Parish Registers were instigated by Thomas Cromwell from 1538 in the reign of Henry VIII, recording every wedding, baptism and burial. There are gaps in the records for a variety of reasons, such as the civil war, but these records are a prime source for building family trees. From 1597 a copy of the records had to be made and sent to the Bishop. Sometimes the Bishops' Transcript may contain more information than the original, so it can often be worthwhile tracking down both. For more information on Parish Registers there is a brief history on the Wikipedia Parish Register page.
After 1837 Civil Registration was introduced and the Local BMD and GRO BMD records become the primary source.
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Births, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates - BMD Index |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Complete GRO indexes online & Non-Parochial BMDs service. Includes overseas BMD's for armed forces. |
| Extra Info: | Includes Pre-1837 Non-Conformist BMDs |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Find My Past - BMD's, Parish Records and More |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | A Genealogy of Selected Families |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~laetoli/genealogy/ |
| Description: | A Genealogy of JONES, ORME, BIRD, ALLEN, WAITE, HAINSWORTH, BUTLER , REES and Others |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | A Romany Gypsy & Traveller Heritage Project |
| Link: | https://www.romaheritage.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Romani Parish and Census records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Parish Records |
| Title: | Baptisms - England and Wales Christening Records |
| Link: | England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Description: | England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1980 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Birdwood Methodist Church |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20170323031802/http://... |
| Description: | Birdwood Methodist Church |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Births, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Chris Newhall's Family History |
| Link: | http://www.wildot.co.uk/famhist.htm |
| Description: | Chris Newhall's Family History |
| Extra Info: | Includes NEWHALL, BAILEY, BEECH, CATLEY and many other surnames. |
| Classification: | GRO BMD, Census, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations |
| Title: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | England Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | England Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes 1861-1901 Censuses; 1837-2005 GRO BMD; visitations and other records. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | English Clandestine Marriages |
| Link: | https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-world-Records/england-clandestine-marriages |
| Description: | English Clandestine Marriages from 1667 to 1775. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Family History Books via Family Search |
| Extra Info: | More than 40,000 digitized genealogy and family history publications from the archives of some of the most important family history libraries in the world. Read online for free. Includes some parish register transcripts. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search - Maps |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search - Maps |
| Extra Info: | Maps showing where parish boundaries are, when registers were first started. Not complete coverage. Click on map in the map screen to view road names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - England |
| Extra Info: | An increasing number of records, including census and parish records. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Link: | |
| Description: | Family Search Records Collection - Worldwide |
| Extra Info: | Includes the England and Wales 1841 & 1861 Census, and foreign records, such as the American census that contains Britons who were aboard. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Deaths, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Forest of Dean Family History Trust |
| Link: | https://forest-of-dean.net/joomla/ |
| Description: | Forest of Dean Family History Trust |
| Extra Info: | Includes much information. The parish register transcriptions, also in resources, documents and articles there is a journal of journal of Alfred Harris which includes deaths and burials. May need to register with the site to access some information. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | FreeReg Project |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Transcriptions for Parish Registers |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | GlosGen - Gloucestershire Genealogy |
| Link: | http://www.glosgen.co.uk/index.htm |
| Description: | GlosGen - Gloucestershire Genealogy |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Gloucestershire County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Gloucestershire County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Gloucestershire County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts; Bitton : baptisms, 1572-1674, burials, 1572-1668, marriages, 1571-1674; The register of Hanham and Oldland : 1584-1681; A calendar of wills proved in the Consistory Court 1572-1792 and more. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Gloucestershire Genealogical Database Search |
| Link: | http://ww3.gloucestershire.gov.uk/genealogy/Search... |
| Description: | Gloucestershire County Council Genealogical Database Search |
| Extra Info: | Includes Wills 1541-1858 |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Internet Archive |
| Link: | http://archive.org/ |
| Description: | Internet Archive |
| Extra Info: | Has many scanned books, including some parish registers. Click on texts and then search the archive. Note baptism and baptisms give different results. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Marriages - England and Wales |
| Link: | England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Description: | England and Wales Marriages, 1538-1988 |
| Extra Info: | Not complete. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Newfoundland Grand Banks Genealogy |
| Link: | http://ngb.chebucto.org/ |
| Description: | Newfoundland Grand Banks Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | Click on Bristol for 1851 census. Also a few Devon parish records. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Births, Burials / Cremations, Deaths, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs |
| Link: | https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/affiliate/?affid=... |
| Description: | Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial BMDs from the National Archive, hosted by The Genealogist |
| Extra Info: | They include the birth records at Dr Williams' Library in London, hospital records of maternity, overseas registrations for British citizens and those on board ships. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram of Coley Register |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/nonconformistreg00byuhe... |
| Description: | Nonconformist Register - Northowram or Coley Register 1644-1752 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Parish Registers 1584-1620. Index of surnames and place names at end of book. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Open Library |
| Link: | http://openlibrary.org/ |
| Description: | Open Library - Scanned Books Online |
| Extra Info: | Includes full images of many books of transcribed parish registers. Use the search facility and select e books only. Can also search within book text easily. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Tetbury, Gloucestershire - A History of the Town and Parish |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/historytownandp00leegoo... |
| Description: | Parish of Tetbury - A History of the Town and Parish |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes a small number of entries from the parish registers. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Winterbourne, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | http://www.frenchaymuseumarchives.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Winterbourne Family History, Online |
| Extra Info: | Look under Archives for parish register transcripts and more. |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregister00braduof... |
| Description: | Parish Register - William Bradock's Guide 1910 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. It explains that start of parish registers and other associated items, such as Phillimore marriages, Hardwicke's marriage act, banns, explanation of register entries, foundlings, as well as some interesting register extracts. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Register Marriage Search |
| Link: | https://ukga.org/browse.php |
| Description: | Marriage Search of Parish Registers for Various Counties |
| Extra Info: | Scroll down for a scan of some Phillimore marriage transcriptions, scroll further down for searchable parish registers. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers from Gloucestershire |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20050206160519/http://h... |
| Description: | Parish Registers from Gloucestershire and more |
| Extra Info: | May take a few moments to load as this site is no longer live but is accessed through an archived copy. Includes Didmarton and Frochester marriages. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Bitton, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | Parish Registers of Bitton |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Bitton, Gloucestershire (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | Baptisms 1572-1674, burials 1572-1668, marriages 1571-1674. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (1) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershire00blaggo... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 1 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. King's Stanley, Owlpen, Quedegely, Rendcombe, Swindon, Forthampton, Nimpsfiled and Slimbridge. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (15) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershirep15phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 15 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Thornbury 1550-1812, Oldbury-on-Severn 1538-1733, Naunton 1545-1812, Ampney Crucis 1561-1837, Sevenhampton 1605-1837 and Prestbury 1633-1837. |
| Classification: | Bishops Transcripts, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (16) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershirep16phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 16 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Henbury 1544-1812, Huntley 1583-1837, Fairford 1619-1837 and Winstone 1540-1837. Some corrections for Henbury from the Bishop's transcripts. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (4) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershirep04phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 4 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Hinton-on-the-Green, Aston Somerville, Kemerton, Lemington Parva, Buckland, Saintbury, Preston-upon-Stour, Stanton, Snowshill, Temple Guiting, Wormington, Childswickham, Weston Subedge, Guiting Power, Sutton-under-Brails, Todenham. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (6) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershirep06phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 6 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Batsford, Beverston, Standish, Quinton, Willersey, Elkstone, Ebrington, Stinchcombe and Weston Birt. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore (8) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/gloucestershirep08phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Gloucestershire - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 8 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Painswick 1547-1812, Kingscote 1652-1812 and Cam 1569-1812. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Hanham and Oldland, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | Parish Registers of Hanham and Oldland |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Hanham and Oldland, Gloucestershire (Ancestry) |
| Extra Info: | Registers 1584-1681. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Kempsford, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/registersofkemps00kempr... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Kempsford, Gloucestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1653-1700. Includes a names index. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Marshfield, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterso00mars |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Marshfield, Gloucestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online Book. Parish Registers 1559-1693, including an index of names. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~wrag44/genealogy/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers of N. Gloucestershire and S. Worcestershire and Other Records |
| Extra Info: | Includes Deerhurst, Forthampton, Eldersfield and Tewkesbury area. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Syston/Siston, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | https://archive.org/details/fl-4522622-237870 |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Syston/Siston, Gloucestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Registers for Siston / Syston 1576-1641. The pages are not easily visible, but if you click on the 3 dots in the circle on the left hand side of the screen and download the book as a PDF the images are clear. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire |
| Link: | https://archive.org/details/church-register-westbu... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Registers for Westbury-on-Trym 1559-1713 |
| Classification: | Parish Records |
| Title: | Parishmouse Family History Guides |
| Link: | https://www.parishmouse.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Parish Registers, Parish Records and Historical Directories. |
| Extra Info: | Each parish page provides a list of adjacent parishes, historical descriptions of the parish, links to free parish registers and records. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Randwick Village History |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20190202234901/http://... |
| Description: | Randwick Village History |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information still seems to be available. Scroll down the main page. Sources for studying the history of the village. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Romany References and Records |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20091026134802/http://g... |
| Description: | Romany References and Records |
| Extra Info: | This is an archived copy of a site that is no longer active, although most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | The Genealogy of the Cotswolds and Surrounds |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20150406062544/http://w... |
| Description: | The Genealogy of the Cotswolds and Surrounds |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most of the information still seems to be avaialble to view, but not the church photographs. Go to the parish pages for transcription. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Thornbury Local History and Family History Website |
| Link: | https://www.thornburyroots.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Thornbury Parish Records and Monumental Inscriptions |
| Extra Info: | Also click on Church and Cemetery to find parish registers. Includes monumental inscriptions from Rockhampton. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Tibberton Village Website |
| Link: | http://www.tibberton-gloucestershire.org.uk/ |
| Description: | Tibberton Village Website |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish records for Tibberton and Taynton. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Villages in the South Cotswolds |
| Link: | https://tormarton-glos.tripod.com/ |
| Description: | Villages in the South Cotswolds on the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Borders |
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