British Isles DNA by County

Church Records

Resources

Content by
Linda Jonas ©2006

Before 1837, church records are your most important resource for finding your English and Welsh ancestors. If you don't know the name of your ancestor's parish, look at "Church Record Indexes and Finding Aids" section below.  Once you know the name of the parish, check  Humphrey-Smith, Cecil, ed. The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers to find what records exist for your ancestor's parish, when the records started, where the originals are located, and what indexes have been created. The Family History  Library has many microfilmed copies of original parish registers and bishop's transcripts. There are too many to list individually. Search the Family History Library Catalog under [COUNTRY], [COUNTY], [PARISH] -- CHURCH RECORDS to see what is available from the Family History Library. Below is only one example

Bishop's Transcripts (BT's) of Parish Registers for St. David's Diocese, Wales - The Family History Library has microfilmed these Bishop's Transcripts on FHL films 0105125 - 0105218.

Church Record Indexes and Finding Aids

International Genealogical Index: The majority of English and Welsh baptisms and marriages are indexed in this massive online index.

Boyd's Marriage Indexes contain over seven million marriage entries. They were compiled by Percival Boyd from printed and transcribed parish registers, Bishop's Transcripts, marriage licenses, and other miscellaneous sources. They are arranged in three series. The 1^st series is arranged by county. The 2^nd and 3^rd series have been combined on these films and are alphabetized by Grooms and Brides rather than by county. It is important to read the introduction on film 0472000 before using Boyd's marriage indexes. The indexes are on FHL films 0472000 - 0472173 and on microfiche.  They are also available online at Originsnetwork.com.

Foster, Joseph, ed. London Marriage Licences 1521-1869 is alphabetically arranged by surname. Entries include the names, ages, and parish of the bride and groom; the date and location of the marriage license or allegation; and other relevant information.

Vicar-General Marriage Licence Index 1684-1850 and Faculty Office Marriage Licence Index 1701-1850 are online at Originsnetwork.com.

Isle of Wight Consolidated Parish Register Index 1539-1858. On 75 rolls of film available from the Family History Library. FHL Film numbers 1279991 - 1279015; 1278501 - 1278529; 1279017 - 1279046

Parish Registers of Wales and Non-Conformist Registers of Wales are a two-volume set that will help you determine what records exist.