More detailed parish records - is there a word for them?

[Gardener]

Erm, the Dean? On behalf of the Bishop?
The parish priest's duties included going around the parish each year, compiling a  census, checking on the education and upbringing of children, the behaviour of parishioners and ownership of religious books. This information was entered in a special book.

I see what you mean though, you think it would have to be named after the ultimate purpose, as opposed to just a content description?

It also seems to be called something like "a register of souls" and "household examinations records".
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No, I don't think that there was any national equivalent in England. This is in a Nordic country. I just think that I have seen similar records in a "Parish Chest" collection where a vicar kept his own records in detail.

[iluleah]

Yes I have come across on in a village in Lincolnshire and I called it a "village/parish census" although it gives far more information than any census I have looked at and is the only way I have been able to prove several events.

The particular family I was researching head of house ( widow) named all her children including those married and living elsewhere and their children ( her grandchildren) and the best bit was she named the mother( including her 'new' married name) of an illegitimate grandchild that had always lived with her, this was great as prior it could have been daughters Eliza or Elizabeth who was the mother both of which worked together in the same household as servants were close in age, so leaving few clues

[Gardener]

Many thanks.
OK, at least I have a few ideas to throw at the people behind this  I can let them decide!

[angelfish58]

I've seen something similar described as a parochial survey, it contained name of head of house, number of sons/daughters/servants/lodgers and details of religious denomination and church/chapel attendance and if bibles or prayer books were owned. There were also some more personal comments such as "ignorant, godless and poor".

[Gardener]

I've seen something similar described as a parochial survey, it contained name of head of house, number of sons/daughters/servants/lodgers and details of religious denomination and church/chapel attendance and if bibles or prayer books were owned. There were also some more personal comments such as "ignorant, godless and poor".

That sounds exactly right 

[philipsearching]

.......There were also some more personal comments such as "ignorant, godless and poor".

That sounds exactly right 

Gardener, you know me so well! 

[Gardener]

.......There were also some more personal comments such as "ignorant, godless and poor".

That sounds exactly right 

Gardener, you know me so well! 

I was thinking more of my own family history...

[youngtug]

Inquisition maybe

[iluleah]

Inquisition maybe

  I'm sure it would have felt like that