Whitfield, Northumberland Genealogy

= Parish History =

Whitfield is an ancient parish and nowadays is dedicated to Holy Trinity but the earlier church was decicated to St Mary. Holy Trinity was dedicated in 1860 and was the gift of the Rev'd and Mrs. J. A. Blackett-Ord in memory of William Ord Esq. from whom Mrs. Blackett-Ord had inherited the whole estate. It replaced St. John's church which was dedicated in 1813. Many of the stones from St. John's were used in the building of Holy Trinity. The registers start in 1612 and the list of Rectors in 1180 with Robert de Quitfield which confirms the existence of a church at that time.

= Parish Records =

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections Reference number: DDR/EA/PBT/2/268 Date: June 1760-1876 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at Record Search.

The dates of the post-1760 transcripts have been noted in detail and sometimes only cover years. For most parishes in the collection there are gaps in the sequence of transcripts. It is advisable to consult the original parish registers for these years and events.

Whitfield, StJohn/Holy Trinity: Records of baptisms 1611-1959, marriages 1605-1980 and burials 1611-1959, 1981 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes baptisms 1612-1875 (with gaps) and marriages 1606-1877 for this parish, and Boyd's Marriage Index includes marriages 1606-1812 and banns 1754-1812. Transcripts of baptisms 1611-1812, marriages 160(?)-1812 and burials 1611-1812 are available in the Local Studies Departments of Newcastle Central Library and Gateshead Central Library. A transcript of monumental inscriptions at Whitfield (microfiche TN79) is published by Northumberland and Durham Family History Society and these records are also available in book form at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Department.