Jamaica, Church of England Parish Register Transcripts, 1664-1880

What is in This Collection?

This collection will include records from 1664 to 1880. Baptisms, marriages, and burials were all recorded in one volume until 1754, when a law required that marriages be recorded in a separate book. Banns, or proclamations of “an intent” to marry, were recorded in yet another book. Starting in 1812, preprinted registers were introduced, and then separate registers were kept for baptisms, marriages, and burials. Before 1812, bishops’ transcripts were usually recorded on loose pieces of paper.

In 1824, the Diocese of Jamaica was established. In 1825, the office of Registrar of the Diocese was established. Rectors sent copies of existing registers there and sent annual transcripts thereafter. The parish register transcripts include baptisms, marriages, and burials. Birth and death registers were mandated by law in 1843 and kept for a few years, but the law was widely ignored and was repealed after a few years. Civil registration replaced this system in 1880.

Church of England parish registers are the most reliable and accurate family history source until July 1837, when the government instituted the civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths. However, parish registers continue to play an important role because they are often more readily available than civil registers. Bishops’ transcripts are a backup source for parish registers that are missing or illegible.

The registers are arranged in five series:

• Copy registers of individual parishes, early to about 1825
• Parish registers (transcripts compiled at the Diocesan Office), 1826 to 1850 and 1860 to 1871
• Parish registers, new series (transcripts as in 2), 1849 to1860
• Law 6 registers (refers to law 6 passed in 1871)
• Birth and death registers, 1844-1851

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Parish Creation Dates

This list gives the date each parish was created. The first parishes were created in 1664.

To Browse This Collection

What Can These Recoards Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Collection Content

Sample Images

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  1864 Baptism Record

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  1849 Marriage Record

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  1829 Burial Record

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  1844 Death Record