FamilySearch Wiki

Jamaica Church Records: Difference between revisions

VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
(Corrected Place ID Number from FS Catalog.)
 
(136 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Jamaica: Church Records'''
{{CountrySidebar
|Country=Jamaica
|Name=Jamaica
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Records
|Records=Church Records
|Rating=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Jamaica Genealogy|Jamaica]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Jamaica Church Records|Church Records]]
}}
''For information about records for non-Christian religions in Jamaica, go to the [[Jamaica Religious Records|Religious Records]] page.''


The official religion in Jamaica is Church of England with records beginning as early as
1668 and as late as 1804. The records are cataloged by parish (see Jamaica/Jurisdictions).
In order to locate the correct records, it is useful to study the notes after clicking on “Parish register transcripts 1646-1880” in the Family History Catalog.


“Some of the indexes are tightly bound and the volume and page numbers (folies) of the entry of interest may be blurred. It is advisable to check the entry before and after for clarification. In particular, take note if the volume (liber) is listed as New Series, for this leads to a different set of films with perhaps the same volume number.
== Online Resources and Websites==
*'''1646-1880''' {{RecordSearch|1827268|'''Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880'''}}, index, images, incomplete. -  at FamilySearch Historical Records [https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Jamaica,_Church_of_England_Parish_Register_Transcripts_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records '''Description of record contents'''] Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9999 '''Ancestry.com'''] and at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30261/jamaica-church-of-england-parish-register-transcripts-1664-1880?s=218489221 '''MyHeritage'''], index ($).
*[[Jamaica Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|'''Jamaica Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records'''.]] This collection is an index for the years 1752 to 1920.  This index is not complete for any particular place, region or time period. This collection may include information previously published in the [[International Genealogical Index (IGI) - FamilySearch Historical Records |International Genealogical Index]].  Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30101/jamaica-births-baptisms-1752-1920?s=218489221 MyHeritage ($)], and [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/jamaica-births-and-baptisms Findmypast ($)], index.
*'''Pre-1680''' - '''"List of Marriages on record in Jamaica previous to 1680,"''' in ''Caribbeana,'' Vol. 1 (1910):[http://dloc.com/UF00075409/00001/28j?search=caribbeana 12-17], [http://dloc.com/UF00075409/00001/76j?search=caribbeana 59-62], [http://dloc.com/UF00075409/00001/138j?search=caribbeana 118-123]. Digitised by [http://www.dloc.com/ dLOC] - free. Includes marriages from St. Andrew and St. Catherine parishes.
*Fothergill, Gerald. '''''A List of Emigrant Ministers to America, 1690-1811'''''. London: E. Stock, 1904. Digital versions at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4760 Ancestry] ($); [http://books.google.com/books?id=lVgEAAAAIAAJ Google Books]; [https://www.archive.org/details/listofemigrantmi00fothuoft Internet Archive], 1965 reprint: {{FSC|283621|item|disp=FS Library Book 973 W2f 1965}}. Addendum published in ''Caribbeana'', Vol. 3 (1914):312-313. Digital version at [http://dloc.com/UF00075409/00003/336j?search=caribbeana dLOC] - free.<br>
*[http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/fass/projects/caribbean/ministers,%20working.pdf '''Anglican servants in the Caribbean''', c.1610-c.1740]. University of Lancaster. Identifies Anglican clergymen and career information.
*'''1590-1928''' {{RecordSearch|1804229|Caribbean Births and Baptisms, 1590-1928}} at FamilySearch - [[Caribbean Births and Baptisms - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''Also at [https://www.americanancestors.org/search/databasesearch/1576/caribbean-births-and-baptisms-1590-1928 American Ancestors] ($), [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30247/caribbean-births-baptisms-1590-1928?s=275764761 MyHeritage]'' ($)
*'''1591-1905''' {{RecordSearch|1805647|Caribbean Marriages, 1591-1905}} at FamilySearch - [[Caribbean Marriages - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index; ''also at [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/caribbean-marriage-index-1591-1905 Findmypast] ($)''
*'''1752-1920''' [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30101/jamaica-births-baptisms-1752-1920 Jamaica Births and Baptisms, 1752-1920] at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
*'''1790-1906''' {{RecordSearch|1809321|Caribbean Deaths and Burials, 1790-1906}} at FamilySearch - [[Caribbean Deaths and Burials - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
*'''1795-1799''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-1#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-2105%2C-178%2C6207%2C3553 Burials, 1795-1799] at British Library - images
*'''1795-1823''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-6#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-1975%2C-153%2C5322%2C3046 Baptisms, Marriages & Deaths 1795-1823] at British Library - images
*'''1798-1904''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-2#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-2043%2C-171%2C5962%2C3413 Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths 1798-1804] at British Library - images
*'''1800-1814''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-3#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-2240%2C-178%2C6183%2C3540 Baptisms 1800-1814] at British Library - images
*'''1804-1807''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-4#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-2068%2C-175%2C6090%2C3486 Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, and Deaths 1804-1807] at British Library - images
*'''1832-1836''' [https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP148-2-5#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-2004%2C-171%2C5962%2C3413 Baptisms 1832-1836] at British Library - images


Up to the year 1824, each parish had a separate book with baptisms, marriages and burials. In 1824 the Diocese of Jamaica was established. The system of recording changed. Many parishes are in the same volume, therefore an the same film, but there were separate volumes for vital events”. It is advisable to look up the index volumes (there may be several) under each event list for your surname. The names are alphabetically divided but have to be searched under a given letter.
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-births-and-baptisms '''British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms'''], index & images ($)
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-banns-and-marriages '''British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages''',], index & images ($)
*[http://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/british-armed-forces-and-overseas-deaths-and-burials '''British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials'''], index & images ($)
<br>


After the year, page and volume are found, a search in the Family History Library catalog will provide the film with the actual entry. (Note: In church records, christenings and burials are listed rather than births and deaths.) In Jamaica burials will be most likely close to death dates. Christenings, however, could be years apart from the actual birth, especially if a family had daughters only and then a son.  It could well be that the sisters were christened together with their brother.
==Historical Background==
*Religion in Jamaica, according to the most recent census (2001), consists of a breakdown of 66% Christian (62% Protestant, 2% '''Roman Catholic''', and 2% '''Jehovah's Witnesses'''), 3% unstated, and 10% other.


Law 6 registers are government registers from 1866 to civil registration times. They have
*62% of the Jamaican population are Protestants. Jamaican Protestantism is composed of several denominations: 24% '''Church of God''', 11% '''Seventh-day Adventist''', 10% '''Pentecostal''', 7% '''Baptist''', 4% '''Anglican''', 2% '''United Church''', 2% '''Methodist''', 1% '''Moravian''' and 1% '''Brethren Christian'''. The Church of God has 111 congregations in six regions.
Indexes as well. Look at the indexes first to determine the correct records. Law 6 registers are found under Jamaica/Church records.


[[Category: Jamaica]]
*There are about 50,000 (2%) Catholics in Jamaica.
 
*Anglicanism was introduced by the British in 1664. In 1824, the Diocese of Jamaica, which also included Belize and the Bahamas, was established.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Jamaica", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref><ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Jamaica", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref><br>
 
==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:
{|
|-
|style="width:25%; padding-right:10px"|
*baptism date
*the infant's name
*parents' names
*father's occupation
|style="width:38%; padding-right:10px"|
*status of legitimacy
*occasionally, names of grandparents
*names of witnesses or godparents, who may be relatives
|style="width:34%"|
*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:
{|
|-
|style="width:33%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*the marriage date
*the names of the bride and groom
*indicate whether the bride and groom were single or widowed
*their ages
|style="width:27%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*birth dates and places for the bride and groom
*their residences
*their occupations
|style="width:40%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*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:
{|
|-
|style="width:35%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*the name of the deceased
*the date and place of death or burial
*the deceased's age
*place of residence
|style="width:40%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
*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
|style="width:25%; padding-right:10px; vertical-align:top"|
|}
<br>
<br>
 
==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 [https://www.familysearch.org/help/fhcenters/locations/ '''FamilySearch Center'''] near you, and/or by members of supporting organizations.  To find records:
:::a. Click on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927006&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Jamaica%22 '''records of Jamaica'''].
:::b. Click on '''Places within Jamaica''' 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. [[File:FHL icons.png|75px]].  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===
<span style="color:darkviolet"> 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|'''Letter Writing Guide for Genealogy''']] for help with composing letters.</span>
<br>
<br>
=='''Anglican Church Records'''==
The official religion in Jamaica is Church of England with records beginning as early as 1664. The records are cataloged by parish (see Jamaica/Jurisdictions).
===Online Resources===
*'''1664-1880''': {{RecordSearch|1827268|Jamaica Church of England Parish Register Transcripts}} at FamilySearch; index & images; ''Also at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9999 Ancestry]'' ($); ''Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30261/jamaica-church-of-england-parish-register-transcripts-1664-1880?s=218489221 MyHeritage]'' ($)
*'''1752-1920''': [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9909 Jamaica Select Births and Baptisms] at Ancestry - index only ($); ''Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-30101/jamaica-births-baptisms-1752-1920?s=218489221 MyHeritage]'' ($)
 
=== Jamaica Parishes  ===
{|
|-
|style="vertical-align:top"|
'''Cornwall County'''
 
*[[Hanover Parish, Jamaica|Hanover Parish]]
*[[Saint Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica|Saint Elizabeth Parish]]
*[[Saint James Parish, Jamaica|Saint James Parish]]
*[[Trelawney Parish, Jamaica|Trelawney Parish]]
*[[Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica|Westmoreland Parish]]
|style="vertical-align:top"|
'''Middlesex County'''
 
*[[Clarendon Parish, Jamaica|Clarendon Parish]]
*[[Manchester Parish, Jamaica|Manchester Parish]]
*[[Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica|Saint Ann Parish]]
*[[Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica|Saint Catherine Parish]]
*[[Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica|Saint Mary Parish]]
|style="vertical-align:top"|
'''Surrey County'''
 
*[[Kingston Parish, Jamaica|Kingston Parish]]
*[[Portland Parish, Jamaica|Portland Parish]]
*[[Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica|Saint Andrew Parish]]
*[[Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica|Saint Thomas Parish]]
|style="vertical-align:top"|
'''Additional Parishes'''
 
*[[Metcalfe Parish, Jamaica|Metcalfe Parish]]
*[[Port Royal Parish, Jamaica|Port Royal Parish]]
*[[Saint David Parish, Jamaica|Saint David Parish]]
*[[Saint Dorothy Parish, Jamaica|Saint Dorothy Parish]]
*[[Saint George Parish, Jamaica|Saint George Parish]]
*[[Saint John Parish, Jamaica|Saint John Parish]]
*[[Saint Thomas ye Vale Parish, Jamaica|Saint Thomas ye Vale Parish]]
*[[Vere Parish, Jamaica|Vere Parish]]
|}
===Enslaved Persons===
See the article [[Jamaica_Slavery#Church_Records_of_Enslaved_Persons|Jamaica Slavery]] for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.
===Historical Background===
Anglicanism was introduced by the British in 1664. The first church was built on the spot of the Spanish Church of the Red Cross in Spanish Town, and is the oldest Anglican cathedral outside of the British Isles and the oldest place of continuous worship in the western hemisphere. By the early nineteenth century, abolitionism had propelled other denominations to the forefront, and threatened the established Anglican church. Thus, in 1824, the Diocese of Jamaica, which also included Belize and the Bahamas, was established. In 1861, the Bahamas became a separate diocese, and, in 1891, the same happened to Belize. During the 1960s, the Cayman Islands were added, and, in 2001, the diocese was renamed the Diocese of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands. Today, the diocese is part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Jamaica_and_the_Cayman_Islands, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref><br>
 
=='''Baptist Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/Baptist+Church+in+Jamaica/@18.1864339,-77.9131238,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Baptist churches in Jamaica''']
===Historical Background===
Jamaica Baptist Union is a Baptist Christian denomination, affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, in Jamaica. The headquarters is in Kingston, Jamaica. The Baptist Union of Jamaica dates back to 1782 when George Liele, a former freed slave from Atlanta in Georgia, came to Jamaica and began preaching in Kingston. In 1814, the BMS World Mission, a British organization, sent its first missionary to the island to open a school in Falmouth in the Trelawny Parish, for the children of slaves. The ministry continued to grow and expand during British colonization. After emancipation, Baptists contributed to the creation of "free villages" for the new emancipated people. This included the purchase of large parcels of land cut into small holdings, which were sold to families. The villages also included a school and a Baptist church. The Baptists also created, in 1843, the Calabar Theological College for training ministers for local preaching and missions in Africa and the Caribbean, which became the United Theological College of the West Indies in 1966. In 1849, the Jamaica Baptist Union was officially founded. In 2016, it has 337 churches and 40,000 members.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Jamaica Baptist Union", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Baptist_Union, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref>
=='''Brethren Christian Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[http://www.cbajamaica.org/contact.html?menu=contact '''Address List''']
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/Brethren+Christian+Church+in+Jamaica/@18.1874182,-77.9158887,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Brethren Christian churches in Jamaica''']
 
== '''Catholic Church Records''' ==
[[File:Dioceses of the Catholic Church in the Caribbean.png|500px|thumb|right|<center>Catholic Church in the Caribbean (including the two Dioceses & the Archdiocese for Jamaica)</center>]]
*[http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/Catholic.htm Records from the Roman Catholic Archives, Kingston] at Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
===Enslaved Persons===
See the article [[Jamaica_Slavery#Church_Records_of_Enslaved_Persons|Jamaica Slavery]] for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.
===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:
*[https://www.catholicdirectory.com/search_results?q=&location_value=Jamaica&country_sn=JM&location_type=country&stateSearch=&swlat=17.6688854&nelat=18.5697821&swlng=-78.4073639&nelng=-76.1448669&lat=18.109581&lng=-77.297508&faddress=Jamaica&place_id=ChIJnXHPxhsq2o4R-g4StcDRoFk#/ '''The Catholic Directory: Jamaica''']
 
=== Historical Background ===
*There are about 50,000 (2%) Catholics in Jamaica, which is divided into three dioceses, including one archdiocese:
**Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
**Roman Catholic Diocese of Mandeville
**Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay
**The Missionaries of the Poor monastic order originated in Kingston, Jamaica.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Jamaica", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref><ref> Wikipedia contributors, "Catholic Church in Jamaica", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020. </ref>
 
=='''Church of God Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
 
*[https://churchesofgod.info/location-category/jamaica/ '''Church Directory''']
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/Church+of+God+in+Jamaica/@18.1893866,-77.9214187,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Church of God churches in Jamaica''']
=='''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records'''==
===Online Records===
Online information is available to current members,  for deceased members and immediate family members who are still living. [https://www.familysearch.org/en/ '''Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.''']
 
===Historical Background===
The first missionary of the Church came to Jamaica in 1841, but his stay was brief. In 1853, missionaries were again sent to Jamaica. They found a great deal of antagonism and stayed only six weeks.Latter-day Saint families of John L. Whitefields and Jay P. Bills, came to Jamaica in the late 1960s and began holding meetings in Mandeville. The Mandeville Branch (a small congregation) was created 22 March 1970. Full-time missionaries began teaching again in Jamaica in November 1978. By 1983, membership had increased to 300. Jamaica became part of the new West Indies Mission created in 1983. In November of that year ground was broken for a chapel in Kingston. <br>
Total Church Membership: 6,542. Congregations: 18.<ref> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Facts and Statistics: Jamaica, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.</ref>
 
 
=='''Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/jehovah's+witnesses+in+Jamaica/@18.1903707,-77.9241836,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Jehovah's Witnesses churches in Jamaica''']
=='''Methodist Church Records'''==
*[http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples2/Methodist.htm Wesleyan Methodist Registers, Jamaica] at Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library
===Enslaved Persons===
See the article [[Jamaica_Slavery#Church_Records_of_Enslaved_Persons|Jamaica Slavery]] for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/methodist+in+Jamaica/@18.1913547,-77.9269486,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Methodist churches in Jamaica''']
===Historical Background===
For a detailed history, see [http://www.jamaicamethodist.org/history-of-church/ '''History of Church, Methodist Jamaica District''']
 
=='''Moravian Church Records'''==
===Enslaved Persons===
See the article [[Jamaica_Slavery#Church_Records_of_Enslaved_Persons|Jamaica Slavery]] for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/moravian+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1982401,-77.9463033,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Moravian churches in Jamaica''']
===Historical Background===
For a detailed history, see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Province_of_the_Moravian_Church '''Jamaica Province of the Moravian Church''']
 
=='''Pentecostal Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/pentecostal+in+Jamaica/@18.1923386,-77.9297135,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Pentecostal churches in Jamaica''']
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/evangelical+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1933224,-77.9324785,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Evangelical churches in Jamaica''']
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/assembly+of+god+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1943061,-77.9352435,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Assembly of God churches in Jamaica''']
=='''Presbyterian Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/presbyterian+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1952898,-77.9380084,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Presbyterian churches in Jamaica''']
===Historical Background===
The Presbyterian Church of Jamaica was organized in 1823 by the Scottish Missionary Society. <ref>"1900 Handbook of Jamaica", http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/handbk10.htm, accessed 13 May 2020. </ref><br>
 
=='''Seventh-day Adventist Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[http://www.adventistdirectory.org/default.aspx?&&&&&&&&&&page=searchresults&CtryCode=JM&EntityType=CCH&PageIndex=11 '''SDA Directory''']
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/adventist+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1962733,-77.9407734,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for Seventh-day Adventist churches in Jamaica''']
 
=='''United Church Records'''==
===Writing for Records===
*[https://www.google.com/maps/search/united+church+in+Jamaica/@18.1972567,-77.9435384,9z/data=!3m1!4b1 '''Google Maps search results for United Church churches in Jamaica''']
===Historical Background===
The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands is a united church formed on 1 December 1965 as the "United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman" by bringing the Protestant denominations "Presbyterian Church in Jamaica" and "Congregational Union of Jamaica" together. The "Disciples of Christ in Jamaica" joined on 13 December 1992, at which time the current name was adopted. All started in 1800 when the Scottish Missionary Society established the Presbyterian denomination in Jamaica. In 1848 the first Synod was held. Congregational churches were formed by the assistance of the London Missionary Society from 1834. Later the Colonial Missionary Socirty take over the congregational work. The Congregational Union of Jamaica was formed in 1877. The Disciples of Christ (United States) started mission in 1839. Between 1870 and 1950 over 30 congregations were established. It became independent in the 1950s. Since the United Church was established, it has represented a strong presence of the Reformed faith in Jamaica.<ref> Wikipedia contributors, "United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands", in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia,'' https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_in_Jamaica_and_the_Cayman_Islands, accessed 27 March 2020. </ref>
 
 
== References  ==
<references/>
 
[[Category:Jamaica]][[Category:Church Records]]

Latest revision as of 17:58, 21 May 2024


Jamaica Wiki Topics
Flag of Jamaica
Jamaica Beginning Research
Record Types
Jamaica Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

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


Online Resources and Websites


Historical Background

  • Religion in Jamaica, according to the most recent census (2001), consists of a breakdown of 66% Christian (62% Protestant, 2% Roman Catholic, and 2% Jehovah's Witnesses), 3% unstated, and 10% other.
  • 62% of the Jamaican population are Protestants. Jamaican Protestantism is composed of several denominations: 24% Church of God, 11% Seventh-day Adventist, 10% Pentecostal, 7% Baptist, 4% Anglican, 2% United Church, 2% Methodist, 1% Moravian and 1% Brethren Christian. The Church of God has 111 congregations in six regions.
  • There are about 50,000 (2%) Catholics in Jamaica.
  • Anglicanism was introduced by the British in 1664. In 1824, the Diocese of Jamaica, which also included Belize and the Bahamas, was established.[1][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 Jamaica.
b. Click on Places within Jamaica 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 Church Records

The official religion in Jamaica is Church of England with records beginning as early as 1664. The records are cataloged by parish (see Jamaica/Jurisdictions).

Online Resources

Jamaica Parishes

Cornwall County

Middlesex County

Surrey County

Additional Parishes

Enslaved Persons

See the article Jamaica Slavery for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.

Historical Background

Anglicanism was introduced by the British in 1664. The first church was built on the spot of the Spanish Church of the Red Cross in Spanish Town, and is the oldest Anglican cathedral outside of the British Isles and the oldest place of continuous worship in the western hemisphere. By the early nineteenth century, abolitionism had propelled other denominations to the forefront, and threatened the established Anglican church. Thus, in 1824, the Diocese of Jamaica, which also included Belize and the Bahamas, was established. In 1861, the Bahamas became a separate diocese, and, in 1891, the same happened to Belize. During the 1960s, the Cayman Islands were added, and, in 2001, the diocese was renamed the Diocese of Jamaica & the Cayman Islands. Today, the diocese is part of the Church in the Province of the West Indies.[3]

Baptist Church Records

Writing for Records

Historical Background

Jamaica Baptist Union is a Baptist Christian denomination, affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, in Jamaica. The headquarters is in Kingston, Jamaica. The Baptist Union of Jamaica dates back to 1782 when George Liele, a former freed slave from Atlanta in Georgia, came to Jamaica and began preaching in Kingston. In 1814, the BMS World Mission, a British organization, sent its first missionary to the island to open a school in Falmouth in the Trelawny Parish, for the children of slaves. The ministry continued to grow and expand during British colonization. After emancipation, Baptists contributed to the creation of "free villages" for the new emancipated people. This included the purchase of large parcels of land cut into small holdings, which were sold to families. The villages also included a school and a Baptist church. The Baptists also created, in 1843, the Calabar Theological College for training ministers for local preaching and missions in Africa and the Caribbean, which became the United Theological College of the West Indies in 1966. In 1849, the Jamaica Baptist Union was officially founded. In 2016, it has 337 churches and 40,000 members.[4]

Brethren Christian Church Records

Writing for Records

Catholic Church Records

Catholic Church in the Caribbean (including the two Dioceses & the Archdiocese for Jamaica)

Enslaved Persons

See the article Jamaica Slavery for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.

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:

Historical Background

  • There are about 50,000 (2%) Catholics in Jamaica, which is divided into three dioceses, including one archdiocese:
    • Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kingston in Jamaica
    • Roman Catholic Diocese of Mandeville
    • Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay
    • The Missionaries of the Poor monastic order originated in Kingston, Jamaica.[5][6]

Church of God Records

Writing for Records

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Records

Online Records

Online information is available to current members, for deceased members and immediate family members who are still living. Sign in to FamilySearch and then select Family Tree in the drop-down menu.

Historical Background

The first missionary of the Church came to Jamaica in 1841, but his stay was brief. In 1853, missionaries were again sent to Jamaica. They found a great deal of antagonism and stayed only six weeks.Latter-day Saint families of John L. Whitefields and Jay P. Bills, came to Jamaica in the late 1960s and began holding meetings in Mandeville. The Mandeville Branch (a small congregation) was created 22 March 1970. Full-time missionaries began teaching again in Jamaica in November 1978. By 1983, membership had increased to 300. Jamaica became part of the new West Indies Mission created in 1983. In November of that year ground was broken for a chapel in Kingston.
Total Church Membership: 6,542. Congregations: 18.[7]


Jehovah's Witnesses Church Records

Writing for Records

Methodist Church Records

Enslaved Persons

See the article Jamaica Slavery for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.

Writing for Records

Historical Background

For a detailed history, see History of Church, Methodist Jamaica District

Moravian Church Records

Enslaved Persons

See the article Jamaica Slavery for church records of enslaved persons in Jamaica.

Writing for Records

Historical Background

For a detailed history, see Jamaica Province of the Moravian Church

Pentecostal Church Records

Writing for Records

Presbyterian Church Records

Writing for Records

Historical Background

The Presbyterian Church of Jamaica was organized in 1823 by the Scottish Missionary Society. [8]

Seventh-day Adventist Church Records

Writing for Records

United Church Records

Writing for Records

Historical Background

The United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands is a united church formed on 1 December 1965 as the "United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman" by bringing the Protestant denominations "Presbyterian Church in Jamaica" and "Congregational Union of Jamaica" together. The "Disciples of Christ in Jamaica" joined on 13 December 1992, at which time the current name was adopted. All started in 1800 when the Scottish Missionary Society established the Presbyterian denomination in Jamaica. In 1848 the first Synod was held. Congregational churches were formed by the assistance of the London Missionary Society from 1834. Later the Colonial Missionary Socirty take over the congregational work. The Congregational Union of Jamaica was formed in 1877. The Disciples of Christ (United States) started mission in 1839. Between 1870 and 1950 over 30 congregations were established. It became independent in the 1950s. Since the United Church was established, it has represented a strong presence of the Reformed faith in Jamaica.[9]


References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jamaica", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Jamaica", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Diocese of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Jamaica_and_the_Cayman_Islands, accessed 26 March 2020.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jamaica Baptist Union", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Baptist_Union, accessed 26 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Religion in Jamaica", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Catholic Church in Jamaica", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_in_Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.
  7. ↑ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Facts and Statistics: Jamaica, https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/facts-and-statistics/country/Jamaica, accessed 26 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "1900 Handbook of Jamaica", http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Samples/handbk10.htm, accessed 13 May 2020.
  9. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands", in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_in_Jamaica_and_the_Cayman_Islands, accessed 27 March 2020.
Retrieved from "https://integration-ru.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Jamaica_Church_Records&oldid=5751069"