Staffordshire, England, Extracted Church of England Parish Records, 1538-1839

This database is a collection of historical parish from Staffordshire, England. The records in this collection can range in date from the early 1500s to the mid- to late-1800s. Some non-parish records may be included from as early as the twelfth century. Parish records--primarily baptisms, marriages, and burials--provide the best source of vital record information in the centuries before civil registration. The records include baptisms/christenings, burials, marriages, tombstone inscriptions, obituaries, tax lists, wills, and other miscellaneous types of records. Also included are some records from non-conformist churches. All of the data was converted as it was originally presented in various published registers and books. For this reason, you will find interesting phonetic spellings and large descriptive tables of contents.

What should I know about this collection to access the data?
Some of the records may be in Latin or even a Welsh or Scottish dialect depending on location. The spelling is archaic, and is transcribed as it was written. There are many spelling inconsistencies and non-standard grammar. Phonetic spelling is often used. Try using variant spellings if a search yields no results.

The individual files in this database may not include all dates and records for each parish/church. Use caution in assuming that any database is a complete set of records--even for the parishes and time period listed. Due to the legibility of the original sources, there may be gaps in the records, including partial sentences, cut-off words, and other omissions.

Due to the nature of the records and because the records were originally compiled by a third party, it is difficult to absolutely verify the completeness and validity of the data. The information in this collection is as correct as it was when Ancestry.com received it, and has merely been reproduced in an electronic format.

What historical background should I know to use this data?
A large number of parish records date from the sixteenth century, when a series of mandates required clergy to compile records of baptisms, marriages, and burials within the parish, and to send an annual copy to the Bishop. Essentially, there are two sets of records: the parish copy and the copy the clergyman sent to the Bishop each year, known as Bishops Transcripts. Many records were destroyed, lost, or simply not kept during the Civil War (1642-1660). Of the surviving records, many have since been transcribed and collected by genealogical societies. The records are a valuable resource for finding vital information of people of the time. The content of the records may vary between the two sets.

Civil registration of births, deaths, and marriage, often called General Registration, began in July of 1837. It provides a national vital records index that simplifies searches and includes people who may not have been associated with a church. The civil records are more readily available than parish records (parish records after 1837 often aren't filmed) and are easier to use. But many births went unrecorded in the early years of civil registration, so parish records are still extremely valuable.

Staffordshire: Brewood - Parish Registers, 1562-1649
Staffordshire: Burslem - Parish Registers, 1578-1761
Staffordshire: Burslem - Parish Registers, 1761-1809
Staffordshire: Upper Arely - Parish Registers, 1564-1812
Staffordshire: Betley - Parish Registers, 1538-1812
Staffordshire: Stoke-upon-Trent - Parish Registers, 1629-1688
Staffordshire: West Bromwich - Parish Registers, 1608-1658
Staffordshire: Stoke-upon-Trent - Parish Registers, 1734-1797
Staffordshire: Stoke-upon-Trent - Parish Registers, 1754-1812
Staffordshire: Bucknall-cum-Bagnall - Parish Registers, 1762-1812
Staffordshire: Tipton - Parish Registers, 1513-1736
Staffordshire: Rugeley - Parish Registers, 1569-1722
Staffordshire: Tettenhall - Parish Registers, 1602-1744
Staffordshire: Lichfield - St. Mary Parish Registers, 1559-1671 and St. Chad Parish Registers, 1636-1811
Staffordshire: Bilston - Parish Registers, 1684-1746
Staffordshire: Sedgley - Parish Registers, 1558-1684
Staffordshire: Rowley Regis & Burslem - Parish Registers, 1809-1812
Staffordshire: Burslem & Rowley Regis - Parish Registers, 1772-1812
Staffordshire: Castel-Church - Parish Church, 1568-1812
Staffordshire: Milwich - Parish Registers, 1573-1711
Staffordshire: Penkridge - Parish Registers, 1575-1735
Staffordshire: Weeford - Parish Registers, 1562-1812
Staffordshire: - Roman Catholic Registers, 1720-1830
Staffordshire: Madeley - Registers of Baptisms and Burials, 1567-1775, Registers of Marriages, 1567-1812
Staffordshire: Chebsey - Parish Registers, 1660-1812
Staffordshire: Kingsley - Registers of Baptisms and Burials, 1561-1795, Registers of Marriages, 1561-1754
Staffordshire: Seighford - Parish Registers, 1561-1812
Staffordshire: Blymhill - Parish Registers, 1561-1812
Staffordshire: Croxden, Bradley - Parish Registers, 1674-1812
Staffordshire: Muckelstone - Parish Registers, 1555-1701
Staffordshire: Bloxwich - Registers of Baptisms, 1721-91, Registers of Burials, 1733-91
Staffordshire: Sedgley - Registers of Marriages, 1781-1831
Staffordshire: Wolstanton - Parish Registers, 1624-1769
Staffordshire: Biddulph - Parish Registers, 1558-1642, 1653-1684
Staffordshire: Rushall, Pelsall - Rushall Parish Registers, 1660-1770 and Pelsall Parish Registers, 1763-1812
Staffordshire: Brierley Hill - Registers of Baptisms and Burials, 1766-1800
Staffordshire: Tettenhall - Registers of Marriages, 1744-1839
Staffordshire: Wednesfield - Registers of Baptisms and Burials, 1751-1837
Staffordshire: Penn - Parish Registers, 1748-1837
Staffordshire: Newcastle under Lyme - Parish Registers, 1771-1812
Staffordshire: Lapley - Parish Registers, 1538-1756
Staffordshire: Himley - Parish Registers 1665-1812
Staffordshire: Wolstanton - Parish Registers, 1769-1812
Staffordshire: Trentham - Parish Registers, 1744-1812
Staffordshire: Trentham - Parish Registers, 1558-1744
Staffordshire: Tamworth - Parish Registers, 1558-1614
Staffordshire: Ellenhall - Parish Registers, 1539-1812
Staffordshire: Newcastle under Lyme - Parish Registers, 1563-1705
Staffordshire: Newcastle under Lyme - Parish Registers, 1705-1770.
Staffordshire: Ranton - Parish Registers, 1655-1811
Staffordshire: Alstonfield - Parish Registers, 1538-1812
Staffordshire: Rowley Regis - Parish Registers, 1539-1684
Staffordshire: Rowley Regis - Parish Registers, 1685-1771/2
Staffordshire: Tatenhill - Parish Registers, 1563-1812
Staffordshire: Penn - Parish Registers, 1570-1754
Staffordshire: Pipe Ridware - Parish Registers, 1571-1695
Staffordshire: Berkswich & Walton - Parish Registers, 1601-1812
Staffordshire: Baswick, Walton, & Barlaston - Parish Registers, 1573-1812
Staffordshire: Hints - Parish Registers and Index, 1558-1812
Staffordshire: Weston under Lizard - Parish Registers, 1654-1812
Staffordshire: Standon - Parish Registers, 1558-1812
Staffordshire: Stowe - Parish Registers, 1613-1689
Staffordshire: Leek - Parish Registers, 1634-1694/5
Staffordshire: Ellastone - Parish Registers, 1538-1700
Staffordshire: Rocester - Parish Registers, 1705-1812
Staffordshire: Norton-in-the-Moors - Parish Registers, 1754-1837
Staffordshire: Barton-under-Needwood - Parish Registers, 1571-1812
Staffordshire: Lichfield - Cathedral Registers, 1660-1754
Staffordshire: Walsall - Parish Registers, 1646-1754
Staffordshire: Milwich - Parish Registers Index, 1573-1711, Parish Registers, 1713-1812.
Staffordshire: Codsall - Registers of Baptisms and Burials, 1587-1812, Registers of Marriages, 1587-1843
Staffordshire: Keele - Parish Registers of Marriages, 1540-1812, Registers of Baptisms, 1540-1700
Staffordshire: Armitage - Parish Registers, 1623-1812
Staffordshire: Wolverhampton - Registers of Marriages, 1660-1734
Staffordshire: Wolverhampton - Registers of Marriages, 1735-1776
Staffordshire: Gnosall - Parish Registers, 1572-1699
Staffordshire: Hamstall Ridware - Parish Registers, 1598-1812
Staffordshire: Haughton - Parish Registers, 1570-1812
Staffordshire: Eccleshall - Parish Registers, 1573-1618
Staffordshire: Eccleshall - Parish Registers, 1620-1656