Beginner question about parish records

[MacadamiaNut]

Hi there. I'm relatively new to genealogy, and while I feel like I've got the hang of census and BMD data for the most part, I'm all at sea when it comes to parish records. Aside from the issue of actually getting to search them Once I get them, I'm not sure how I can possibly confirm anything I find? For example, I have searched some West Yorkshire parish records I found online, and found a marriage with the right names for some ancestors, and the date sounded about right, but the area was close but not exactly where they lived once the census started. I suppose this might be because they used to live there, or because her family was from there, or maybe they were just the wrong people!

I have read that wills and probate are a good resource for cross-referencing, but pretty much my entire family tree is made up of agricultural labourers and miners, who lived in great poverty. I can't imagine they would have had a will or had any assets to go to probate. So, am I out of luck, or is there some other way to feel certain about records you find, that I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!
Jo

[stanmapstone]

Hi Jo,
Can you give the details? Someone may be able to help.

Stan

[behindthefrogs]

You need to go beyond the parish registers (baptisms, marriages and burials) to the other parish records.  There are many of these, vestry minutes, overseer of the poor, settlement records etc. but where they survive these will usually only be found in county record offices, although family history societies will have transcribed some.  Beyond that you need to go to the manor and higher church court records.  While these latter records tend to refer to the slightly better off, the parish records are particularly good for the poor.

You are extremely unlikely to find many of the above online.

[MacadamiaNut]

Thanks for the replies! Behindthefrogs that is great, thank you. I live abroad now, so the chance of me getting back to the UK and visiting county records offices are pretty slim. Is this the sort of the thing my local LDS center might have?

Stan, I could post details in each of the county forums for the various ancestors I have traced back, but I guess I was hoping not to have to rely on other people's kindness to do the work for me Sounds like that might be the only way in some cases then?

Cheers,
Jo

[heathgirl]

I have a question about a baptism I found that was very old 1687 for a Thomas Cross, in Middlesex London England. There are no parent names, only a notation "com" with the sign of the cross beside it. Any idea what this means? A number of others also had this and I wondered if it refers to death. The others had parent names.

[behindthefrogs]

Your local LDS centre is unlikely to have any of the other parish records other then registers.  If the family history society for the area in which you are interested has a web site ,that might help you.  It is also worth contacting the record office to find out what they hold.  They do carry out searches, but at a price and unfortunately what you are talking about is genuine research rather than just searching a specific record.

[stanmapstone]

I have a question about a baptism I found that was very old 1687 for a Thomas Cross, in Middlesex London England. There are no parent names, only a notation "com" with the sign of the cross beside it. Any idea what this means? A number of others also had this and I wondered if it refers to death. The others had parent names.

As no parents are mentioned they could be adult baptisms of people making sure that they would be buried in consecrated gound.

Stan

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

Is he the Thomas CROSS baptised 2 Aug 1687 St Sepulchre, Holborn, if so looking at other similar entries and the old style of handwriting, I think the image says,


Thomas CROSS   found   in Con +


The cross is larger and bolder than I can type, I wonder if this means he was a foundling?

Others have "in Con Land" written after them, (I'm sorry but I don't know what that means either) the entries seem to be written where others have addresses.



Some of them are so sad, I saw one entry,

Mary   the people went away and gave no name


Regards,
Daisy

[stanmapstone]

It looks like it is an address comparing the entry with others on the page. Short Hand for "Cross"?
Stan