YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THESE NOTES BEFORE USING THIS FACILITY

The information contained in the databases is intended only as a search aid. The details come from many different sources, the accuracy of which cannot be guaranteed. You are strongly advised to refer to original documents. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy but we are not infallible and there are probably some typographical errors. You can help improve this facility by reporting any errors and providing new information for publication.

PRIVACY

Every effort is made to protect the privacy of living persons. Events after December 1902 are not shown in the databases with the exception of certain Deaths and Burials.

SEARCHING

Having clicked on to the database you require, you may search any particular column or number of columns by typing in the details in the boxes. With each box you are able to select 'Exact' or 'Like'. This allows very flexible searching. Using the 'Like' facility you may pick up on items you might otherwise miss. i.e. If I typed in my father's name 'Frederick' and clicked 'Exact' I would miss his entry. By clicking 'Like' he would appear with his full names 'Frederick John'. The results of your search appear in blocks of ten entries matching your enquiry.

PITFALLS

DATES

Until 1st January 1752 the year began on the 25th March. ie. 2 Feb 1740 would be 2 Feb 1741 by our reckoning. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that source documents have not been adjusted to follow the modern calendar in some transcriptions.
 When typing dates in the search space, remember to enter a zero in front of numbers under ten.

FORENAMES

Generally, these are shown by recognised spellings to save you time. Who would look for Christopher under 'X' , but more than one has been found as "Xofer"! Names are often entered in Latin in older Parish Registers. Wherever possible these have been translated into English. However, Jacobus can be translated as James or Jacob. If you cannot find your James or Jacob, try Jacobus. Anna is another problem name.

SURNAMES

Clergymen and Parish Clerks could only enter the surname as they heard it when the majority of the population could not read or write. It is not uncommon for the children of one family to be recorded with a number of different surnames. The matter is further complicated when the handwriting in the register is misread. You are strongly advised to leave the 'Surname' blank when making you initial search.

MAIDEN SURNAME OF MOTHER

This information is seldom entered in earlier Baptism Registers. This information can sometimes be worked out by comparing baptism and marriage entries. Where this has been done the surname is entered in square brackets. This information cannot be guaranteed, but gives the chance of referring to the marriage entry and making your own decision.

PLACES

In Church entries the name of the village, town etc is entered before the dedication, i.e. Oxford St Giles
In G.R.O.  Index entries the place indicated is the Registration District where the event occurred. It may not be the same as the home address. In some cases a birth or marriage has been found in a parish register, but has not yet been identified in a G.R.O. index. These entries are shown in lower case and indicate the name of the parish and 'psh' is entered in the volume column.

COUNTIES

The old Counties of the British Isles are indicated using the Chapman Code, except for the County of Middlesex [MDX]. The City of London which was part of that County is shown as CTY.

LINKS TO FAMILY TREE CHARTS

Where a person has been entered on a Family Tree Chart, the Chart number and a number to identify the person are found in the final columns of the database entry.