Roman Catholic Parish Records Birmingham Lookup

[ronnynel]

Hi, I'm looking for the birth of John Thompson born Birmingham about 1832 he was a Roman Catholic. I live in Australia so am un able to visit the record office can anyone help?
Thanks ronnynell

[DudleyWinchurch]

Hi ronnynel,

Birmingham has many Catholic parishes and there were quite a few even back in 1832.  It would probably help if you could be more specific about when and where he was born.  Also, prior to 1837 a CofE baptism was the way to legally register the child. 

If there were younger brothers and sisters (born 1840s onwards), it may be easier to search for them first and establish what parish.

Lookups generally involve reading through the pages of the register on films so are not an easy or rapid task.  Some parishes did have indexes to the registers but even these, if scanned may appear in the middle or later parts of a film so will not be too quick to access.

[ronnynel]

Hi Dudley,
Thanks for the info. I don't have any information on John Thompson apart from he was a convict tried in Manchester 15th February 1850 born in Birmingham 1832 (could be a year either side) he was transported to Tasmania, Australia. I don't know who his parents were or if he had any siblings. As you say without any specific Parish in Birmingham the search is a difficult one.
Thanks ronnynell.

[Bojalu]

Hi Ronnynel,

There are some 28 or more Roman Catholic Churches in Birmingham.

However it appears there were only two in 1832.

St Chad's , Queensway, Birmingham , B4 -6EU
 and
St Peter's Broad Street, Birmingham ( now demolished )

Birmingham Library Archives should  have records of St Peter's Broad Street ( Note address -more than one St Peter's )
Perhaps worth contacting them.

I have done a basic search of Transcribed records of St Chads , for the surname Thompson only.
We have to remember that many were illiterate during that period and that there are a number of  variations of the surname.
Also that errors can occur in transcriptions.

Try searching 1841 census for Birmingham Warwickshire noting others on the page with the same surname ( 1841 census does not reveal relationships and age can be round off to nearest five years )

Then cross reference with 1851 Census and see if you can find the same family  names with your John Thompson missing due to being tried in 1850.

Bo

[ronnynel]

Hi Bo,
Thanks  I will try what you have suggested & see how I go.

Regards ronnynell

[Graham Whitehead]

St Chads RC Cathedral, Birmingham is the home of the Diocesan Roman Catholic registers which include Coventry as well as Birmingham and perhaps the whole of Warwickshire.  A letter/e-mail to the Archivist there would probably help you in your research.
Best wishes
Graham

[ronnynel]

Hi Graham,
Do you know if St. Chads would have the Baptisms for St. Peters. I believe St. Peters was earlier than St. Chads. I'm looking for John Thompson born about 1832.
Best Wishes Ronnynell

[Graham Whitehead]

Sorry, you would have to contact them.  I am sure there is a website for the Cathedral.  I would be surprised if they do NOT have them there.
Happy Hunting.  Graham.

[DudleyWinchurch]

A2A "Access to Archives" on the National Archives web-site, lists the holdings of the ArchDiocesan Archives at St Chads in Birmingham, with years covered.