Genealogy Chat

Goodafternoon all, If i was to order the Parish Register transcriptions on Microfiche Baptisms/Marraiges/Burials, what information would i expect to get from it ? and would it be easy enough to search? I've not got round to searching any parish registers myself so have no idea what to expect. Deb X

Deb, you do appreciate that you would have to have a microfiche reader to look at them dont you? Are they actually transcriptions or just copies of the registers. I have to say I find it hard going. Some of the older stuff is so faint and often deteriorated that you should only do it in short sessions!

Heather LOL yes i do but i thought i could always take it to my local library and view it on their readers. It sounds like it could be hard going tho. doesnt it, but it maybe the only way to get the information i'm wanting. It says There Parish Register Transcripts, why is there a difference? Thanks , Deb X

Parish register transcriptions are copies. Their quality depends on who is doing the transcriptions. A family history society would hopefully have a quality control process of checking entries, but there are no guarantees. Transcripts may not record full dates, names of witnesses or officiating ministers. Some transcripts only record the major families, though I imagine this is not the case for yours. Others, for various reasons, omit certain periods. It would be much easier to search a transcript, provided it is typed and fully indexed (again, there is no guarantee of this). It is certainly acceptable to use a transcript to track down all the references you may need, but if at all possible you should then try to get sight of the original records, as everybody makes mistakes, or misses out vital bits of information.

Most of the microfiche transcriptions I have seen have been typed, not original handwriting, so are quite easy to read.

Helen and Brenda Thankyou for your information, the transcripts are from the OFHS so i'm hoping there clear enough to read. Deb X