Doncaster (city), Yorkshire Genealogy

Guide to Doncaster history, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.



History
With the UK Government redefining of counties and jurisdictions in 1972, Doncaster, while historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, is now considered a location in South Yorkshire. As this will not be of any help for Family History researchers, it is identified above as part of the historic county of Yorkshire.

Doncaster is a large market town and is part of a greater metropolitan area with a population of about 300,000.

Possibly inhabited by earlier people, Doncaster grew up at the site of a Roman fort constructed in the 1st century at a crossing of the River Don. The 2nd century Antonine Itinerary and the early 5th century Notitia Dignitatum (Register of Dignitaries) called this fort Danum. The first section of the road to the Doncaster fort had probably been constructed in the early 50s, while a route through the north Derbyshire hills was opened in the latter half of the 1st century. The main route between Lincoln and York was Ermine Street, which required parties to break into smaller units to cross the Humber in boats. As this was not always practical, the Romans considered Doncaster to be an important staging post. Several areas of known intense archaeological interest have been identified in the town, although many, in particular St Sepulchre Gate, remain hidden under buildings. The Roman fort is believed to have been located on the site that is now covered by St George's Minster, next to the River Don.

Doncaster is generally believed to be the Cair Daun listed as one of the 28 cities of Britain in the 9th century History of the Britons traditionally attributed to Nennius. It was certainly an Anglo-Saxon burh, during which period it received its present name: "Don-" (Old English: Donne) from the Roman settlement and river and "-caster" (-ceaster) from an Old English adaptation of the Latin castra ("military camp; fort").

By the time of the Domesday Book, Hexthorpe in the wapentake of Strafforth was described as having a church and two mills. The historian David Hey says that these facilities represent the initial settlement at Doncaster.

As the 13th century approached, Doncaster matured into a busy town; in 1194 King Richard I granted it national recognition with a town charter. In 1248, a charter was granted for Doncaster's market to be held around the Church of St Mary Magdalene, built in Norman times. In the 16th century, the church was adapted for use as the town hall. It was finally demolished in 1846. Some 750 years on, the market continues to operate, with its busy traders located both under cover, at the 19th-century 'Corn Exchange' building, and in outside stalls.

By 1334, Doncaster was the wealthiest town in southern Yorkshire and the sixth most important town in Yorkshire as a whole, even boasting its own banker. By 1379, it was recovering from the Black Death, which had reduced its population to 1,500. In October 1536, the Pilgrimage of Grace ended in Doncaster. This was a rebellion led by the lawyer Robert Aske, who commanded 40,000 people of Yorkshire against Henry VIII in protest about the monarch's Dissolution of the Monasteries.

The Medieval township of Doncaster is known to have been protected by earthen ramparts and ditches, with four substantial gates as entrances to the town. These gates were located at Hall Gate, St Mary's Bridge (old), St Sepulchre Gate and Sunny Bar Today the gates at Sunny Bar are commemorated by huge 'Boar Gates'; similarly, the entrance to St Sepulchre Gate is commemorated with white marble 'Roman Gates'. The boundary of the town principally extended from the River Don, along a route formed by what is now Market Road, Silver Street, Cleveland Street and Printing Office Street.

Because access into town was restricted, some officeholders secured charters to collect tolls. In 1605, King James I granted to William Levett of Doncaster, brother of York merchant Percival Levett, the right to levy tolls at Friar's and St Mary's bridges. Having served as mayors and aldermen of Doncaster, the Levetts probably believed they could control a monopoly. In 1618 the family began enforcing it but, by 1628, the populace revolted.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the town of Doncaster continued to expand, although it suffered several outbreaks of plague between 1562 and 1606. Each time the plague struck down significant numbers of the town's population.

Doncaster has traditionally been a prosperous area within the wapentake of Stafford and Tickhill. The borough was known for its rich landowners with vast estates and huge stately homes such as Brodsworth Hall, Cantley Hall, Cusworth Hall, Hickleton Hall, Nether Hall and Wheatley Hall (demolished 1934). This wealth is evidenced in the luxurious and historic gilded 18th-century Mansion House on High Street. This land ownership developed over what is an ancient market place and large buildings were erected in the 19th century, including the Market Hall and the Corn Exchange. Perhaps the most striking building is St George's Minster, constructed in the 19th century and promoted from a parish church in 2004.

Cemeteries (Civil)
Hyde Park Cemetery: Carr House Rd Doncaster DN4 5AA Phone: +44 7777 688438

Edlington Cemetery: Warmsworth Doncaster DN4 9NA

Warmsworth Cemetery: Guest La Doncaster DN4 9NX Phone: +44 1302 535191

Rose Hill Crematorium: Ascot Ave Cantley, Doncaster DN4 6HE Phone: +44 1302 736900

The following websites can provide additional information on Doncaster Cemeteries:


 * Findmypast: Doncaster


 * Doncaster Council Records

Parishes
St George's Minster Church address: 9 Church St Doncaster DN1 1RD Phone: +44 1302 323748

St Wilfrid's Church address: 200 Cantley Ln Doncaster DN4 6PA Phone: +44 1302 535133

St Wilfrid's, Scrooby Church address: 6AR, Church Ln Scrooby, Doncaster DN10 Phone: +44 1909 591857

St Wilfrid's, Hickleton Church address: Barnsley Rd Doncaster DN5 7BA

St Oswald's Church address: Kirk Sandall Doncaster DN3 1DW

St Mary's Church address: 23 St Mary's Gate Tickhill, Doncaster DN11 9LY

St Mary's, Wheatley Church address: St Mary's Rd Doncaster DN1 2NT

Holy Trinity and St Oswald's Church address: Rectory Ln Finningley, Doncaster DN9 3DA Phone: +44 1302 770240

St Lawrence Church address: 3 Vicarage Cl Hatfield, Doncaster DN7 6HN Phone: +44 1302 350591

St Mary Magdalene Church address: 19 Campsall Hall Rd Campsall, Doncaster DN6 9LH Phone: +44 1302 723224

St Aidans Church address: 18 Central Blvd Doncaster DN2 5PE Phone: +44 1302 342047

For other parishes in local outlying areas, consider accessing the following 3 Yorkshire Parish websites:


 * Yorkshire parishes A-I
 * Yorkshire Parishes K-R
 * Yorkshire Parishes S-Y

Non Conformists
Other Christian and non Christian religious groups follow:


 * Baptists
 * Evangelical
 * Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
 * Christian Fellowship
 * Congregational Church
 * Evangelical
 * Jehovah's Witness
 * Lutheran
 * Methodist
 * Pentecostal
 * Reach out Christian Fellowship
 * RCCJ Maranatha
 * Roman Catholic
 * Unitarian

Non Christian populations include:


 * Buddhists
 * Hindu
 * Jews
 * Muslims
 * Sikhs

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the UK government, from July 1837 to the present day.


 * Yorkshire BMD


 * Doncaster Council BMD records


 * Findmypast: Doncaster ($)

Local Histories

 * Visit Doncaster: History


 * LocalHistories: Doncaster


 * The Big Book of Doncaster History by Symeon M Waller


 * Doncaster Then and Now by Geoffrey Howse


 * Doncaster through Time by Peter Tuffrey

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Google Maps: Doncaster


 * Oldmapsonline: South Yorkshire


 * FrancisFrith: Doncaster old maps


 * GENUKI: Doncaster Gazetteer


 * VisionofBritain: Doncaster Gazetteer

Newspapers

 * The Doncaster Free Press


 * The Star - Doncaster section


 * The South Yorkshire Times

Occupations
Doncaster emerged as an industrial center in the late 18th century to the late 20th century. Its communication links, particularly its waterways, meant that Doncaster became extremely busy and experienced vast migration to its center.

Societies

 * Doncaster Family History Society


 * The Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies


 * Doncaster Library History

Archives

 * Doncaster Council Archives


 * The National Archives: Doncaster


 * FamilyTreeResources: Doncaster Archives

Websites

 * Wikipedia: Doncaster


 * Doncaster Council