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Since the legibility of the early records varies and since some years may be missing in the Bishop’s Transcript copy of the parish registers, many researchers prefer to use the microfilms of both the original parish registers and of the Bishop’s Transcript copy of these records, if both are available. | Since the legibility of the early records varies and since some years may be missing in the Bishop’s Transcript copy of the parish registers, many researchers prefer to use the microfilms of both the original parish registers and of the Bishop’s Transcript copy of these records, if both are available. | ||
'''Parish. '''Each local parish keeps records. A | '''Parish. '''Each local parish keeps records. A ''parish'' is the jurisdictional unit that governs church affairs within its boundaries. Small villages often do not have their own parishes but are part of a parish headquartered in another town. A parish may have one or more "chapelries" (dependent district churches or chapels of ease), which often keep their own records. | ||
'''Chapelry.''' A small parochial division of a large, populated parish. Most chapels or chapelries kept their own registers of baptisms and burials, and where authorization was granted, marriage registers were also kept. Many parishes throughout Lancashire, Cheshire, and several other counties comprised of numerous chapelries, i.e. Prestbury, Cheshire--some of them of ancient origin with 32 chapels. | '''Chapelry.''' A small parochial division of a large, populated parish. Most chapels or chapelries kept their own registers of baptisms and burials, and where authorization was granted, marriage registers were also kept. Many parishes throughout Lancashire, Cheshire, and several other counties comprised of numerous chapelries, i.e. Prestbury, Cheshire--some of them of ancient origin with 32 chapels. | ||
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Parish registers often record only the marriage date and the names of the bride and groom. The records may also include the marital status and the parish of residence of both parties, the groom’s occupation, signatures of witnesses, and the minister’s name especially after 1754. | Parish registers often record only the marriage date and the names of the bride and groom. The records may also include the marital status and the parish of residence of both parties, the groom’s occupation, signatures of witnesses, and the minister’s name especially after 1754. | ||
Starting 1 July 1837 | Starting 1 July 1837, the beginning of government registration, all parishes were required to use a new form. This form called for the bride and groom’s ages, residences, and occupations and the names and occupations of their fathers. | ||
Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their 20s. | Couples usually married in the bride’s parish. Typically, the English married in their 20s. | ||
You may find records that show a couple’s | You may find records that show a couple’s ''intent to marry'' in addition to the records of the actual marriage. Sometimes, however, the couple registered their intent to marry but never married. | ||
There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry. | There were two ways to meet the requirements to marry. | ||
'''By Banns.'''A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754 officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date. | '''By Banns. '''A law required couples to have the minister announce or post notice of their intent to marry for three consecutive Sundays unless they obtained a license. This gave others the opportunity to object to the marriage. Beginning in 1754 officials recorded banns in separate registers. Banns registers contain information almost identical to marriage registers, but banns usually do not list the witnesses or marriage date. '''Note:''' Be aware that banns were only an intent to marry. The posting of banns doesn’t mean that a marriage took place after the reading of the banns.<br> | ||
If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of it, search the banns register (if available). The banns should have been recorded in both the bride’s and the groom’s parish. The marriage is usually recorded only in the parish where it took place. For banns registers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of it, search the banns register (if available). The banns should have been recorded in both the bride’s and the groom’s parish. The marriage is usually recorded only in the parish where it took place. For banns registers, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records | |||
'''By License.''' A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when: | |||
'''By License.'''A couple applied to the proper church authority, usually the bishop, for a license when: | |||
*Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns. | *Circumstances made it desirable to marry without waiting the three weeks required for the proclamation of banns. | ||
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Marriage licenses could be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, and archdeacons, or their surrogates within their respective jurisdictions. The licensing process created three types of documents, which may provide additional information to what the marriage record itself contains: | Marriage licenses could be granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, bishops, and archdeacons, or their surrogates within their respective jurisdictions. The licensing process created three types of documents, which may provide additional information to what the marriage record itself contains: | ||
'''Marriage bond.'''A written guarantee made by the groom and another person swearing to the legality of the planned marriage. The bond usually lists occupations. | '''Marriage bond.''' A written guarantee made by the groom and another person swearing to the legality of the planned marriage. The bond usually lists occupations. | ||
'''Marriage allegation.'''A statement filed by the couple in support of their license application. It records the couple’s names, ages, and parish of residence. The allegation sometimes lists where the marriage was to take place or gives a parent’s name or signature. | '''Marriage allegation.''' A statement filed by the couple in support of their license application. It records the couple’s names, ages, and parish of residence. The allegation sometimes lists where the marriage was to take place or gives a parent’s name or signature. | ||
'''Marriage license.'''The actual document given to the couple to present to the minister. This document seldom survives but is sometimes found in family papers. | '''Marriage license.'''The actual document given to the couple to present to the minister. This document seldom survives but is sometimes found in family papers. | ||
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Many license records are in county record offices. The Family History Library also has a good collection, usually listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | Many license records are in county record offices. The Family History Library also has a good collection, usually listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name] - Church records<br> | |||
=== Indexes to marriages. === | === Indexes to marriages. === | ||
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''A List of Parishes in Boyd’s Marriage Index''. London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1994. (FHL book 942 K22l 1994.) | ''A List of Parishes in Boyd’s Marriage Index''. London, England: Society of Genealogists, 1994. (FHL book 942 K22l 1994.) | ||
Some county record offices and other repositories have indexes to church records, some of which are on film at the Family History Library | Some county record offices and other repositories have indexes to church records, some of which are on film at the Family History Library. Read the [[England Archives and Libraries|<u>Archives and Libraries</u>]] article for additional information, including addresses. | ||
Privately held marriage indexes for most counties are available by correspondence at either of the following two sources. Many indexes are listed with the addresses of where to write in: | Privately held marriage indexes for most counties are available by correspondence at either of the following two sources. Many indexes are listed with the addresses of where to write in: | ||
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A few marriage indexes are on film at the Family History Library; look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | A few marriage indexes are on film at the Family History Library; look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name] - Church records - Indexes | |||
=== Burials === | === Burials === | ||
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Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | Many bishop’s transcripts are on film at the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name], [parish name] - Church records<br> | |||
Most films contain all the years for one parish on one film. However, some are arranged by deanery and year. Those arranged by year and then by deanery are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | Most films contain all the years for one parish on one film. However, some are arranged by deanery and year. Those arranged by year and then by deanery are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name] - Church records | |||
=== Indexes to Church Records === | === Indexes to Church Records === | ||
The International Genealogical Index (see the | The International Genealogical Index (see the [[England Genealogy|Genealogy]] article) is the most comprehensive surname index of English parish registers. Other indexes to parish registers exist. Many of these indexes have been published by family history societies in England. Read more in the [[England Societies|Societies]] article. | ||
To see what indexes to parish registers are available at the Family History Library, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | To see what indexes to parish registers are available at the Family History Library, look in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
England, [county name] - Church records - Indexes | |||
=== Parish Chest Records === | === Parish Chest Records === | ||
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Many parish chest records are available at county record offices. Parish chest records include: | Many parish chest records are available at county record offices. Parish chest records include: | ||
'''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). | '''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). | ||
'''Poor and Other Rates.'''Parishes recorded payments made to the poor and rates, or taxes, assessed to meet welfare needs. Parishes also charged rates for things such 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. | '''Poor and Other Rates.''' Parishes recorded payments made to the poor and rates, or taxes, assessed to meet welfare needs. Parishes also charged rates for things such 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.'''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’s care. A "bond of indemnification," also known as a "bastardy bond," was the father’s guarantee of responsibility for the child. Bastardy bonds or records of the mother’s examination may still exist in the parish chest records or among quarter session records. | '''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’s care. A "bond of indemnification," also known as a "bastardy bond," was the father’s guarantee of responsibility for the child. Bastardy bonds or records of the mother’s examination may still exist in the parish chest records or among quarter session records. Read the [[England Court Records|Court Records]] article for additional information. Churchwardens (church officials) sometimes bypassed the bond with a gentlemen’s 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 magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behaviour. They were to report misbehaviour of the vicar or other vestry members as well. Churchwarden records often list men qualified to serve as churchwardens. | '''Churchwardens Accounts.''' Churchwardens, generally appointed at the Easter vestry meetings, were responsible to the bishop or magistrate to present any wrongdoings at quarter sessions, including failure to provide for the poor, failure to attend church, drunkenness, or other undesirable behaviour. They were to report misbehaviour of the vicar or other vestry members as well. Churchwarden records often list men qualified to serve as churchwardens. | ||
'''Settlement and Removal Records.'''Settlement records relate to a person’s legal place of settlement, as determined by a set of rules. The parish of settlement was responsible for the welfare and old-age care of family members. Parish officials often aggressively denied settlement. When a family sought parish welfare, officials determined the family’s legal settlement. A "removal order" was a document directing the constable to transport the family back to their parish of settlement. | '''Settlement and Removal Records.'''Settlement records relate to a person’s legal place of settlement, as determined by a set of rules. The parish of settlement was responsible for the welfare and old-age care of family members. Parish officials often aggressively denied settlement. When a family sought parish welfare, officials determined the family’s legal settlement. A "removal order" was a document directing the constable to transport the family back to their parish of settlement. | ||
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Most synagogues have retained their own records. For historical information, contact: | Most synagogues have retained their own records. For historical information, contact: | ||
'''[[ | '''[[Www.jhse.org|Jewish Historical Society]] '''''c/o Mocatta Library'' University College, Gower Street London WC1E 6BT England | ||
Isabel Mordy collected and indexed a group of English Jewish records. This is now available in the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | Isabel Mordy collected and indexed a group of English Jewish records. This is now available in the Family History Library, listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalogue under: | ||
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If your request is not answered, write to the local family history society and ask if one of their members would do the search for you. See the "[[England Societies|<u>Societies</u>]]" article in the Wiki. | If your request is not answered, write to the local family history society and ask if one of their members would do the search for you. See the "[[England Societies|<u>Societies</u>]]" article in the Wiki. | ||
Another way to access some church records and indexes is through the Internet. On the Internet there are lists of people who volunteer to search various types of records for certain areas free of charge. You can locate these lists through the [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/ GENUKI]. On this site, <br> | Another way to access some church records and indexes is through the Internet. On the Internet there are lists of people who volunteer to search various types of records for certain areas free of charge. You can locate these lists through the [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/ GENUKI]. On this site, <br> | ||
<br> | |||
#Click the county of your choice. | #Click the county of your choice. | ||
#Click the topic Genealogy.<br> | #Click the topic Genealogy.<br> | ||
#Click Look-up Exchange. | #Click Look-up Exchange. | ||
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*Note gaps or missing pages in the record. This may suggest that you should search alternative records for that time period. | *Note gaps or missing pages in the record. This may suggest that you should search alternative records for that time period. | ||
*If the church records do not contain enough information, search for hints (residence, occupation, and so on) that suggest other records to search. | *If the church records do not contain enough information, search for hints (residence, occupation, and so on) that suggest other records to search. | ||
*If you find little or no mention of your family in Church of England parish records, search neighbouring parishes and nonconformist records.<br> | *If you find little or no mention of your family in Church of England parish records, search neighbouring parishes and nonconformist records.<br> | ||
*Search both Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts, as either may contain entries missing from the other. | *Search both Church of England parish registers and bishops’ transcripts, as either may contain entries missing from the other. | ||
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<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The Church’s Family History Library has been providing classes to patrons for many years. In the past, a patron would have to travel to the Library to take advantage of these classes, but no longer. The Library will begin testing different methods of exporting these classes to patrons who reside outside of the Salt Lake City area. The first method to be tested is a set of five lessons in a classroom setting in a video format. These lessons are now available on [http://www.familysearch.org/ www.familysearch.org] and cover the basics of getting started with family history research in England. Go to FamilySearch and select Education under the Family History Library menu. The five lessons are called:</span> | <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The Church’s Family History Library has been providing classes to patrons for many years. In the past, a patron would have to travel to the Library to take advantage of these classes, but no longer. The Library will begin testing different methods of exporting these classes to patrons who reside outside of the Salt Lake City area. The first method to be tested is a set of five lessons in a classroom setting in a video format. These lessons are now available on [http://www.familysearch.org/ www.familysearch.org] and cover the basics of getting started with family history research in England. Go to FamilySearch and select Education under the Family History Library menu. The five lessons are called:</span> | ||
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span>'''<span | <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"></span>'''<span style="font-family: Arial;" class="Apple-style-span">[http://www.familysearch.org/eng/Library/Education/frameset_education.asp?PAGE=education_research_series_online.asp%3FActiveTab=2 Family History Research Series Online]</span>''' | ||
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Research Overview</span> | <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Lesson 1: Research Overview</span> | ||