Kent, England Genealogy

''This article is about a county in England. For other uses, see Kent (disambiguation).''

Kent is a maritime county located in the southeast part of England.

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"KENT, a maritime county; bounded on the N, by the Thames and the German ocean; on the E, by the straits of Dover; on the SE, by the English channel; on the S, by the English channel and by Sussex; on the W by Surrey. It is separated, by the Thames, from the metropolitan part of [London] Middlesex... Its length is 64 miles; its greatest breadth, 38 miles; its circuit, about 190 miles; its area, 1,039,419 acres; its comparative [size], the 9th county of England.

"The county contains 423 parishes, parts of 2 other parishes, and 18 extra-parochial places and villages.

"The places of worship within the electoral county, in 1851, were 479 of the Church of England; 3 of the Presbyterian Church in England; 86 of Independents; 7 of General Baptists; 79 of Particular Baptists; 3 of New Connexion General Baptists; 18 of Baptists undefined; 10 of Quakers; 2 of Unitarians; 184 of Wesleyan Methodists; 1 of New Connexion Methodists; 26 of Primitive Methodists; 27 of Bible Christians; 8 of the Wesleyan Association; 4 of Wesleyan Reformers; 5 of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion; 1 of the New Church; 2 of Brethren; 24 of isolated congregations; 1 of French Protestants; 2 of the Catholic and Apostolic Church; 7 of Latter Day Saints; 13 of Roman Catholics; and 5 of Jews.

"Population in was 1801, 308,667; in 1821, 427,224; in 1841, 549,353; in 1861, 733,887."

The above is taken from: John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72). For the full version, go to Vision of Britain.

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Civil districts
When civil registration of births, marriages and deaths began in 1837, Kent was divided into registration districts, each containing several parishes. To see a list of districts and the parishes they contain, click here.

Parishes
Historically, the county of Kent consisted of 414 ancient parishes including 16 in the city of Canterbury, 3 in Hoo, 3 in Rochester, 3 in Sandwich, 2 in Deal, 2 in Deptford, and 2 in Dover. More parishes have been created as populous areas have grown.

To see a list of parishes, with links to their pages, click here.

Probates
Before 1858, every town and parish in Kent was under the probate jurisdiction of a primary court and one or more secondary courts. To see a list of Kent parishes and the pre-1858 courts that had probate jurisdiction over them, go to Kent Probate Records.

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