I stand to be corrected but I think Guy is wrong about births and death having to be registered. It is baptisms and burials that had to be registered.
I take it you did not read the information on the page I gave in the url.
In 1644 an ordinance was passed that
"... and it is further ordained, by the authority aforesaid, that there shall be provided, at the charge of every parish or chappelry in this realm of England and dominion of Wales a fair register-book of velim be kept by the minister and other officers of the church; and that the names of all children baptized, and of their parents, and
the time of their birth and baptizing, shall be written and set down by the ministers therein ; and also the names of all persons married there and the time of their marriage ; and also the names of all persons buried in that parish, and
the time of their death and burial ; and that said book shall be showed, by such as keep the same,
to all persons reasonably desiring to search for the birth, baptizing, marriage, or burial of any person therein registered, and to take a copy or procure a certificate thereof."
After the civil war period a statute of 1694 required that every clergyman should keep a register of all persons married, buried, christened
or born in his parish, under a penalty of £100.
In 1695 (7th & 8th William III., cap. 35) a similar enactment was made and also distinct registers were to be kept of children
born in the parish and not christened all parents were required to give notice of a birth of a child within 5 days of the birth. A fine of 40 shillings was imposed on parents who omitted to give notice within the five days and a similar penalty was payable by the vicar.
The parents were to pay the vicar sixpence to register the birth. In 1695 there was published - An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages,
Births and Burials, and upon Batchelors and Widowers, for the Term of Five Years, for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour. Which imposed duties on the registration of Births Marriages and Burials for a period of five years. It also imposed charges on bachelors.
1783
III. And be it further enacted, That every Parson, Vicar, or Curate, or other Person having Authority to make Entries of Burials, Marriages,
Births , or Christenings, who shall. from and after the first Day of October, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, enter any Burial, Marriage,
Birth , or Christening, in the Register for any Parish, Precinct, or Place, in Great Britain, before the Parchment, Vellum, or Paper, on which the Entry of such Register shall be made, shall have been duly stamped, as by this Act is directed, every such Parson, Vicar, Curate, or other Person, shall, for every such Offence, forfeit the Sum of five Pounds.
IV. And be it further enacted, That every Parson, Vicar, Curate, or other Person having Authority to make the Entry of any Burial, Marriage,
Birth , or Christening, is hereby vested with full Power and Authority, previous to the making thereof in the Register of any Parish, Precinct, or Place in Great Britain, to demand and receive from the Undertaker, or other Person employed in and about the Funeral of any Person so to be buried, or from the Parties married, or from the Parent of the Child whose Birth or Christening is registered, or other Person requiring the Christening of such Child, the Sum of three Pence : And if such Undertaker, or other Person, so employed in and about such Funeral, or if the Parties so married, or the Parent of, or other Person bringing the Child, whose Birth or Christening shall be so required to he registered, shall neglect or refuse, on Demand, to pay the said Duty, he, or they shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and pay the Sum of five Pounds.
Cheers
Guy
