Isle of Man, Parish Registers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection covers records for the years 1598 through 1950.

Record History
In 1530, King Henry VIII established the Church in England, also known as the Anglican Church, the State Church, or the Episcopal Church. In 1537, the Church of England mandated that parishes begin keeping church registers by the next year (1538). The Manx Church was then under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of York; but the first parish registers did not begin until1598. These records have numerous gaps until 1610. At that time, the Archdeacon of Manx issued an order requiring the ministers under him to keep a register book recording the christenings, marriages, and burials.

Starting in 1812, preprinted registers were introduced, and then separate registers were kept for baptisms, marriages, and burials. However, use of the preprinted registers was not required, so not all parishes used them. The preprinted registers contained additional information not previously recorded.

In 1910, all parish registers were passed temporarily to the General Registry so that government staff could make handwritten copies of all records prior to 1849. These copies, together with the original registers spanning 1849-1883, were subsequently microfilmed in the late 1940s, together with indexes arranged by parish for baptism and marriage entries.

Why This Record Was Created
Parish registers were created to record the church events of baptism or christening, marriage, and burial. Baptism, which was also called christening, was performed soon after the birth of a child. Marriage in the church legally united a man and a woman for civil legal reasons and for the purpose of founding a religiously-sanctified family. Burial was a function of the church to inter the deceased soon after death.

Record Reliability
Parish registers are the most reliable and accurate family history source until 1878 for births and marriages and until 1884 for marriages, when the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths.

Record Description
Baptisms (christenings), marriages, and burials were recorded on blank pages in a bound book called a register. The events of baptism, marriage, and burial were all recorded in one volume until 1754, when a law required that marriages be recorded in a separate book. The records are usually recorded in English with a few in Manx, which is the historical language of the island.

Record Content
Baptism records usually contain the following information:

• Baptism date

• Baptism place

• Name of the child

• Sex of the child

• Names of the parents

After 1812, you may find this additional information:

• Legitimacy of the child

• Marital status of the parents

• Social class of the parents

• Name of the father and often the mother’s given name

• Residence of the parents

Marriage records usually contain the following information:

• Marriage date

• Names of the bride and groom

• Nationality

After 1812, you may find this additional information:

• Ages of the bride and groom

• Names of the parents or other relatives

• Residence of the bride and groom

• Marital statuses of individuals and couples

• The dates that the marriage was announced. This normally took place on three separate occasions prior to the marriage and gave anyone with a valid reason a chance to object to the marriage

• Names of the witnesses

• Whether a spouse is single or widowed at the time of the marriage.

Burial records usually contain the following information:

• Burial date

• Burial place

• Name of the deceased

• Age of the deceased

After 1812, you may find this additional information:

• Spouse’s name

• Parents’ name

• Residence of the deceased

• Sex of the deceased

How to Use This Record
Parish registers are one of the best sources for identifying individuals and connecting them to parents, spouses, and other generations. Baptism or christening records list the parents’ names, making it possible for you to connect your ancestor to an earlier generation. You may find a birth date listed or be able to approximate a birth date. After 1812, the baptismal records may list a place of residence, making it easier to identify your family by where they lived. The records also list the father’s occupation, which makes it easier to identify your ancestor’s family when more than one family with the same name lived in the parish.

Marriage records sometimes state the residence for the bride and groom. You can use this information to look for their baptisms and to identify the children of this couple. Sometimes the groom’s occupation is listed, which could help you find more records about the groom. Marriage records after 1754 list the names of witnesses, who were often family members. These can help you identify your ancestor’s family. Signatures in the records might be used to identify a particular individual by the handwriting style. After 1812 and sometimes before, burial records include the age of the deceased. Use this age to approximate the person’s birth year and to find the baptismal record. If the deceased is a child, the parents’ names might be given. This information helps to extend your family another generation. The occupation of a deceased male might be given (especially after 1812) and can help identify your ancestor when there is more than one person by that name in the area. Knowing the occupation might also provide you the opportunity to find other records about your ancestor.

To search for a person in a parish register, you must know the following: • Where the person lived and the corresponding parish • When the person lived; if you do not know the time period, you must estimate it from what you know of more recent generations.

Use the index to find your ancestor in the parish registers. Keep in mind that as with any index, transcription errors may occur. The ages listed can be used to determine birth dates. The place of residence and occupation lead you to other records, such as census records, that may have information on parents and siblings. The witnesses or sponsors are often relatives.

Related Websites
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/famhist/genealgy/church.htm

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Isle of Man

Sources of This Collection
Digital images of the originals are housed at The Manx National Heritage, Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 3LY

How To Cite Your Sources
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)