Genealogy Chat

Online-Parish-Clerks (OPCs) are volunteers who collect, collate and transcribe records for a chosen specific parish in [county]. The data originates from as many sources as can be accessed, including census, parish registers, cemetery records and parish histories. The emphasis is on genealogy, but is not limited to that alone. However, it takes time to transcribe and accumulate material, so an OPC may not yet have full data for all these sources.

About 4 months ago I started seeing references to the Online Parish Clerk (OPC) projects. A description similar to the one above, from Cornwall OPC, is given at most sites: Sites can include BMD data (parish registers), CENSUS DATA, maps, photos, descriptions, directories, etc. etc. As it is flexible (Cornwall: "Each OPC decides what data to collect, how it will be organized and distributed or displayed") you have to examine each site carefully, but if your relatives came from any of these places, you could get lucky ! The Cornwall OPC started in Jan 2001 and since then other counties have followed suit. Cornwall: http://west-penwith.org.uk/opc.htm: Cornwall: http://www.cornish-ancestors(.)co.uk Devon: http://www.cs.ncl.ac.uk/genuki/DEV/OPCproject.html Dorset: http://www.dorset-opc(.)com/ Kent: http://www.kent-opc.org.uk/ Lancashire: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb(.)com/~lancsopc/Index_OPC%20Main.htm Sussex: http://www.sussex-opc.org/ Wiltshire: http://homepage.ntlworld(.)com/david.brown6666/wiltsopc/about.htm Cornwall OPC: "There are signs of similar schemes being started in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Surrey and North and West Ridings of Yorkshire but I can't find any county coordinators or web sites." A quick Google search for Derbyshire ("Derbyshire opc online parish") found Stapenhill, Derbyshire: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb(.)com/~blanchec/StapOPC.htm Try a Google search "[your county] opc online parish" to see if you can find any more !

A new OPC-Site has just gone online. http://www.kent-opc.org.uk/ As with all OPC-Sites, Volunteers welcome !! If you have Kent interests, check this out, better still, join in !

Hi All As per my posting on the Records Office board, I have recently become the OPC for Lanlivery Parish in Cornwall. Had a few enquiries, and would be pleased to have some more. Go to www*cornish-ancestors*co*uk (loose stars) for a full list of Cornwall OPCs. There are some parishes not covered, so anybody willing to take a parish on would be very welcome. Pauline

And please remember that some fiches / films can be very difficult to transcribe because they are very faint ... so please bear with and be patient with the transcriber if he / she just cannot read it! Joy (Kentish Maid GC)

My husband has purchased the fiches for the parish of Trewen in Cornwall, for births, banns, marriages and deaths, and when he has transcribed them from reading them on a fiche reader in the library, he will then have his name on the net as OPC for Trewen. Joy

Thank you for all that information. I cannot get over how kind the people on this site are. It has restored my faith in the human race after all the crazy stuff you read about and what con artists and low life there are about. Well Done You All. Irene

Yes, I feel that way too Irene. Every day someone on here does something brilliant for me with no thought to any gain.

Adding a reply so I can find this thread again after work. Many thanks Joy. Yet another kind soul from these boards. Gerri x

I have used the Dorset OPC a lot and have transcribed a monumental inscriptions for them. They are extremely helpful althtough the one place I am interested in has been showing as a new OPC for over a year now and still isn't on there. Hopefully it will be someday. Ann Glos

Joy What does it involve and what would I have to do? Lou

Well, it's transcribing from fiche certain records and giving look-ups to people that request them - best to offer for an area of interest to you personally then it is more interesting for you. Joy

Joy I'm definitely interested. Can you let me know who I need to contact etc? Thanks Lou

I have been in contact with several OPCs over recent months regarding the movements of some of my ancestors in Devon and Cornwall. Each has been very helpful and provided useful information. Cheers, Bill

I think it's still recruiting volunteers etc. It has been in the testing stage for about 4 years or so now!

There are seven so far: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Lancashire, Kent, Sussex, and Wiltshire.

May i nudge this ? thanks karen

Deb HMMM I always seem to come unstuck are there any of these OPC records for Withybrook and Wolston in Warwickshire cheers

I would be interested in volunteering for the nOtts/derbys/lincs/Hampshire areas. I transcribed the 1851 census for newark, notts for the notts family history society many years ago so if am able to have something sent to my house to do work on or not too far to pick up I would be willing.

Bob how would I offer my services for the Isle of wight where I live? Should I approach the isle of wight family history society or the record office?