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, 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: | Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Bracon Ash and Hethel history |
| Link: | https://bracon-ash-and-hethel-history.webnode.page... |
| Description: | Collected memories, photographs, research projects, mini-biographies. |
| Extra Info: | Bracon Ash and Hethel are 2 villages 6 miles to the south of Norwich. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Corpusty and Saxthorpe Genealogy |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~nickkeeler/genealog... |
| Description: | Corpusty and Saxthorpe Genealogy |
| Extra Info: | Click on the link from the Keeler homepage. |
| 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, Marriages, National, Parish Records |
| Title: | FreeReg Project |
| Link: |  |
| Description: | Transcriptions for Parish Registers |
| 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: | Banns, Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Itteringham Village Website |
| Link: | http://www.itteringham.com/ |
| Description: | Itteringham Village Website |
| 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: | 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, Parish Records |
| Title: | Norfolk Baptism Project |
| Link: | http://tinstaafl.co.uk/nbp/index.htm |
| Description: | Norfolk Baptism Project |
| Extra Info: | Ongoing project to put all Norfolk baptisms online. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Marriages, Parish Records, Pedigrees, Visitations, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Norfolk County Data from Ancestry |
| Link: | Norfolk County Data from Ancestry |
| Description: | Norfolk County Data Collection from Ancestry |
| Extra Info: | Includes parish register extracts; Visitations of Norfolk, 1563 and 1613; |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Norfolk Family History Society |
| Link: | https://www.norfolkfhs.org.uk |
| Description: | Norfolk Family History Society |
| Extra Info: | Click on searchable indexes, then strays. Includes some Gresham marriages and baptisms and burials for Chatteris. |
| Classification: | Banns, Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | Norfolk Transcription Archive |
| Link: | http://doun.org/transcriptions/ |
| Description: | Norfolk Transcription Archive |
| Extra Info: | Search function is not in use. |
| 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, Pedigrees, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Parish of Fincham, Norfolk - Historical Notices and Records |
| Link: | https://archive.org/details/historicalnotic00fincg... |
| Description: | Parish of Fincham, Norfolk - Historical Notices and Records |
| Extra Info: | Online book, including extracts from the parish registers. Also pedigrees and wills of the FINCHAM name of Norfolk and Suffolk. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish of Starston, Norfolk - Some Account of the Parish |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/someaccountofpar00hopp |
| Description: | Parish of Starston, Norfolk - Some Account of the Parish |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Includes monuments within the church and a few extracts from the early registers 1600's mainly. |
| 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: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Bircham Newton, Norfolk |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterb00howlgo... |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Bircham Newton, Norfolk |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Registers 1562 to 1743. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Hockwold-cum-Wilton |
| Link: | http://www.hockwold.info/ |
| Description: | Hockwold and Wilton Parish Registers before 1800 |
| Extra Info: | Click on Genealogy. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Marsham, Norfolk |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/parishregisterof00mars |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Marsham, Norfolk |
| Extra Info: | Online book, published 1889. Registers 1538-1836. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore (4) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/norfolkparishreg04phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 4 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Barton Turf, Hedenham, Weeting - St Mary's and All Saints, Carleton Rode, Burnham Sutton with Ulph, Hickling, Bedingham and Gresham. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore (5) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/norfolkparishreg05phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 5 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Stokesby with Herrinby, Holme by the Sea, Holme Hale, Runham, Woodton, Cringleford, Thrigby, Fring, Ditchingham, Mautby, Topcroft, Thwaite St. Mary, West Newton and Castleacre. |
| Classification: | Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore (7) |
| Link: | http://archive.org/details/norfolkparishreg07phil |
| Description: | Parish Registers of Norfolk - Phillimore - Marriages Vol 7 |
| Extra Info: | Online book. Marriages. Caister-on-Sea, Ormesby - St. Margaret, Ormesby - St. Michael, Filby, Burgh - St. Margaret, Billockby, Hemsby, Winterton with East Somerton, West Somerton, Oby and Thurne with Oby and Ashby. |
| 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: | 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, Parish Records |
| Title: | Saint Mary's Church, Houghton on the Hill |
| Link: | https://web.archive.org/web/20110208210123/http://... |
| Description: | Saint Mary's Church, Houghton on the Hill |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer active. Most information still seems to be available. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Salthouse Village History Website |
| Link: | http://www.salthousehistory.co.uk/ |
| Description: | Salthouse Village History Website, including Parish Records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records |
| Title: | The History of Deopham |
| Link: | https://deophamhistory.wordpress.com/ |
| Description: | The History of Deopham, including Parish Registers |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Bishops Transcripts, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, War Memorials & Other Memorials |
| Title: | UK Transcriptions Website |
| Link: | http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~uktranscriptions/ge... |
| Description: | UK Transcriptions Website Various Counties |
| Extra Info: | Transcriptions for Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Click on Other Counties for Lancashire, Leicestershire, Norfolk and Shetland. |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Monumental Inscriptions, Parish Records, Wills / Probate |
| Title: | Various English Parish Records |
| Link: | https://www.obliquity.com/family/parish/ |
| Description: | Various English Parish Records |
| Classification: | Baptisms, Burials / Cremations, Census, Marriages, Parish Records |
| Title: | Wisbech and the Fenlands Website |
| Link: | http://web.archive.org/web/20170225131551/http://c... |
| Description: | Wisbech and the Fenlands Parish Records |
| Extra Info: | An archived copy of a site that is no longer live. Most information still seems to be available. |
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