Parish Chests

[Janet B]

 :)Hi

Can anyone please tell me the information I would be likely to find by looking in the Parish Chest of a Parish.

I am seeking information on an ancestor who was probably born on "the wrong side of the blanket" and wonder if this is where I might find maintenance orders?

I have also read of people accessing settlement orders - where/how would I find these?

Cheers - Janet in Oz

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Janet

The injunction of 1538 which ordered the keeping of Parish Registers also required that each parish should provide “one sure coffer, with two locks and keys” in which the register book was to be kept.
Other items kept in this chest include the Church Silver and Communion plate and other documents connected with the running of the Parish such as some early census returns (1801 - 1841) Settlement Certificates, Removal Orders, Poor Rate Books, etc.

Chris in 1066Land

[Janet B]

  Wow - quick response - thanks Chris!

As he was born around 1866 would I be better off with the parish registers - just that they are a bit expensive to hire out so I want to get the right one?

cheers
Janet 

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Janet

The Parish Register will only give you baptism, marriage and burial - about the only certan entry amongst those would be burial.

If they were baptised, it would indicate the father or confirm wether the child was a bastard child born out of wedlock.

Marriage register should give the fathers name if it was known

Do you know the Parish where the child was born?

Chris in 1066Land

[Janet B]

  Hi Chris

The information i have to date is:

William Kellet married Ann Ridley in 1866 reg Weardale Durham both aged 28 neither had been married before.
Her father was Thomas Ridley Tanner (journeyman)

In 1871 census they are still in Durham with
Thomas E Ridley born Hexham aged 12 Stepson
John Ridley b Hexham aged 7 Stepson
they also had other children.

On the IGI I found John (he is my direct ancestor) baptised 26 Jan 1864 Haltwhistle Northumberland mother Ann Ridley.
Thomas Ridley Bap 7 Jan 1860 Belliingham Northumberland - mother Hannah

Contact with the Hexham records office has drawn a blank on John Ridley - non with mother Ann around those dates.

In 1881 the boys have taken William's name and John remained a Kellet until his death. Would this have require paperwork?

Any suggestions very welcome!
Cheers Janet