VPRS 18496 Early Church Records of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials

Full description

This series comprises of Early Church Records for Baptisms, Burials and Marriages received at the Registrar-General's Office.

Official (government) registration of births, deaths and marriages commenced in 1853. Prior to this date records of baptisms (births), burials (deaths) and marriages were kept by churches. After 1853 these records were required to be sent to the Registrar-General's Office. It is believed that not all churches complied with this provision and that many church records were either destroyed or remained with the churches.

Information recorded for baptisms may include:

- full known name(s) of the child
- date of baptism
- who performed ceremony with number
- registry number
- parish location
- signed by register with date and year
- child's first (christian) name
- parents first name
- parents surname
- parents abode
- parents profession
- name and registry number of celebrant
- date of birth
- year and location

Baptism records are arranged in numerical order by registration number.


Information recorded for marriages may include:

- registry number
- name of church
- day and year of service
- name of county with year
- date and location of service
- ministers full name
- the surnames and given names of the bride and the groom
- the occupations of both the parties to the marriage at the time of the marriage
- the usual residence of both parties to the marriage at the time of the marriage
- the date and place of marriage
- the dates and places of birth of bride and groom
- the parents' names including the mothers' family surnames of both parties to the marriage
- the signatures of both parties to the marriage and two witnesses to the marriage
- the signatures of the celebrant who performed the ceremony.

Marriage records are arranged in numerical order by the registration number.


Information recorded for burials may include:

- full known name(s) of the deceased with registered number
- date of death
- place of death
- cause of death
- abode location
- date of burial/ service
- age of deceased
- profession of deceased
- name of chaplain with number
- location of parish
- name of attendant
- ceremony performed by
- age of death

Burial records are arranged in numerical order by registration number.

The relationship of this series with VPRS 7292 Index to Early Church Records is subject to further research.