As a genealogist, I believe that everyone encounters a brick wall somewhere in their family history, regardless of how far back they delve. While it is relatively easier to find information post-registration in 1837, many researchers face challenges when relying on parish records. These records encompass vestry minutes, baptisms, marriages, and burials.
Parish records document significant religious ceremonies within an ecclesiastical parish. These records provide essential insights for tracing family roots and understanding ancestral connections. Here are key points about parish records:
Types of Records:
Baptism Registers: Record details of baptisms, including dates and often parents’ names.
Marriage Registers: Contain information about marriages, including the names of both partners.
Burial Registers: Document burials within the parish.
Most parish registers date back to the 1600s, with some even stretching as far as the 1500s.
They offer glimpses into family life, community events, and religious practices over centuries.
Each entry in a parish register represents a moment in time—a baptism, a union, or a farewell. These records connect us to our ancestors and illuminate their stories
Whenever I come across register information, I make an effort to contribute to the relevant pages on the Cuckfield Compendium website:
While the records are not yet complete, I am regularly adding to them, making them worth exploring.
You can easily search for a surname across all pages on the website, and it will return a list of pages where your search name appears.
Search on X(Twitter): #AtoZChallenge2024
I had to take a bit of a break from working on the family history but as I really appreciate these resources, I want to say thank you! It should be helpful, as there are at least a few of these in my tree.
ReplyDeleteOooo... that is good to hear.
DeleteI have yet to research the Catholic parish records on one side of my family.
ReplyDeleteIndexes that are searchable are an enormous boon to the researcher and I am grateful to all that volunteer to compile such indexes and thus make the records accessible
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Compendium - you have so many resources to help researchers break down their brick walls.
ReplyDelete