| Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 Family History - General Sources Parish Registers These record baptisms, marriages and burials, and are the main source for family historians until civil registration was introduced in 1837. From 1538 in England and Wales and 1555 in Scotland, every single parish was required to keep parish registers. They are a slightly more complicated source of information, but are still very useful to
family historians. However, it is important to note that most of the records prior to 1837 do not provide an actual date of death or birth, only the date of the event that followed it (burial or baptism). Parish registers were maintained at the discretion of the local vicar, so they are not necessarily a comprehensive record. Depending on the handwriting of the author some are easy to read while others are extremely difficult! In most cases you should be able to ascertain the name of the person, the date and nature of the event (baptism, marriage or burial) and, in the case of baptisms, the names of the parents. Parish registers, or microfiche copies of them, can usually be viewed at record offices local to the parish concerned. Another resource that provides information on parish records is the International Genealogical Index (IGI) which was compiled by the Church of Latter Day Saints, or the Mormon Church. Copies of this index can be found at local record offices and in family history centres. 
Marriage Register of the parish of St Nicholas in the City of Gloucester, 1850 - Gloucestershire Archives Nonconformist Records These include registers recording baptisms or births, burials or deaths and marriages (from July 1837). If families belonged to a nonconformist denomination they would not be recorded in parish records. Where chapel registers do not survive, information about individuals and families can be found in church rolls and chapel minute books. 
Birth Register of St Gregory’s Roman Catholic Church, Cheltenham - Gloucestershire Archives
Birth Register of Shortwood Baptist Chapel, Nailsworth - Gloucestershire Archives | 
