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France Church Records: Difference between revisions
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Church records are crucial for pre-1792 research in France. Since civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until 1792, church records are often the only sources of family information before this date. After 1792 Church records continued to be kept, but such records were usually not filmed because they are incomplete and less accurate than the civil registers. | Church records are crucial for pre-1792 research in France. Since civil authorities did not begin registering vital statistics until 1792, church records are often the only sources of family information before this date. After 1792 Church records continued to be kept, but such records were usually not filmed because they are incomplete and less accurate than the civil registers. | ||
For birth, death, and marriage records after 1792, see | For birth, death, and marriage records after 1792, see [[France Civil Registration- Vital Records]]. | ||
=== General Historical Background === | === General Historical Background === | ||
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=== Differences in Record Keeping by Various Churches === | === Differences in Record Keeping by Various Churches === | ||
The manner of keeping church records differed somewhat depending on the religion. For more information on the churches of France, see | The manner of keeping church records differed somewhat depending on the religion. For more information on the churches of France, see [[France Church History]]. | ||
'''Roman Catholic'''. The Catholic churches in France were among the first to keep vital records. The Council of Trent in 1563 issued the first mandate that Roman Catholic parishes keep records of christenings. A later directive in 1579 required the keeping of marriage and death records. The churches in France did not always comply with this regulation. Many Catholic registers date from the mid-1600s, but a few date back to the 1500s. However, there are some earlier records, such as the parish registers of Givry (Saône-et-Loire) which go from 1334 to 1357 and the records of Roz Landrieux (Ille-et-Villaine) from 1451 to 1528. Records were kept in French or Latin. | '''Roman Catholic'''. The Catholic churches in France were among the first to keep vital records. The Council of Trent in 1563 issued the first mandate that Roman Catholic parishes keep records of christenings. A later directive in 1579 required the keeping of marriage and death records. The churches in France did not always comply with this regulation. Many Catholic registers date from the mid-1600s, but a few date back to the 1500s. However, there are some earlier records, such as the parish registers of Givry (Saône-et-Loire) which go from 1334 to 1357 and the records of Roz Landrieux (Ille-et-Villaine) from 1451 to 1528. Records were kept in French or Latin. | ||
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Bibliothèque Wallonne (Leiden). ''Fiches op de registers, collectie Montauban, 1647- 1682 (Card index of Huguenots of Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne, France, 1647-1682)''. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950. (Family History Library film 199,957-62.) Text in French. Alphabetical by name. Shows dates and places of births, marriages, deaths, and migrations. | Bibliothèque Wallonne (Leiden). ''Fiches op de registers, collectie Montauban, 1647- 1682 (Card index of Huguenots of Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne, France, 1647-1682)''. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950. (Family History Library film 199,957-62.) Text in French. Alphabetical by name. Shows dates and places of births, marriages, deaths, and migrations. | ||
Bibliothèque Wallonne (Leiden). ''Fiches op de registers, collectie La Rochelle, 1602- 1685. (Card index of Huguenots of La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France, 1602-1685)''. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950. (Family History Library film 199,954-56.) Text in French. Alphabetical by name. Shows dates and places of births, marriages, deaths, and migrations. | Bibliothèque Wallonne (Leiden). ''Fiches op de registers, collectie La Rochelle, 1602- 1685. (Card index of Huguenots of La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France, 1602-1685)''. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1950. (Family History Library film 199,954-56.) Text in French. Alphabetical by name. Shows dates and places of births, marriages, deaths, and migrations. | ||
=== Parish Register Inventory === | === Parish Register Inventory === | ||
France. Archives nationales. ''Les familles Protestantes en France (XVIe siècle-1792) (French Protestant families from the 16th century to 1792)''. Paris, France: Archives Nationales, 1987. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=944+F23f 944 F23f]; not on microfilm.) Many of the parish registers mentioned in this inventory are also available on microfilms at the Family History Library. | France. Archives nationales. ''Les familles Protestantes en France (XVIe siècle-1792) (French Protestant families from the 16th century to 1792)''. Paris, France: Archives Nationales, 1987. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=944+F23f 944 F23f]; not on microfilm.) Many of the parish registers mentioned in this inventory are also available on microfilms at the Family History Library. | ||
=== Historical Periodicals === | === Historical Periodicals === | ||
''Cahiers du Centre de Généalogie Protestante'' (See | ''Cahiers du Centre de Généalogie Protestante'' (See [[France Periodicals]] .) | ||
''Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire du Protestantisme Français''(See | ''Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire du Protestantisme Français ''(See [[France Periodicals]].) | ||
''Publications of the Huguenot Society of London''. 57 Volumes. London, England: HSL, 1969-1985. (Family History Libaryr book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942.1%2FL1+B4h 942.1/L1 B4h]; most volumes have been microfilmed.) Includes many parish register transcripts from cities chiefly in Great Britain and Ireland. Text in French in some volumes. | ''Publications of the Huguenot Society of London''. 57 Volumes. London, England: HSL, 1969-1985. (Family History Libaryr book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titlehitlist&columns=*%2C0%2C0&callno=942.1%2FL1+B4h 942.1/L1 B4h]; most volumes have been microfilmed.) Includes many parish register transcripts from cities chiefly in Great Britain and Ireland. Text in French in some volumes. | ||
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Marriage registers sometimes give the dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date. These announcements, called banns, gave opportunity for anyone to come forward who knew any reasons why the couple shouldn't be married. Engagements may be recorded in the marriage register. In some cities, such as Lyon, the notary who recorded the marriage contract is sometimes mentioned. | Marriage registers sometimes give the dates on which the marriage intentions were announced in addition to the marriage date. These announcements, called banns, gave opportunity for anyone to come forward who knew any reasons why the couple shouldn't be married. Engagements may be recorded in the marriage register. In some cities, such as Lyon, the notary who recorded the marriage contract is sometimes mentioned. | ||
Many genealogical societies in France are presently indexing the marriages before 1792. See | Many genealogical societies in France are presently indexing the marriages before 1792. See [[France Societies]] for information about contacting them. | ||
'''Marriage banns [publications de mariage]'''. In addition to, or instead of the actual marriage register, some churches in France kept a separate register where marriage banns were recorded. Marriage banns do not always give the actual marriage date. However, hometown banns sometimes refer to a marriage place away from the bride's or groom's hometown. | '''Marriage banns [publications de mariage]'''. In addition to, or instead of the actual marriage register, some churches in France kept a separate register where marriage banns were recorded. Marriage banns do not always give the actual marriage date. However, hometown banns sometimes refer to a marriage place away from the bride's or groom's hometown. | ||
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=== Church Record Inventories === | === Church Record Inventories === | ||
An inventory is a list of available church records, their location, and what years they cover. Church record inventories are included in the departmental archive inventories described in | An inventory is a list of available church records, their location, and what years they cover. Church record inventories are included in the departmental archive inventories described in [[France Archives and Libraries]]. Some inventories may be out of date. | ||
=== Indexes === | === Indexes === | ||
'''Andriveau Collection'''. For a description of indexes to parish registers of 25 large French and Belgian cities, see | '''Andriveau Collection'''. For a description of indexes to parish registers of 25 large French and Belgian cities, see [[France Genealogy]]. | ||
Some Catholic church records have partial indexes in larger towns, but the church records in smaller towns usually have no indexes. | Some Catholic church records have partial indexes in larger towns, but the church records in smaller towns usually have no indexes. | ||
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''Recensement des dépouillements systématiques réalisés en France pour faciliter les recherches généalogiques (Inventory of the systematic extraction made in France to help genealogical researchers)''. Paris, France: Bibliothèque généalogique, 1988. (FHL book 944 D2r; not on microfilm.) List of where to obtain assistance and abstracts of community records. | ''Recensement des dépouillements systématiques réalisés en France pour faciliter les recherches généalogiques (Inventory of the systematic extraction made in France to help genealogical researchers)''. Paris, France: Bibliothèque généalogique, 1988. (FHL book 944 D2r; not on microfilm.) List of where to obtain assistance and abstracts of community records. | ||
Some of these societies are entering these marriage indexes on Minitel. See | Some of these societies are entering these marriage indexes on Minitel. See [[France Archives and Libraries]] for details. | ||
'''GENLOR'''. The Genealogical Society of Lorraine has created a 600,000-name computer database of pre-1792 marriages in church records. It lists all marriages of the department of Vosges, about 95 percent of marriages in Meurthe-et-Moselle, about 50 percent of those in Meuse, and some for Moselle. GENLOR includes the groom's name, bride's name, parents, and date and place of marriage. The search is done one department at a time. GENLOR is on Minitel under "3628 GENLOR" (see | '''GENLOR'''. The Genealogical Society of Lorraine has created a 600,000-name computer database of pre-1792 marriages in church records. It lists all marriages of the department of Vosges, about 95 percent of marriages in Meurthe-et-Moselle, about 50 percent of those in Meuse, and some for Moselle. GENLOR includes the groom's name, bride's name, parents, and date and place of marriage. The search is done one department at a time. GENLOR is on Minitel under "3628 GENLOR" (see [[France Archives and Libraries]] for details). If you want to write to request a search of this database, send the names of the bride and groom and the approximate year of the marriage, three international reply coupons, an envelope, and the name of the department to be searched to: | ||
:U.C.G.L.<br>Madame la Secrétaire<br>B.P. 8<br>54131 Saint Max Cedex<br>FRANCE | :U.C.G.L.<br>Madame la Secrétaire<br>B.P. 8<br>54131 Saint Max Cedex<br>FRANCE | ||
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Baptism, marriage, burial, and other church records may be found by contacting or visiting departmental archives, town registrars, or local parishes in France, or you may hire a researcher to do this for you. | Baptism, marriage, burial, and other church records may be found by contacting or visiting departmental archives, town registrars, or local parishes in France, or you may hire a researcher to do this for you. | ||
'''Departmental archives'''. Most pre-1792 parish records are in departmental archives. See | '''Departmental archives'''. Most pre-1792 parish records are in departmental archives. See [[France Archives and Libraries]]. | ||
'''Town registrars'''. A few pre-1792 church records are preserved at the local civil registration office. See | '''Town registrars'''. A few pre-1792 church records are preserved at the local civil registration office. See [[France Archives and Libraries]]. | ||
'''Local parishes'''. Church records after 1792 in France are available by writing to the parish. Parishes will usually answer correspondence in French. However, most researchers have more success by contacting civil registration offices first. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to another archive. To obtain the address of a given parish, write to the mayor of the town. The mayor will know if the parish office is in his town or in a nearby town. | '''Local parishes'''. Church records after 1792 in France are available by writing to the parish. Parishes will usually answer correspondence in French. However, most researchers have more success by contacting civil registration offices first. Your request may be forwarded if the records have been sent to another archive. To obtain the address of a given parish, write to the mayor of the town. The mayor will know if the parish office is in his town or in a nearby town. | ||
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=== Search Strategies === | === Search Strategies === | ||
Effective use of church records includes the following strategies in addition to the | Effective use of church records includes the following strategies in addition to the [[French Search Strategies]]: | ||
*For records after 1792, search civil records thoroughly before searching church records. | *For records after 1792, search civil records thoroughly before searching church records. | ||
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*Search the death registers for all family members. Death records may show children who were never recorded in baptism records. | *Search the death registers for all family members. Death records may show children who were never recorded in baptism records. | ||
[[Category:France]] [[Category:Huguenots]] [[Category: | [[Category:France]] [[Category:Huguenots]] [[Category:Roman_Catholics]] | ||