Genealogy Chat

What period are you talking about, Muriel? Civil registration offered an opportunity for nonconformists to marry according to their own rites. Between 1754 and 1837, a marriage had to take place in the parish church (unless you were a Jew or a Quaker) for it to be legally binding. Nonconformists would offer marry by licence in order to minimise their visits to the church. Baptism and marriage records post 1837 are likely still to be in the chapel, but pre 1837 records were deposited with what is now the National Archives and can be found in class RG4 on microfilm. Many of these records are on the IGI. Some nonconformists wanted to be certain that their children's births were recorded and paid a shilling to Dr William's Library for the priviledge. These records have been indexed for several counties. Nonconformists can be a pain because they worship where the sermons are good, rather than in the nearest chapel. A friend who probably is a cousin (but we can't find the relevant baptism!) has an ancestor who was prepared to walk 15 miles on a Sunday in search of a decent preacher, only to discover the minister had left four years earlier! He ended up by founding his own chapel. B

We went to Wiltshire to look up the record of a marriage, to save buying a certificate, however it turned out that the marriage took place in a primitive methodist church and the records were not available, so ended up having to buy the certificate after all. Val

I'm also having a few problems tracing a catholic branch of my tree in Scotland. Very few non-Church of Scotland records are available online. I've managed to find some on census records but then you have to track down the likely church and try to find out where the church records are. A slow process I'm afraid but it is extra exciting when you get a breakthrough. Louise

I am having an incredible job tracking down any records of one side of my family - births & marriages. I can only assume the other side is easier because they were C of E. Has anyone had a similar experience &/or can anyone help with non conformist records please?