Just about all of the published Huguenot records are held at the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog FamilySearch Library] and are listed in the library's catalog under:  

*{{FSC|481284|author-id|disp=Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland}}

*{{FSC|399980|author-id|disp=Huguenot Society of London}}

Most of the names from these Huguenot registers are listed at [https://www.familysearch.org/#form=historical_records FamilySearch.org] and at [http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk BMDRegister.co.uk].

The Friends set up numerous meeting houses (they did not favour fancy church buildings, calling them ''steeplehouses''), as well as Quaker schools. In 1694 there were 151 district groups called ''Monthly Meetings'' and the local community units called ''Preparative'' or ''Particular'' Meetings drew up material for them to discuss. Men and women would often meet separately and divide up the work. Representatives were elected to the county ''Quarterly Meetings'' which, in turn, sent representatives to the Yearly Meeting held in London. Their superb organization allowed them to organize philanthropic work and exert a considerable influence in public affairs. There is a great amount of historical literature on the Society of Friends; a keyword search on the FamilySearch Catalog for ENGLAND + QUAKER brings up well over 800 references. As an example, Rickard’s small book on ''Quakers in Kent'' gives a concise history as well as lists of births, marriages and burials from different Monthly Meetings, extracts of wills, burial ground deeds and subscription list, and a Quaker Affirmation Roll. Bartlett has a two-part article on Quaker records, and a major section on west country Quakers appeared in the Greenwood Tree (Anonymous).<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Quaker History - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Quaker_History_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

'''Lewes Meeting, Sussex                                         '''{{FSC|110694|item|disp=FS Library Film 0811737}}<br>''1682     28th day 5th Month '''Sarah VERRALL''' the first daughter <br>           and child of Richard Verrall (and Sarah his wife) was <br>           born at Hove<br>1682     5th day 11th month '''Sarah CHISMAN''' the daughter of John <br>           Chisman (and Sibilla his wife) was born at Shoreham<br>1683     20th day 3rd month '''Frances BEARD '''the daughter of <br>           William Beard (and Frances his wife) was born at Brighthelmstone<br>1685     15th day 4th month '''Nicholas BEARD''' the son of William <br>           Beard (and Frances his wife) was born at Brighthelmstone''  

<br>                                               A separate list is headed  

|'''A Register of Several Children Born before their Parents were Convinced of the TRUTH'''<br>Children of Nicholas BEARD<br>'''''Sarah BEARD''' the first daughter of Nicholas and Susanna Beard <br>         was born at Rottingdean the 24th day of 12th month 1650.<br>'''Nicholas BEARD''' the second son of Nicholas and Susanna Beard <br>         was born at Rottingdean the 17th day of 4th month 1652<br>'''Hannah BEARD''' the third daughter of Nicholas and Susanna Beard <br>         was born the 14th day of 8th month 1654<br>'''George BEARD''' the third son of Nicholas and Susanna Beard <br>         was born at Rottingdean the 17th day of 8th month 1655<br>A child of Rich d BEARD<br>'''Persis BEARD''' the daughter of Richard and Ann Beard was born at <br>         Rottingdean the 8th day of 9th month 1655''

|'''Colchester, Essex RG6/999 on''' {{FSC|49310|item|disp=FS Library film 0812204}}<br>These few retrospective birth records occupy the first page in the book and are clearly of the adult members of the congregation born well before the Society of Friends was started in 1647.<br>'''Thomas CHITTAM''' born in ye 12 mo. 1613<br>'''Stephen CRISP''' senior born ye - 1616<br>'''John Furly (junior''' crossed through) born 8th 7 mo 1618<br>'''George Weatherby senior '''sonn of Richard Weatherby born the 8th day of the 7 mo 1624 in a villadg cald Ruslip in the Countey of Midellsex.

|'''Gainsborough, Lincolnshire                     RG6/1538 on''' {{FSC|103962|item|disp=FS Library film 0817375}}<br>The register books starting in 1700 are handwritten, later some have individually printed certificates with spaces for filling in details, and later still they are printed in columns. These show When and Where born, Name, Son or Daughter, Names of Parents, Residents, description of the Father. In the last column there are three types of entries:<br>'''Simon Mow BROWN '''father of Abigail born 1804 is described as ''Grocer and Chandler.''<br>'''George BLAKEY''' father of Mary born 1805 has ''Watchmaker NB The Parents not members at the Birth of the Child.''<br>'''Samuel COOK''' father of Sarah born 1806 has ''Linen Weaver NB The Child has not a right of Membership by Birth.''<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Quaker Records - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Quaker_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

*Ÿ Persecution (''sufferings''), including any form of prosecution or distraint, were recorded by monthly, quarterly and yearly Meetings, from 1793 in standard printed books for thispurpose. Most were sent to the London Yearly Meetings and entered into the ''Great Book of Sufferings'' 1650-1856 in 44 volumes. Consult Besse on {{FSC|223292|item|disp=FS Library film 0599671}} for a compilation of interesting cases from 1650-1689, and Friends House Library for a check of the index prepared for volumes 1-29 (1650-1791) and other county summaries. Volumes 1 and 2 have been indexed by Audrey Sullivan (1991) but not filmed; use the Request for Photocopies form for appropriate pages. Gandy (Sufferings of Early Quakers. Facsimile of 1753 edition by Joseph Besse with an introduction and indexes to names and places. Sessions Book Trust, Ebor press, York, England, 2002) has edited a 1753 facsimile edition of Besse’s 4 volumes. Examples are shown below.

'''Chart: Colchester, Essex Sufferings of Quakers<br>RG6/999''' {{FSC|49310|item|disp=FS Library film 0812204}}<br>  

|These are intermingled with the burial records.<br>                                     '''Those imprisoned in Colchester Castle'''<br>'''12th of 5th month 1655'''<br>'''James PARNELL''' sent prisoner thither by Dionisius Wakering, Thomas Cooke, Herbert Pelham and William Harlarkinde for speaking to Priest Willis in the steeplehouse at Great Coggeshall, where he remained a prisoner about tenne moneths suffering much abuse from the Jaylor’s wife and there didd an innocent suffer for ye testimony of Jesus.<br>'''20th [?] of 10th month 1657'''<br>John Sewell of Gestingthorpe being moved of the Lord to goe into the steeplehouse at Hedingham Castle stood silent till the priest had ended his service who having sprinkled a child with water the said John bid him prove that ever any Minister of Christ sprinkled water upon the face of any child and called it Baptisme, which he refused to doe but caused the said John to be had before him called Justice Eden whoe committed him to Colchester Castle where he suffered imprisonment on yt account 12 or 14 days.<br>  

*''The Quaker Record'' (Green 1894 on {{FSC|114845|item|disp=FS Library film 0908277}}) has 20,000 deaths 1813-1892 indexed from ''The Annual Monitor.''<br>

*''The Annual Monitor'' 1813-1920 carried many death notices and is on 14 films starting at {{FSC|192612|item|disp=FS Library film 0874080}}. Green has indexed these for 1813-1892 and this is on {{FSC|114845|item|disp=FS Library film 0908277}}.<br>

*The [http://www.quaker.org.uk website] has good discussions of genealogical sources, Quaker dates, and lists of Quaker schools etc.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Additional Quaker Records - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Additional_Quaker_Records_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

|'''Lewes, Sussex 1786 RG6/145'''                 {{FSC|110694|item|disp=FS Library Film 0811737}}<br>Preprinted form with spaces for insertion of details.  

And the said ''Jane Mitchel'' did then and there in the said Assembly declare as followeth, ''Friends, in the fear of the Lord and before this Assembly I take this my friend Samuel Baker to be my Husband promising through Divine Assistance to be unto him a loving and faithful Wife until it shall please the Lord by Death to separate us.''<br>And the said Samuel Baker and Jane Mitchel as a further Confirmation thereof and in Testimony thereunto did then and there to these Presents set their hands.<br>                                         ''Samuel Baker''<br>                                         ''Jane Mitchel''<br>  

|'''Lewes and Chichester Meeting, Sussex 1780''' {{FSC|110694|item|disp=FS Library Film 0811737}} In an almost identically worded handwritten document to the above '''John MICHELL''' of Southover near Lewes, Sussex marries ''Mary GRINFIELD'' spinster daughter of William GREENFIELD of Hurstperpoynt, Sussex. The differences are that the announcements were made in Hurstperpoynt and Lewes Meetings, and the marriage took place at Cuckfield; and she promises to be not only ‘Faithfull and Loveing’ but also ‘Obedient’. The lists of witnesses are not labelled but the small one consists of John Michell, Mary Michell and, underneath a dividing line, Will: Greenfield, Mary Greenfield, Will Linfield, Will: Greenfield, Sarah Greenfield, who would seem to be the relations. There is a separate list of 22 other witnesses. <br>

|                                                       '''Colchester, Essex'''<br>                                                   '''RG6/999 on''' {{FSC|49310|item|disp=FS Library film 0812204}}<br>These marriages are recorded in the Digest format.<br>1659 6 mo 21 day<br>'''Edmond CROSS''' of Colchester and '''Mary BACON''' of Halsted declared their Marriage publickly in the meeting in ye presence of many faithfull witnesses.<br>1660 6 mo 15 day<br>'''John LOVE''' of Colchester and '''Susan RUST''' of ye same declared their Marriage publickly in the meeting in ye presence of many faithfull witnesses. <br>

|                                                         '''Colchester, Essex'''<br>                                                   '''RG6/999 on''' {{FSC|49310|item|disp=FS Library film 0812204}}<br>There were perhaps 15-20 burials a year in the early 1660s, then this heading: appears:<br>'''From the fifth month 1665 to the 7th of ye 10th month 1666 which was a time of great plague in this towne'''<br>Then a list of 98 persons <br>

|                                 '''Lewes Meeting, Sussex'''       {{FSC|110694|item|disp=FS Library Film 0811737}}<br>                                               Dates are those of death<br>1659 18th day 10th month '''Elizabeth COTTINGHAM''' wife of<br>Thomas Cottingham departed this life and was buryed at Rottingdean<br>1661 20th day 7th month '''Richard BEARD''' departed this life and<br>was buryed at Rottingdean<br>1662 15th day 3rd month '''Ann BEARD''' the widow of the aforesaid Richard Beard departed this life and was buryed at Rottingdean<br>1662 21st day 11th month '''Elizabeth BOYCE''' departed this life<br>and was buryed at Rottingdean<br>1663 4th day 12th month '''Joan BOYCE''' sister of the abovesaid<br>Elizabeth Boyce departed this life and was buryed at Rottingdean <br>

|                     '''Gainsborough, Lincolnshire'''               '''RG6/585 on''' {{FSC|103962|item|disp=FS Library film 0817375}}<br>To ''Robert Offerton '' Grave-Maker<br>The ''First'' Day of the ''Third'' Month 1784<br>Make a Grave on or before next ''Third Day'', in Friends Burying-Ground, at Gainsborough and therein lay the Body of Jonathan Hopkins Grocer of Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln aged ''Thirty'' nine Years who died the Twenty Ninth Day of the Second Month, called February One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty four. Thos Morley<br>The Body above mentioned was buried the ''Second Day'' of the '''Third Month''', called March 1784.<br>Witness Robert Offerton Grave-Maker<br>A true Copy, David Nainby<br>Register to ''Gainsborough Monthly'' Meeting<br>

|'''Society of Friends Burial Ground, Drapers, St. John the Baptist, Margate, Kent '''{{FSC|549701|item|disp=FS Library Film 1835483}}<br>This is a printed format with columns for Name, Abode, When buried and Age. There is only one burial in 1867.  

In the columnar Gainsborough Burial registers in RG6/1538 it was noted that several entries were noted as ''Not a Member of our Society,'' so non-Quakers were also buried there—a point worth noting when burials can’t be found in parish registers. Among the microfilmed Quaker burial records is a letter from the Staines Urban District Council with a list of tombstone inscriptions of those disinterred from the Friends Burial Ground in Staines, Middlesex and re-interred in Jordans Burial Ground, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire in 1973. The originals are in RG37/149 at the PRO and on {{FSC|628060|item|disp=FS Library film 1818112}}, and dates range from 1865 to 1933 and most are rendered in Quaker fashion as in Chart 64.  

|'''Alexander Lucas ASHBY''' eldest son of Alexander and Susanna<br>           Lucas ASHBY. Died 30th of 1st month 1872. Aged 14 years.<br>'''Elizabeth Sheldon Dudley ASHBY''' eldest daughter of Thomas<br>           and Caroline ASHBY. Died 13th of 3rd month 1877. Aged 24 years.<br>'''Muriel Cicely''', eldest daughter of Algernon Charles and Sophia '''ASHBY'''. Born May 3rd 1878. Died Feb 21st 1880.<br>'''Caroline ASHBY''' widow of Thomas ASHBY. Died 7th of a 12th<br>         month 1889. Aged 67 years.<br>'''Caroline FELTCHER (sic)''' widow of William FLETCHER. Died<br>         Feb 7th 1922. Aged 82 years.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Quaker Marriage Records, Burials, Monumental Inscriptions - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Quaker_Marriage_Records,_Burials,_Monumental_Inscriptions_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

Quaker registers began in the late 1650s. From 1840 to 1842, the Society made digests of its records (to about 1837), which cover all English meetings. The digests are arranged first by date and then alphabetically by surname. Copies of digests and original registers are in the {{FSC|Quakers in England|keywords|disp=FamilySearch Library}}. The original records are in [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/default.htm The National Archives], England.  

*Milligan, Edward H., and Malcolm J. Thomas. ''My Ancestors Were Quakers: How Can I Find Out More About Them?'' London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1983. (FS Library book {{FSC|157952|title-id|disp=942 D27m}}.)

|'''18 Apr 1735 Burstow, Surrey''' {{FSC|439188|item|disp=FS Library film 1470975}}

|'''20 Apr 1827 Dunstable, Bedfordshire''' {{FSC|312739|item|disp=FS Library film 0826469}}

|'''8 Oct 1844 St. Mary le Strand, Westminster, Middlesex''' {{FSC|130340|item|disp=FS Library film 0572513}}

''Diaries of local Anglican clergy'' who were involved in disputes over tithes, church attendance or other unco-operative behaviour by dissidents can be mother lodes of personal information about your ancestors’ lives. Dissenters tended to be determined and outspoken, characteristics which engendered records and did not endear them to those keen on preserving the status quo.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Anglican Records that Include Nonconformists - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Anglican_Records_that_Include_Nonconformists_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

<br> '''Chart: Oaths at Sutton Bonnington, Nottinghamshire regarding Parentage of Thomas Palmer — Found in Miscellaneous Parish Documents on''' {{FSC|636519|item|disp=FS Library film 1517777}}<br>  

''Mr Thomas Bramley’s Declaration in support of Mr Thomas Palmer’s Pedigree<br>I Thomas Bramley of Sutton Bonnington in the County of Nottingham yeoman aged eighty four do solemnly and sincerely declare that I knew and was intimately acquainted with Thomas Palmer formerly of the Parish of St. Michael’s in Sutton Bonnington in the County of Nottingham yeoman and Ann his wife formerly Ann Pave spinster and that they had seven children namely six Daughters and one Son Thomas. And that their son the said Thomas Palmer (who is now living and residing at Sutton Bonnington aforesaid) was born on or about the nineteenth day of November One thousand seven hundred and seventy four. And further that the said Thomas Palmer the father died on or about the seventh day of December One thousand seven hundred and ninety one intestate and without having made any Will as they said Thomas Bramley has always understood and verily believes to be the fact, and was also buried in the burial ground belonging to the said General Baptist Chapel at Kegworth in the County of Leicester and leaving the said Thomas Palmer (the younger) his only son and heir at law him surviving, and who thereupon became seized and possessed of all his real estate situate at Sutton Bonnington aforesaid. And also that the said Thomas Palmer the younger as such only son and heir at law of his said father as aforesaid has ever since his death been and continued and now is seized and possessed of all the said real estate situate at Sutton Bonnington aforesaid. And further that the said Thomas Palmer the father and Ann his wife and their son the said Thomas Palmer and all their Children were dissenters from the Established Church and Members of the General Baptist Connexion at Kegworth aforesaid and that not any of their children were baptised, not such of them as are dead were buried at the Parish Church of Sutton Bonnington aforesaid but at the General Baptist Meeting House at Kegworth aforesaid, and that no registers thereof were ever made or are kept at the said Meeting House. And further that the said Thomas Palmer (the Son) is now living at Sutton Bonnington aforesaid and is a bachelor. And I make this solemn Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the Provisions of an Act made and passed in the fifth year of the reign of his late Majesty entitled ‘An Act to repeal an Act of the present session of Parliament intituled, An Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various departments of the state and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof and for the more entire suppression of voluntary and extrajudicial oaths and Affidavits and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary Oaths.’<br>Declared by the said Thomas Bramley at Sutton Bonnington aforesaid the eighteenth day of August 1837<br>                 Before me Thos Cradock, A Master extra in Chancery.<br>                             X Thomas Bramly, his mark.''<br>

The marriage details of those who were married illegally by their own priest or minister, especially Catholics, are often referred to in ecclesiastical court records when they were presented for fornication if they had omitted to be legally married in the Anglican church as well.<ref>Christensen, Penelope. "England Additional Anglican Records that Include Nonconformists - International Institute, " ''The International Institute of Genealogical Studies'' (2012), https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/England_Additional_Anglican_Records_that_Include_Nonconformists_%28National_Institute%29.</ref>

==Online Nonconformist Church Records==

*The Official Non-Parochial BMDs Service is for records of birth, baptism, marriage, death and burial taken from non parish sources [http://www.bmdregisters.co.uk/ BMDRegister.co.uk] such as nonconformist records of Methodists, Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, Protestant Dissenters, Congregationalist, Presbyterians, Unitarians, Quakers (Society of Friends), Dissenters and Russian Orthodox. Maternity Records plus various other BMD records are also included.

*[https://www.familysearch.org/#form=historical_records Record Search at FamilySearch.org] has millions of entries transcribed and indexed over the last 40 years, now available online.