The Importance of Parish Registers

**Elsabels** · 11-11-2010 09:53 PM

Hello

Today I have been lucky to spend the day in a Record Office.

Whilst there I looked at the Parish Records for an entry that was posted on this site, the information having been gained from the Familysearch / beta LDS site.

The entry given is:
Ann d/ of William CRAVEN & Sarah SINKER bp 19/08/1833
(assumed to be Mr & Mrs CRAVEN, their marriage being in 1832.)

An examination of the actually register shows:

Ann parents, William CRAVEN & Sarah SINKER illeg d/o bp 19/08/1833

Ann is not a daughter of the marriage, the next entry is

William s/o William &Sarah CRAVEN also bp 19/08/1833

What do we know, Ann was born pre 1832 the date her mother married William CRAVEN, and not as suggested by the LDS site 1833!

I also found Ann's marriage which as expected leaves a blank where the fathers name should be!

elsabels

**Jeuel** · 09-01-2011 11:31 AM

Elsbels

Although the familysearch site is an invaluable tool, wherever possible I check the actual registers. Not only do I find sometimes errors in names or dates (usually because someone has misread the original) but there's often a lot of extra information to be gleaned.

Chris · 09-01-2011 01:11 PM

I agree with what you both say - the norfolk PR that are on line are so interesting - although not all Norfolk covered as you say Jeuel there is a lot extra information to be gleaned . Im still fasinated at what we can uncover although the internet has helped over the last 7 yrs its a great hobbie .

**pejay** · 09-01-2011 03:05 PM

Yes the family search site is an invaluable tool. However mistakes can be made . It was never intended as an index for genealogists to find their ancestors. It is always important to check the originals where possible. and not to take what comes up as 100%.

**elaine** · 13-01-2011 09:30 AM

I have just bought a whole load of microfiche to look up my Moore's. I worked through the info after I contacted a fellow researcher then through the IGI to double check. Now I have the fiche, thank heavens for Vicars that write all over the register, a baptism found that the vicar forgot to write till somewhat late, and lots of remarks for my adult baptisms so have dates of birth.

**Brunobel** · 13-01-2011 01:32 PM

The bulk of my research was done pre internet when the only way was to spend time in Libraries and Record Offices and I travelled the country doing just that. I appreciate that for many people this is just not possible, but I cannot emphasize enough just how important it is.

Clerics and Parish Clerks wrote so much more than just BMD's. They often record such things as a great snow that lasted a week; the river ***** flooded; wife of **** **** gave birth to four babies and such like remarks that are never found in a index. I found a recipe against the plague, sometimes there are Settlement records or Bastardy bonds, village census for 1811 and 1821 in one register.

I have found marriage entries that give details of BOTH parents - not just father - and grandparents as well. I think that was Finningley on the Notts./Yorks. border but I could be wrong.

If you get the chance to look at a register - GRAB IT !!!!

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