Genealogy Chat

tell you? I'm visiting a records office tomorrow and am not sure what to expect on viewing parish records. Will marriages have witnesses and fathers listed ? Will births have addresses and parents listed ? Are the 2 main queries. T.O.R. ;o))

After 1837, marriages in the parish records are exactly the same as certificates. Before 1837, all you get are the name of the bride and groom, whether they are of the parish or not, possibly the grooms occupation and the witnesses. Baptisms have name of mother and father (but not mothers maiden name), sometimes the date of birth but not always, fathers occupation and address. Usually the address justs states the village they live in. Sam x

Thanks Sam. Your reply means Parish records don't start at the top of my list. (Using online Catalogue to work out priorities) T.O.R. ;o))

Agree with all of above, but prior to 1813 when a proforma came into use for baptisms and burials some vicars or parish clerks gave much more information so you may be lucky. For example I have some baptisms where mother's maiden name IS given, burials which give occupations and names of spouses and parents, also some where they had cross referenced back to earlier baptisms and marriages (a real bonus!) Also look out for pages where extra information about the parish may be written - I found a list of families who had been given bibles by the vicar, including my ancestor, names of churchwardens entered at the end of the church year from which I discovered that my ancestor had been a churchwarden, and a burial entry for my 6X great grandfather had a note that he had been the parish clerk.

And sometimes, if you're lucky, for an illegitimate birth you will get the name and possibly the occupation of the reputed father! Chris

Okay parish records moving back up list. lol First visit tomorrow - main area of research is my GGG grandfathers business and role as councillor. Want to 'colour in' ancestors lives rather than necessarily find more of them. T.O.R. ;o))

Grrrr...the Vicar's in Stoke on Trent were obviously not very thorough, I've never found ANY of that info on mine!!! Just my luck... Sam x

Here's an excellent and detailed website which gives information about parish registers: http://www.british-genealogy(.)com/resources/registers/indexf.htm Chris

You might even get vicar's opinions on why some people died, pre 1837. .....not sure that they really knew but the comments are interesting...... eg. 'died from drinking cold water, when he was hot' Gwyn

I have been pretty lucky with Parish Registers - almost always get the mother's maiden name at baptisms, and the names of fathers (and sometimes mothers) at weddings, plus witnesses. And a wealth of extra stuff that never appears on-line and is at the back of the book - sunday school registers, confirmation classes, little essays on some disaster that befell the village, little notes about local celebrities and so on. If you DON'T look, you may be missing something wonderful! OC

As has been said ... and with some baptisms within one family, the mother's maiden name was stated plus the names of her parents! Have fun ... :-)

And I have some entries in 1775 - 1812 Yorkshire Dade baptism registers which also give grandparents and both birth and baptism dates. I have others which give incomplete and sketchy details. Another resource which shouldn't be missed. jay

On going through the micro fisches of some Essex Parish Records, I came across many pieces put in by the vicar , One in the 1700's was Natural child of (girls name) father in law, her mother said she was sleeping with her husband and his father, and the mother would not have anything more to do with her daughter. Many more that were amusing, but this one stood out in my mind.