Genealogy Chat

What wonderful people you all are, thanks for your interest and your time. You have opened up a whole new area to me. So far, working online only, I have managed to add three more generations to a family I had never met. I only started at New Year and cannot believe how far I've got or how addictive this is. Now I can look at parish registers and have some idea what to look for. Thank you all again. Regards Viv.

Hi Viv, Hope you have success at the record office. Just another quick thought, if the marriage was by licence, ask them if they also have a record of marriage licence allegations or bonds. It's unlikely the actual licence will have survived, as the groom would have taken this with him, but he would normally have had to make an allegation to state there was no legal reason why the marriage couldn't take place, and then enter into a bond ageeing to pay a specified sum if the marriage did prove to be illegal. Both parties were named, plus the name of a friend or relative of the groom who entered into the bond with him. Extra info might be found on the allegation/bond. Best wishes, Carole

Paul You said you stood to be corrected - so I am doing just that. Nation Archives at Kew do not hold parish records.

Thanks Carol, the christening and marriage were in the county where I live so presume the County Records will hold the parish registers but I'll phone them and make sure. Regards Viv.

Sorry, forgot to add about where to order them from. Most parish registers will be held by the relevant county record office. You can order a copy from them, which will be a photocopy of the original entry in the register. Give the record office a ring first to make sure they have the registers, plus you will normally have to fill in a copyright declaration and send them the fee up front. Shouldn't cost much, just a minimum admin charge and postage, plus the cost of the copies Carole

Hi Viv From 1813, pre-printed registers for baptisms were in use which had columns to enter the following - 1. Date baptised (though you might find that the birth date is also noted) 2. Child's Christian name 3. Parents Christian names and Surname(s) - for an illegitimate child, usually only the mother's name is entered, but I've seen quite a few where both mother and father are recorded. 4. Abode 5. Trade or Profession For a marriage in 1835, again pre-printed registers were in use, and the usual details entered would be: 1. Groom - Christian names & Surname; marital status; abode and occupation (though in my experience his occupation is often not stated) 2. Bride - Christian names & Surname; marital status and abode 3. Whether the marriage was performed by banns or by licence 4. If either or both parties were minors, the names of any parents or guardians who gave their consent to the marriage 5. The date 6. The signatures or marks of both parties 7. The signatures or marks of at least two witnesses (often relatives) Sometimes you might get more or less than the standard details. Hope this helps, best wishes Carole

Thank you Janet, never gave that a thought. Regards Viv.

Hi all, No one has mentioned that you can access the parish records through your nearest LDS records office. They will order the records that you're after and you can view them for a few weeks. Get in touch with your nearest LDS church for details of the nearest records office. Good luck Jan from Gravesend. Kent.

Thanks to you all, at least I know what to expect and look for now. Regards Viv.

Before 1837 parish register entires varied quite a lot. I think it depended very much on the attitude of the vicar/parish clerk who made the entires. For births the only thing you can be reasonably sure of is the father's name, but if you are lucky you will get the mother ans also the occupation of the father and sometimes an address. It is very interesting looking at the old records and seeing how the parishes varied. Some are dreadfully kept and others are so meticulous. It is best if at all possible to look at the fiche copies in the record office local to the area of research. Before 1837 is where it gets more time consuming but probably more interesting! Anne

Vivienne, proper recording of Births, deaths and Marriages began in 1837. Since both of the dates you give are before that time, there is no birth certificate for you to order. You're correct in your assumption that they're likely to be Parish record entries. I'm not 100% sure of what information you shuold expect on them, as I haven't viwed any first hand yet, but I would imagine they'd have the Fathers name at least, possibly the mothers. Copies of the Parish records are held in the County Records office, also some local libraries have copies for the surrounding parishes. The National Archives (formerly known as the Public Records Office) at Kew holds copies of the records for the whole country. Some of the Family History Societies have transcribed parish records and provide them on CD - you'd have to check ifthey had the ones you were interested in. I hope all this is accurate, I stand to be corrected if not !! Good Luck Paul

Hi Viv, Certificates are only available from 1837, but I think there is somewhere you can order parish records from ( I remember reading a thread about it). Hope this helps a bit. Rebecca

Have details of birth 1814 and marriage 1835 for possibly the same person. (Think they are parish register entries)What exactly do they include apart from name of person/s, date and place? Not up to date on certificates and what is included when. Also where would I order them from?Thanks in anticipation, Viv.