For years I have been researching my family tree and done quite well, mainly using the website Ancestry, but there were two relatives who always puzzled me. The 1901 census describes their relationship to the head of the household as nieces, so I knew they were related to my family but with the head of household having several siblings I couldn’t tell from that census alone who their parents were. When the 1911 census was released I thought great, hopefully this time they will be at home with their parents…but alas, this time they were listed as living with their grandparents! Hmm well I didn’t want to go to the trouble and expense of ordering birth certificates, so when I got a job in the archive, I thought I would try to trace them using the parish records. Parish records are church records of births, burials and marriages and other events, see below, originally kept to prevent bigamy and consanguineous marriages. I knew my ancestors date of birth and that they were born in Newcastle, but there are many churches in Newcastle, so it took a bit of digging to find the right church. Fortunately, there is a computer programme called “Reading Room” in the archive where many parish records have been digitised and looking through them is so much quicker than using the microfilm readers.
After a while I found one of the sisters, her father and mother were both recorded along with their place of abode and the father’s occupation. What a treat some extra information that I was not expecting. I looked for the second sister at the same church, but nothing, she was for some reason baptised in a different church, so that did take a little more searching, but I did find her. Again, the father’s occupation (which was different this time) was recorded along with the families’ place of abode (which was also different and new information).
Imagine my joy at finally being able to give my ancestor her parents! A piece of the puzzle solved.
The earliest parish records the archives have date back to the late 16th century, although not for every parish unfortunately. Parish records were first recorded under the reign of King Henry VIII but he didn’t specify that they should be recorded on parchment so some of them, being on more femur paper, didn’t last all that long. His successor Elizabeth I realised that being able to retain the records was important and decreed that they be recorded on parchment and so fortunately for us, some of them still exist. The originals must be protected of course so the digitised records on “Reading Room” or our microfilm copies are the place we suggest you look first. Let’s have a look at some of the examples of records on “Reading Room”.
Christening record 1696 Shotley St Andrew’s
“Dorothy daughter of Francis Hutchinson the last day of September”
This record is old and is in lovely handwriting, but it does not give a huge amount of detail.
The next parish record is interesting from the first page where it is written;
St Augustine’s Fenham 1927-1930
“All Baptisms wherein “418 or 416 Westgate Road” is described as the residence were administered in the Poor Law Institution”
The second page has a record dated August 29th 1927
“Child’s name: Margaret
Parents name: John and Veronica Scott
Abode: 416 Westgate Road
Occupation: Labourer
Godparents’ names: no information submitted
By whom ceremony performed: [G Miles]
So looking at the parish record you may find out who your relatives Godparents were, which might give more clues to your family tree.
Parish records also cover non-Anglican records, Banns, confirmations and unconsecrated burials.
Lowick St John Baptisms Dissenters births and burials 1771-1817
“1784 Maria daughter of John and Elizabeth Elliot, Famer at Lowick”
Banns 1915-1924 St Augustine Newcastle
“John Wilson Lamb of this parish” also includes a note on the side “43 Crossley”, perhaps his address?
“Jane Innas of St Aidan’s parish” also includes a note on the side “130 West View” perhaps this was her address?
“Banns read May 2, 9, 16 1915”
Meldon St John the Baptist Confirmation candidates 1896
On sat March 28 1896 at 10.30 am the following were presented at Mitford Parish Church
Henry Collin aged 23 years The Kennels, Meldon
Rosina Walton 18.4 years The Farm, Meldon
Elizabeth Nichol 19.3 years Deer Cottages, Meldon
Berwick civil cemetery records unconsecrated burials 1856-1863
Catherine Ann Purves daughter of William Purves shoe maker age 1 Chapel Street Berwick date of burial 8th June 1857 ceremony by John Cairns United Presbyterian Minister
You could even look for a local hero, like this one
If you would like a copy of any records you find on “Reading Room” you can print them off at a cost of £2 per sheet.
Happy searching!