Transcripts Description
Archdeacon's Transcripts
Archdeacon's Transcripts are essentially copies of the Parish registers sent to the Archdeacon at intervals, normally Easter to Easter.
Due to the nature of these records, there are often gaps, differences in dates & spelling between these and the Parish Registers. However they do provide a useful alternative source of information.
Bishop's Transcripts
The records known as Bishop's Transcripts are theoretically, copies of the parish registers, which were sent at intervals, to the Bishop.
In some cases however, there are omissions, and even inclusions to the events given in the relevant parish register. There are also, less surprisingly, differences in spelling and dates.
Bishop's Transcripts started in 1598, though few have survived from this date. They rarely extend beyond the mid nineteenth century. There are gaps in the surviving records due to failure to make the returns, or because the loose page format has resulted in some pages being lost or destroyed. There are no Bishop's Transcripts for the Commonwealth Period 1649 to 1660. The original documents are normally held in the relevant county record office.
Parish Register Transcripts
In 1538 Thomas Cromwell ordered that each parish church should keep a register of baptisms, marriages and burials, to be entered after each Sunday service. In 1598 the Provincial Constitution of Canterbury ordered that all registers should be of parchment. Furthermore, all previous entries, which had usually been made on paper, were to be re-written in the new parchment registers.
Until approximately 1732, it was common for all registers to be entered in Latin. During the Commonwealth period, the Government took over responsibility for the registers, these being known as Civil Registers, but few have survived and consequently, this period is frequently omitted from the P/R.
In 1667 & 1678 Legislation was introduced, requiring all burials to be in a woollen shroud, and that an affidavit be made to this effect. This Act was gradually ignored and was finally repealed in 1814.
In 1694 a tax was introduced of 2/- for births, 2/6d for marriage and 4/- for burial. The incumbent was also paid a fee of 6d for recording births, these to be notified within 5 days.
Hardwicke's Marriage Act took effect from 25th March 1754. This Act declared that a marriage could be solemnised only after the publication of banns, or by licence issued by the Bishop. In 1812, George Rose' Act required that specially printed register books should be used, with separate books for baptisms, marriages and burials.
