Talk:Downe, Kent Genealogy

The Family History Library film catalogue mis-spells the village name. In case of query Down House was the home of Charles Darwin! Penshurst 15:48, 11 December 2011 (UTC)

The error in the catalogue entry is also present in the International Genealogical Index batch entries. The village is spelled Downe (see link to Edward Hasted) consistently in record sources,but is also found as Down. It seems likely that the cataloguer made an error based on the microfilm information provided.

There is a debate on introduction of Downe as a fixed spelling when mail was introduced to avoid confusion with other places in the mail system; however examination of earlier records shows that no fixed spelling emerged consistently from the hand of most local clergy or Land Tax assessors; as indeed the spelling of names is inconsistent. All civil parish material is Downe; there is consistency from 1837 in the civil registration records held at Bromley which have been examined and Poor Law records vary in some cases ( depending on the author).

DowneOPC 20:06, 16 March 2012 (UTC)

Explanation of the earliest register has been added to assist anyone who is using microfilm images to attempt research. The quality of microfilm exposure in both the Kent Archive filming and the GSU filmings add to the difficulty of reading parts of the vellum pages. With permission the Kent OPC examination of the original document and the deed wrapper has enabled transcription to provide clearer help to searchers in the early register. It is hoped to have a transcript online with permission of the copyright holders as soon as possible. The anarchy of record keeping between 1640-1672 makes research prior to 1672 difficult with the evident loss of child baptisms reflected in 51 entries in 22 years.DowneOPC 19:03, 4 April 2012 (UTC)