Saxtead, Suffolk Genealogy

Parish History
SAXTEAD (All Saints), a parish, in the union and hundred of Hoxne, E. division of Suffolk, 13 miles (N.) from Woodbridge.

SAXTEAD, a scattered village,1202 acres of land, including the hamlet of Saxtead Green, 2 miles W. by N. of Framlingham. The soil is a strong fertile loam, on a substratum of flint and gravel. The manor and the greater part of the soil belong to Sir Robert Hitcharn's Charity, of which the Master and Fellows of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, are trustees, as already noticed at page 189. About one third of the parish is copyhold, subject to arbitrary fines, and the custom of Borough English...

Refer to the works listed in Suffolk Gazetteers or England Gazetteers for source material.

Resources
If you live in Suffolk then you will have access to a variety of resources; however, for those who live further afield, one can access microfilm and online records at Family History Centers. Refer to and  in the FamilySearch Catalog for available records.

Civil Registration
Saxtead was in Hoxne district till 1907 at which time it was moved into Hartismere District. In 1907 Hoxne district was abolished. To search an index of Hoxne or Hartismere district records go to FreeBMD. The Suffolk Civil Registration article tells more about these records. While the district had been created in 1837 for the purpose of recording births, deaths, and marriages, the Hundred had been in existence for hundreds of years for administrative, military, and judicial purposes.

Church records
Saxtead parish registers of christenings, marriages and burials are available online for the following years:

To find the names of the neighboring parishes, use England Jurisdictions 1851 Map. In this site, search for the name of the parish, click on the location "pin", click Options and click List contiguous parishes.

Records are also available at the Suffolk Record Office.

Probate records
Prior to 1858 the primary court that had jurisdiction over Saxtead was the Archdeaconry of Suffolk; however, a person’s will or administration may have been probated in nearby courts or even in London. After 1858 it was in Ipswich District. Refer to the Suffolk Probate Records article for further details.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Suffolk Gazetteers and Directories from 1839 to 1909 - Suffolk Gazetteers and directories provide a brief history and description of each parish and lists principal residents. They mention the farmers and tradesman in each parish and the nearest market towns among other items.
 * National gazetteers provide a brief description of each place
 * Vision of Britain
 * British History Online - SAXTEAD (All Saints), a parish, in the union and hundred of Hoxne, E. division of Suffolk, 13 miles (N.) from Woodbridge.


 * England Jurisdictions 1851 maps - see parish in context with surrounding parishes also determine various ecclesiastical and civil jurisdictions for this parish
 * Saxtead on Google maps - see lay of the land as it is today

Websites

 * Saxtead Transcribed gravestones
 * Saxtead Green Windmill