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:
Baptisms 1700s
Baptism 1800-1880
Baptisms 1880-1889
Baptisms 1890 onwards
Burials pre 1880
Burials 1889 onwards
Marriages pre 1880
Marriages 1880 onwards
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.
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