How Were Baptisms, Marriages And Burials Recorded During The English Civil War?

Events normally recorded by the parish priest were instead written down by a civil official called, confusingly, a Parish Register. This official was to be chosen by 'the Inhabitants and Housholders of every Parish chargeable.... to the relief of the poor' and he was to 'be sworn and approved by one justice of the Peace'.

The Register was instructed to keep the register-book and to enter all publications (of the intention to marry), marriages, births (note not baptisms) and burials. He was authorised to charge twelve pence for publications and the certificate of the event, twelve pence for every entry of marriage, four pence for every entry of birth, and four pence for every entry of death, but he was to take nothing from poor people who lived upon alms.

Many of the registers taken of births during this time have not survived and it is common for parishes to have a 'Commonwealth gap'.

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