Link: Dorset Online Parish Clerks OPC

[Berlin-Bob]

The Dorset Online Parish Clerks site: 
http://www.opcdorset.org
They have a massive database of parish register entries, census entries, and also descriptions and photos of many parishes in Dorset.

If I see a query here, or on any other board for Dorset info., I automatically look in here first !

[Berlin-Bob]

As I think that this such a great site for Dorset researches, I thought I would add some more info. about it for new users ......

Dorset Online Parish Clerks / Dorset OPC

An Online Parish Clerk (OPC) researches all  the available historical data they can find on a parish,  records are transcribed, and in order to promote further private research, are made FREELY available to any researcher. This will include census,  parish transcripts, bishop's transcripts and churchwardens accounts, overseers  accounts, land tax records, postal directory extracts, church & village histories, etc. An OPC is a volunteer and should not be confused with the civil Parish Clerk appointed by a Parish Council.

There are about 275 parishes in Dorset and so far we have some data online for 269 of  them, with OPC's covering 145 of these parishes.  If you would be interested in volunteering to help make these national records available to all, please click here for more information.

For Newcomers:  Here are some tips for using this site

1) Search by Parish

If you know which parish you are researching, then scroll down the home-page to the list of parishes.  Parishes with OPCs are links to a Parish-Page. Most  Parish-Pages have a short description of the parish and a list of available resources. Resources may be parish registers, directories, census returns, etc.  Online resources are displayed as links.

2) OPC Look-ups

If the resource you need are available but not on-line, then check the parish page for the OPC's  e-mail address. Most OPCs will do Look-ups for you.

3) Monumental Inscriptions

There is also a large database of Monumental Inscriptions (MI) on this site.
On the Home-Page, click on "SEARCH THIS SITE"
Scroll down for a list of parishes with MIs or enter details in the (separate) MI search box

4) Site-Search

On the Home-Page, click on "SEARCH THIS SITE"

enter your name(s) or  place(s), and ........  away you go !

Good Hunting !!  Good Luck !!

[Berlin-Bob]

This site now has a new address:  http://www.opcdorset.org


Bob

[Paul Caswell]

Hi Bob,

Just thought others may find this useful.

Dorset OPC have had to disable their search system for some reason. While this is non-functional you can search using google by requesting a search only on their site.

Example:

Mary Masters site:opcdorset.com

Paul

[nanny jan]

The Dorset OPC site has been renewed and the search facility is back. 



Nanny Jan

[jendor]

It might be down a few times over the weekend as there is some work going on but it won't be for too long...

There will be more improvements over the coming months, how long it will take depends on how much spare time I have so just keep checking back.

Jennifer
(Coordinator Dorset OPC)

[Paul Caswell]

Thanks for letting us know Jennifer.

Are we allowed any hints as to what the improvements may be?

Paul