What's available

Parish registers: these were compiled in all parishes, usually commencing in the 16th century, but not all of these survive. They record details of baptism, marriage and burial.

Non-conformist registers: not everyone attended the parish church; records of birth/baptism, marriage and burial also exist for other denominations.

“Parish chest” material: accounts of the churchwardens, overseers of the poor, parish rates, etc., can give insight into the everyday lives of your ancestors. Were they tradesmen? Did they own or occupy property? Were they poor, receiving assistance from the parish?

Civil registration: from 1837, certificates of birth, marriage and death.

Wills: fascinating insight into lives and property, and proof of family relationships, information sometimes not found elsewhere.

Census: censuses were compiled every ten years from 1801, but are only full and detailed from 1841. The latest census currently available is the 1911. Censuses 1801 to 1831 tend to be not very detailed, and many do not survive, but some early censuses, such as that for 1821 Braintree, contain a lot of useful notes concerning parishioners. A special case is the early census for Ardleigh 1796, which gives a lot of detail and notes about parish families.

Manor court records: not just a record of land inheritance, but also a record of family relationships, often giving detail not found elsewhere.

Apprenticeship records, and Freeburgess rolls of Maldon & Colchester: an excellent source of proof for family trades and relationships.

Petty Sessions & Quarter Sessions. Court records, witness statements etc.

Workhouse records: those for the Maldon Poor Law District are particularly detailed.

Electoral registers.

Local newspapers.

Settlement, and other poor law documents;

The Law of Settlement & Removal was administered by Parish Overseers. If a person needed assistance from the parish the Overseers had to satisfy themselves that the person or persons "belonged" to the parish. If, after examination, it was judged that they did not they would be "removed" to their parish of origin.

There were several ways in which a person could gain settlement entitlement:

i) By birth in that parish.

ii) Completion of an Apprenticeship in a parish.

iii) Completing a full year’s work by contract to a member of the parish.

iv) Renting a property which was rated at £10 per annum or more.

v) Payment of rates & taxes in the parish.

A great many settlement examinations, settlement certificates, and removal orders, survive for Essex, and are an invaluable resource, often giving a “potted history” of the pauper’s life; parish of origin, apprenticeship, details of jobs, marriage, and names and ages of children.

This list gives some insight into just some of the array of material waiting to fill in the gaps and built a more colourful picture of your family tree.