Merriott Parish Registers
Available to view at LDS libraries, and to purchase from the Somerset
Archives. All transcriptions with the exception of the last batch of
marriages have been completed, and queries can be directed to
me at sue@merriottfamiliesgenealogy.net
Somerset Archives (http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives)
holds the Copyright to all of the following Parish Registers, and they
have allowed me to publish my transcriptions with the proviso that I make
it clear that all usage of data is to be for non-profit making
purposes. If you wish to publish a book or otherwise distribute
Parish Register information for profit, you MUST contact Somerset Archives
for express permission.
I have passed on some of my transcriptions to the Somerset Archives, for
publishing on their website. As far as I know this hasn't happened
yet.
| Archives Reference |
Period |
Type |
Page rulings |
| DP MER 2/1/1 |
1646 - 1712
1653 - 1712 |
Baptisms
Marriages & Burials |
NONE |
| DP MER 2/1/2 |
1678 - 1731
1740 - 1742 |
Burials in Woollen
Baptisms & Burials |
NONE |
| DP MER 2/1/3 |
1695 - 1706
1695 - 1706 |
Baptisms & Burials
Marriages |
NONE |
| DP MER 2/1/4 |
1710 - 1775
1710 - 1768 |
Baptisms & Burials
Marriages |
NONE |
| DP MER 2/1/5 |
1768 - 1812 |
Marriages |
4 to a page; more detail |
| DP MER 2/1/6 |
1775 - 1813
1775 - 1812 |
Baptisms
Burials |
NONE |
| DP MER 2/1/7 |
1813 - 1846 |
Baptisms |
8 to a page; father's occupation included; sometimes
birthdate. |
| DP MER 2/1/8 |
1813 - 1875 |
Burials |
8 to a page; age of deceased included. |
| DP MER 2/1/9 |
1813 - 1839 |
Marriages |
3 to a page; no extra detail |
| DP MER 2/1/10 |
1837 - 1892 |
Marriages |
2 to a page; occupations & fathers' details |
| DP MER 2/1/11 |
1847 - 1876 |
Baptisms |
8 to a page; same format as previous |
| DP MER 2/1/12 |
1875 - 1907 |
Burials |
8 to a page; same format as previous |
| DP MER 2/1/13 |
1892 - 1924 |
Marriages |
2 to a page; same format as previous |
| DP MER 2/1/14 |
1907 - 1952 |
Burials |
8 to a page; same format as previous |
| DP MER 2/1/15 |
1924 - 1952 |
Marriages |
Not known (not
transcribed) |
The reading and transcribing of unruled registers is more difficult than for
ruled ones. Problems include the variation in size of the writing, as well
as the squeezing in of entries in various places. If the print is also
very feint the problems compound.
Other notes:
 | I have transcribed onto computer databases all available PRs with the
exception of the final marriages fiche 1924 - 1952.
|
| 1646 to 1712 (DP MER 2/1/1): There is poor
legibility of some of the years (particularly around the year 1700) and also
extremely tiny but beautifully written script in the initial years of the
register. In some areas the scribe has used
notations such as 8ber for October; 9ber for September etc. Also
keep in mind that the registers use the calendar year of 25 March to 24
March, rather than 1 January to 31 December, throughout these years, and up
until 1751. Thus, 31 December 1720, for example, was followed by 1
January 1720, up to 24 March 1720, followed then by 25 March
1721. If care isn't taken, it can appear that some infants
were buried before they were baptised! Approximately 11 baptisms
from the year 1689 are totally illegible.
|
| 1678 to 1731 (DP MER 2/1/2): Burials in Woollen: legislation was
passed in 1667-8 requiring that all burials should be in a woollen shroud,
in an attempt to help the wool trade. A fine was payable if an
affidavit was not made at a burial certifying that this had been done.
The law was gradually ignored.
|
| There is some overlap in the early records, and some events
were recorded twice in two different registers, and not always with exactly
the same detail.
|
| 1710 to 1775 (DP MER
2/1/4):
During the Julian to Gregorian calendar changeover years, the following
occurred:
1750 commenced on 25th March 1750 and ended on 24th March
1750/1.
1751 commenced on 25th March 1751 and ended on 31 December
1751.
1752 commenced on 1 January 1752 and ended on 31 December 1752, but 11 days
of September were omitted to bring it into line with the Gregorian calendar
already operating in Europe and Scotland. One can only imagine the
confusion which would reign nowadays if such a drastic change had to be made
again!
|
Other Points to Consider
REGISTRATION TAX
From 1695 to 1706 a tax was levied on all births, marriages and deaths
recorded in the Parish Registers, unless a person was designated a
"Pauper". Hence there are quite a few notations of
"pauper" in the records. Whether the pauperism was
continual for the particular person, or whether it was a convenience to avoid
the tax at the time remains to be seen.
MARRIAGES
Marriages are sometimes hard to find in the Merriott registers until the mid
eighteenth century. Clandestine marriages, without banns or licence,
usually held in a parish which was neither the bride's nor the grooms, were
common in England until the introduction of Hardwicke's Marriage Act on 25 March
1754, which outlawed such marriages. After 1754, marriages had to take
place in a Church of England (except in the case of Jews or
Quakers); had to be performed by ordained clergy; those under
21 had to have parental consent; and the marriage had to be
witnessed. Banns books and Marriage register books were supposed to
be kept separately from baptisms & burials. [This did not occur
in Merriott until 1812.] A marriage is most likely to be found in the
Bride's parish, but in the case of Merriott, quite often both parties were local
residents.
After 1837, when Civil Registration began, Superintendent Registrars were
allowed to issue licenses for marriage in either the Registrar's Office or in a
non-conformist church.
BURIALS
Other denominations used the All Saints Church of England Churchyard for
Burials after the Burial Laws Amendment Act of 1880. See also Other Churches.
The
following is taken straight from the Merriott Burials Register:
On 12 January 1907, Mary Loosemore, aged 54, of Tuncombe Farm, Crewkerne
was buried at All Saints. The following notice appeared after her entry:
"I, Matthew Silas Cross of Misterton, Somerset, the friend having the charge of or being responsible for the burial of Mary Loosemore of Tuncombe Farm, Crewkerne, who died at Tuncombe Farm in the parish of West Crewkerne on the 8th day of January inst., do hereby give you notice that it is intended by me that the body of the said Mary Loosemore shall be buried within the Churchyard of Merriott on Saturday the 12th day of January instant at the hour of 3 pm, without the performance in the manner prescribed by law of the service for the burial of the dead according to the rites of the Church of England, and I give this notice pursuant to the Burial Laws Amendment Act, 1880.Signed Matthew Silas Cross to the Rev. S E Percival Vicar of Merriott".
Notes of interest within the Parish Registers
| Within the registers 1723 - 1730 |
"A Register of Briefs collected in Merriott" - click here
| Within the Burial Registers, 1932 |
[Written by Stanley Edward Percival]
The new extension to the Churchyard consecrated by the Bishop of Taunton on
Thursday May 19th 1932 at 3 pm.
N = New Grave Yard; Number of Grave after N; O = Old; D = Double
grave
[From this point forward for many years, each Grave in the new section is
numbered, eg N. 1. This is helpful in trying to match up family members.]
[ Parish Registers ] [ Censuses ] [ Books ] [ Internet Sites ]
|
