A-Z Challenge 2025: April 28th: X for X marks on documents

I was viewing the online parish register images at Familysearch and have transcribed these as an example of who signed with an "X".

Marriage: John Voice and Jane Fielders married in Cuckfield Church by banns on 12th day of November 1793.  Both of them made their mark on the marriage entry in the register. 

Marriage: James Harland and Susannah Holford married in Cuckfield Church by licence on 17th day of December 1794.  Susannah Holdford made her mark on the marriage entry in the register. 

Marriage: Christopher Denman and Ann Lee married in Cuckfield Church on 16th day of July 1795.  Both of them made their mark on the marriage entry in the register.

Marriage:  Henry Isted and Ann Oram married in Cuckfield Church on 11th April 1813.  Both of them made their mark on the marriage entry in the register as did both of their witnesses, Stephen and Elizabeth Oram.

Marriage: James Weller and Sarah Starley married in Cuckfield Church on 15th day of May 1814.  Both of them made their mark on the marriage entry in the register as did one of the witnesses, Charlotte Starley.

Marriage: Thomas Brand and Jane Vaughn married in Cuckfield Church on 19th day of May 1817.  Both of them made their mark on the marriage entry in the register as did one of the witnesses, William Vaughn.

These will be entered on my website.

My blog: Cuckfield Compendium

My website: Cuckfield Compendium 

A-Z Challenge 2025: April 15th : M for Marriages

Mid Sussex Times 12 July 1895

At the Parish Church on Monday senight the marriage took place of Mr William James Danthorne, of East Grinstead, and Miss Clara Sayers, second daughter of Mr George Sayers of Oak Cottage, Cuckfield. 

Sussex Advertiser 21 June 1853 

Gower—Mitchell.—June 13, at Cuckfield Church, Mr. Jerry Gower, of Lindfield, to Miss Harriett Mitchell, laundress, Cuckfield.

 Sussex Advertiser 12 August 1899

On the 7th August at Cuckfield Parish Church, by Rev. Canon Cooper, James David Walsh, of Brighton, to Sarah Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Henry Pattenden, of Cuckfield

Mid Sussex Times 16 August 1887

On Saturday the marriage of Mr W E Mitchell, of Cuckfield, Relieving Officer to the Cuckfield Union, Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriage &c., with Miss Barbara Black, only daughter of Mr William Black, of Lellings-farm, Borde-hill, was solemized at the Parish Church.  The ceremony was performed by the Rev F J Mount (vicar).

Mid Sussex Times 13 March 1883

1st inst., at St. Mary's, Islington, by the Rev. C. I. Neven, John, only son of Mr. John Tugwell, Cuckfield, to Mary Jane, fifth daughter of the late Mr. Eaton Packwood, of Houghton Conquest, Beds.

My blog: Cuckfield Compendium

My website: Cuckfield Compendium 

A-Z Challenge 2025: April 1st: A for Anniversaries.

There aren't many anniversaries of marriages for today as in most years it would have fallen in Lent.  However I did find these in published transcriptions for early years:

1627:    Richard Brishar and Katherine Renfield  .....   398th anniversary this year

1657:    Thomas Winpenny and Mary Jenkin  .....        368th anniversary this year

1673:    John Gatland and Susan Tomsat  .....             352nd anniversary this year

My blog: Cuckfield Compendium

My website: Cuckfield Compendium 

A-Z Challenge 2024: April 26. W:- Who and What on this Day

 

Baptism

1618
Apr. 26 Richard s. of Thomas Vinall of Collins.
  
1628
Apr. 26
Abigail d. of Thomas Vicars the vicar.
  
1635
Apr. 26
Edward s. of Thomas & Anne Cooter.
 
1682
Apr. 26
Mavil d. of Richard & Constance Miles.

Marriages

1688

Apr. 26

Thomas Merchant & Ann Jarat.

Burials

1605
Apr. 26
Jone fynche A servant of John Ozbones.

1620
Apr. 26
Margert Stephens.

1623
Apr. 26
Thomas Robbarts.

1633
Apr. 26
Thomas s. of Henry Hurst.

1672.
Apr. 26
The widow of Thomas Jup.

1680
Apr. 26
William Ashfold.

1691
Apr. 26
Anne wife of Anthony Briggs.

1692
Apr. 26
A Still born child of Wm Bannister.

1693
Apr. 26
Thomas Sheffield, Almesman.

1694
Apr. 26
Elizabeth Willard d. of Richard Willard, yeoman at
Lullings.

Visit my website, Cuckfield Compendium

Search on X(Twitter):  #AtoZChallenge2024

A-Z Challenge 2024: April 2. B:- Brickwalls

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.

Search on X(Twitter):  #AtoZChallenge2024

New Baptisms 1891 and Marriages 1892

 New entries on the 1890 onwards Baptisms page on the Cuckfield Compendium website here

Rist
Godsmark

 New entries on the 1880 onwards Marriages page on the Cuckfield Compendium website here

Bowley

Britt

Champs

Chatfield

Cooler

Fraser

Hanbury-Tracy

Godsmark

Sergison

Steer

Stoner

White