Italy, Waldensian Evangelical Church Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying a translation of the title in French here.

Collection Time Period
This collection of Waldensian Church records covers the years 1632-1969.

Record Description
This collection includes church records (such as baptisms, marriages, and deaths) of the Waldensian Evangelical Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese). These records have been digitally captured at the Archivio Tavola Valdese in Torre Pellice, Torino, Italy. Most of the records in this collection are written in French; some are written in Italian.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in most baptism records include the following:


 * Place of baptism
 * Name of the child
 * Date of birth
 * Date of baptism
 * Parents’ names
 * Godparents’ names

The key genealogical facts found in most marriage records include the following:


 * Place of marriage
 * Groom’s and bride’s names
 * ages
 * statuses
 * Parents’ names on both sides
 * Witnesses’ names

The key genealogical facts found in most death records include the following:


 * Place of death
 * Name of the deceased
 * Age of the deceased
 * Parents’ names
 * Place of burial

How to Use the Record
Begin your search by finding your ancestors in the census index. Use the locator information in the index (such as page number or family number) to locate your ancestors in the census. Some on-line indexes, such as indexes to FamilySearch Historical Records, will take you directly to an image. Compare the information in the census to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination. Be aware that as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

When you have located your ancestor in the census, carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. For example:


 * Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family.


 * Use the race information to find records related to that ethnicity such as records of the Freedman’s Bureau or Indian censuses.


 * If they are subject to military service they may have military files in the State or National Archives.

Record History
The Waldensian Evangelical Church is an Italian Protestant denomination that goes back to the Middle Ages. For centuries since its creation, members of the church were harshly persecuted until about 1848, when they were granted legal freedom to worship. Since then, the church has developed and spread through Italy and other countries.

Why This Collection Was Created
Each parish kept a record of events such as baptism, marriage, and death in the life of their members.

Record Reliability
These church records are reliable and an important source for family history.

Related Web Sites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.


 * Chiesa Evangelica Valdese (English)


 * Waldensians


 * Finding Ancestors in the Waldensian Valleys (Roots Web)

Related Wiki Articles
Italy Church Records

Known Issues with This Collection
Valdesi Church Records in Torre Pellice, Italy are not available for publication in the collection.

Contributions to This Article
We welcome your assistance in adding source citations for individual archives when collection data was collected from various sources or archives. The format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives, is found in the following link: How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org): September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71.


 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org): April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023.

Sources of Information for This Collection
“Italy Waldensian Evangelical Church Records,” database, FamilySearch; from Archivio Storico della Tavola Valdese. “Italy, WaldensianEvangelical Church records.” Archivio Storico Tavola Valdese di Torre Pellice, Italy. FHL digital folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.