Bishops' Transcripts (1760-1840)

This collection of transcripts of County Durham and Northumberland parish registers (1760-1840) contains records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. They supplement original parish registers surviving in County Record Offices, and in some cases fill gaps; the handwriting of such transcripts can sometimes be easier to read than the original. Some post-1864 Quaker burial ground transcripts are also included in this collection. Images of these transcripts are all now available through the FamilySearch website. Parish register records have been heavily relied upon by genealogists for many years. Printed indexed transcripts of some of these registers are available in our local collection, but many more can be found with County Record Office collections, the Northumberland and Durham Family History Society and at findmypast.com.

Summary list of Bishops' Transcripts (giving outside dates of transcripts for each parish/chapelry).

Administrative background notes for Bishops' Transcripts.

Births and Baptisms at Alnwick, Northumberland, 1801-1802, transcribed from the parish register. Ref: DDR/EA/PBT/2/6/74. Available online. Durham diocesan parish record-keeping was greatly improved by the reforms of Bishop Shute Barrington, who, in the interests of persons tracing the 'descent of families', insisted additional information should be consistently recorded. After 1798 the date of birth of the child, the mother's maiden name and the native parishes of both parents were recorded.