A guide to finding Bishops' Transcripts for Derbyshire and how they can help family historians. What are Bishops’ Transcripts? In 1598, parishes were ordered to send an annual copy of all baptisms, marriages and burials for the year to the church authorities. These returns are known as ‘Bishop’s Transcripts’, or BTs for short, and continued to … Continue reading Bishops’ Transcripts
baptisms
Church Registers
A guide to Derbyshire Anglican, Catholic and Non-Conformist church registers. Derbyshire Record Office is also the Derby Diocesan Record Office for the Church of England. Many non-conformist churches also deposit their records and registers. Catholic registers, however, are mostly held elsewhere (see below). Anglican (Church of England) Parish Registers Parish registers are the main source … Continue reading Church Registers
Beginner’s Latin
A guide for family historians using church registers before 1733 when Latin is the official language, identifying key words and phrases to help you make sense of the records. Although not the common spoken language in England, the official written language was Latin until 1733. Many priests did start using English before 1733, and it … Continue reading Beginner’s Latin
Family History – Getting Started
A guide to where to start with your family history and the main types of record to help you. The first thing to do, is to gather together as much information as you can from present day family members and any family documents you have at home. Record what you already know such as names, … Continue reading Family History – Getting Started
Advent Calendar – Day 14
10 days to Christmas eve... Marriage record of John Peach and Hannah Rowland on this day 237 years ago, in 1778. (Ref: D650/A/PI/1/3) Congratulations to everyone else who is marrying today, and around this time. It is a little unusual to find marriage records in this format at this time. Following Hardwick's Marriage Act, all … Continue reading Advent Calendar – Day 14
More unusual names
Alganon Fawkes, land agent, father of Bertha Georgina Katie Fawkes baptised Sudbury, 1885
Unusual names
100 remarkable names collected by researchers! "There's some raw work done at the baptismal font", as Bertie Wooster observes. The silence of our searchroom is punctuated by the occasional titter, as transcribers from the Derbyshire Family History Society (http://www.dfhs.org.uk/) come across a real humdinger. Here are just a hundred examples they have collected over the years. Spotted any others? … Continue reading Unusual names
Derbyshire Record Office 