CHAPTER 11

GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH IN

GREAT BRITAIN

British Registration.

(Continued)

The first registration law issued by the British government was in 1538. An injunction was issued ten years later, yet little was done about this by the people because of wars, riots, changes of government, severity of ecclesiastical laws, and general carelessness. Notwithstanding these hindrances, a fairly good number of parish Registers begin in 1538 or a little later.

Henry VIII issued the edict that every infant should be baptized, adding that tribute or tax for each christening be paid to him, which, no doubt, interfered with people's compliance with the law, generally.

In 1558 Queen Elizabeth issued an injunction that every newly appointed minister had to swear that he kept a register book of vital statistics. This also was not generally complied with.

In 1563 an office of registership of all church books in every diocese was commanded by statute. Most of the clergy refused to comply with the law. In 1597 a rule was made to re-copy all church registers into parchment books, and to duplicate all future entries.

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In 1603 another law was issued with even more stringent items. The church warden "was to provide a sure coffer with three locks and keys and each clergyman was to transmit or send up to the bishop of the diocese a true copy of all his statistics." This was measurably complied with. Even then the past centuries of governmental demands found some ministers careless, while records were often allowed to become musty and fire destroyed some.

In 1645 a law was passed to register births as well as baptisms.

From 1649 to 1660 it was necessary to register mar

riages as well as births of children and deaths of all persons. In addition, this law provided that the names of parents, guardians and overseers should be added to the register. Consequently this law again was only partly enforced by the careless clergy.

In 1694-5 further statutes were passed, fining both the parents and the clergy who refused to comply with the law.

The revenues from these marriage registrations was not inconsiderable, as a fee was always charged, so a great many people ran off to Scotland and got married because they would not pay the marriage fee, which was the largest of all. This explains why some British baptismal records show no marriage between father and mother. Their children were accepted for baptism by the priest, which is pretty good evidence that the parents were poor yet fairly respectable.

In 1783 a tax of three pence was charged for each entry. This pressed heavily on the poor people, and was repealed in 1784.

In 1812, an act called "Rose's Act" was passed, for the better regulating and preserving of registers of births, baptisms, marriages and burials. No official indexes were made before the law of 1836-37 was passed.

On Queen Victoria's accssion (1837) an act establishing a civil or state registration of births, marriages and deaths, and indexes to the same, came into force. It was divested of every trait of the religious element which had dominated the practice for three hundred years; not, however, with the most favorable results. Registration allied to religion-too often in evidence by divisions, by fitful moods and arbitrary measures, by intrigue, cruelty and habitual litigation-could not possibly be in every way a perfect alliance. The church's hands were too full, and this will account for the omission of a good many names from the registers.

Still under these and other adverse circumstances, it is astonishing to find out how much was accomplished by the church as well as by the civil authorities. But for their writings much of English history would be obscure.

The church documents embrace marriage and other licenses, probate of wills, indentures, bonds, appoinments,

presentments and law proceedings, lists of inhabitants (where to sit in church) names of Papists and Quakers, pass and settlement papers for the poor, etc. The civil documents treat of inheritance, exchange and sale of property, inquests, musters, licenses, taxes, parliamentary and criminal proceedings, and various other matters of a secular character, all more or less important to the student in history and genealogy; in which names may often be found with a more particular account given of them than the parish registers usually supply. Marriage licenses (and presentments) are deposited in the Bishop's or Diocesan Registers. They date from the 16th century. Many are now printed.

The whole business of registration as set forth in this final act in 1837 was placed on a more sure foundation than obtained before, or was even possible while it rested entirely in the hands of the church officials.

The act did not deprive the clergy of the right to record baptisms, marriages and burials; this has been done almost uninterruptedly to the present day, except occasionally in the case of burials. When certain churchyards closed in 1850, or later, and other places were set apart for future interments, the recording of these was left to burial boards, or to the curators of cemeteries.

Compulsory Registration in Scotland, Ireland and Isle of Man.

Compulsory registration in Scotland began in 1854; and in Ireland in 1864. Only a very few registers in Scotland reach as far back as the 16th century. The earliest found is in Errol parish, dated 1553. It appears that no parish register in Ireland has been found of an earlier date than the 18th century. In the Isle of Man the earliest date is 1598.

Records in London.

Non-parochial registers include all those kept by the various religious bodies in England and Wales existing prior to 1837 which are now deposited at Somerset House. They form a very important group of records and often supply entries which can be found in those belonging

to the church. They extend beyond the limits of a parish proper and often contain the names of a whole generation on a single page.

Of Baptist, Calvanist, Independent, Presbyterian, etc., there are more than 3000 registers. There are also a few Catholic registers, and some of foreign non-conformists in London, to the number of 40, including Dutch, French, German, Lutheran, Swiss and Walloon churches; several of which are now dissolved. The latter registers commenced in 1567. Dr. Williams' register from 1742 to 1838 contains 60,000 entries of births of dissenters throughout the country. The Quaker registers number over 1600. An index is at Devonshire House. The registration commission of 1837 made an inquiry into the state custody and authenticity of non-parochial registers.

Registry Hunting.

It may be wise for the searcher, especially if he lives in the parish where his forefathers lived, to begin at once in his own village or city. His first visit should be made to the city or county library. There are good district libraries in all parts of Great Britain, both in county seats in towns and in the districts of London. Here he should ask for a directory and from that glean the information concerning where his people lived, discovering especially if the registers of the parish have already been printed. If the registers have been printed it would be foolish, indeed, for the searcher to spend time and money going over the records in the parish church.

Directories are found in every town library, and in all offices where statistics are kept by the government. These directories give a mass of information concerning the parishes and the condition of the records therein. The directory gives a list of all churches in any city or town or district, the post town and nearest railway station. Also the earliest date of the parish register.

It must always be remembered that it is needless to go to a parish for information subsequent to 1837, as all British records, since that date, are filed in Somerset House. London, and in the district or local registry.

When the district only is known and there is uncertainty

respecting the place or the correctness of the date, Somerset House should be able to give the information if the searcher will give sufficient details to identify the entry.

Copy all names just as they are written; do not attempt to modernize them, particularly surnames. Always give source of information for every name and date, and where obtained. This can be written at the top of the page and continued from page to page until the source changes. That is, the name of the printed book, church parish record, or government records.

When a searcher desires to search church records, always write to the minister, making an appointment. Do not address any name, simply address the Rector or Vicar or simply the Incumbent which denotes either. He will then have time to arrange his work, either in the church or registry, so that no time will be lost by either party. At the very large parish churches, the Verger, or parish clerk is the usual custodian of the records. The incumbents of the smaller parishes do not, as a rule, leave any one in charge of the registers while they are absent. City Registries.

The diocesan registries contain marriage licenses in which the contracting parties are usually described. In probate registry offices are found original wills, or copies and indexes of both. Presentments, court rolls and other documents are variously disposed, all of which are useful to the family genealogist.

While it is quite possible to find a family name running through a whole register, it is often very necessary to search some neighboring parish as well, to make the work more complete. Up to comparatively recent times, the majority of the inhabitants, more particularly the lower classes, were strictly confined to their respective parishes; yet there were many things happening which would necessitate their going abroad, and so get events recorded in another parish.

The Value of Wills and Testaments

Every genealogist knows that wills form the backbone of his subject; that no pedigree can be compiled without