Suffolk Church Records

England   Suffolk     Parishes

There are two copies of the Parish Registers. The parish kept their own register and every year they sent a copy to the Bishop known as the Bishop Transcripts. The value of the Suffolk Bishop Transcripts is that it is a copy of the parish register and is available on film. The setback with using them is that all the parishes are on one film per year, so you have to order or view a new film for every year. Parish Chest Records are held by the Suffolk Record Office. It is unknown how complete there collection is. The England Church Records article provides a more indepth view.

Parish

 * Parish Registers - The parish registers can be viewed at the Suffolk Record Office. The Suffolk Record Office also sells the registers for any pairsh in the county in microfiche form.  There are numerous indexes and transcriptions that have been published by the Suffolk Family History Society.  There are numerous indexes that have been created over the years that have been filmed by the Utah Genealogical Society. Check the library catalog to see what is available for your parish
 * Baptisms - From about 1790 to 1812 you will often find the mothers maiden name recorded; after 1813 the fathers occupation is recorded; sometimes the birthdate is recorded.
 * Marriages - Most people married by Banns, some married by license. Post 1754 the marriage record in the parish indicates whether the marriage was by Banns or License.  If by license then there are more records created by the Archdeacon.  Refer to England Church Records page
 * Churchyard - A small portion of the people had headstones. There are inscriptions available for most parishes.  In larger towns public cemeteries were established, and churchyards were not used.  Ipswich started its cemetery in 1855.  It was in the 1850's when public cemeteries began to be establish.
 * Burials - Over one million burials have been published on CD by the Suffolk Family History Society.  They can be searched by surname or parish.  Such a large collection of records provides clues as to where families were living in the County.


 * Parish Chest - Parish Chest Records are held by the Suffolk Record Office. An index to these records can be found on National Archives of England website. (In the search box enter in the parish name, followed by 'parish records')

Archdeaconry of Suffolk
Deanries - Bosmere &amp; Claydon, Carlford, Colneis, Dunwich, Hoxne, Ipswich, Loes, Lothingland, Orford, Samford, Southelmham, Wangford, Wilford. After 1837 Stow and Hartismere were added.


 * Marriage License, Bonds, Allegations -
 * Probate - Court of Archdenconry of Suffolk
 * Bishop Transcripts -   Bishop Transcripts is a copy of the parish registers that was sent to the Bishop from the parish every year. From 1685 to the 1875 there are Bishop Transcripts for the Archdeaconry of Suffolk which have been microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah.   After 1813 the parishes are filmed in alphabetical order. Before 1813 they are filmed by Deanery. From 1813 to 1875 a considerable amount of the transcripts are on the IGI.

shows records in the catalogue.

Archdeaconry of Sudbury
Deanries - Blackbourne, Clare, Fordham, Hartismere, Stow, Sudbury, Thedwestry, Thingoe. After 1837 Archdeaconry of Sudbury was moved into the Dioese of Ely and Stow and Hartismere were added to the Archdeaconry of Suffolk.


 * Marriage License, Bonds, Allegations -  or do a
 * Probate -Court of Archdeaconry of Sudbury
 * Bishop Transcripts - A Bishop Transcript is a copy of the parish registers that was sent to the Bishop from the parish every year. From 1560 to the 1853 there are Bishop Transcripts for the Archdeaconry of Sudbury that have been microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah. After 1813 the parishes are filmed in alphabetical order. Before 1813 they are filmed by Deanery. From 1813 to 1853 a considerable amount of the transcripts are on the IGI.

shows records in the catalogue.