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Registers Until the mid18th century, it was usual for baptism, marriage, and burial entries to appear in the same register. There was no standard format and, whilst some clergy recorded occupations, ages and residences, the majority simply recorded names and dates. From 1st January 1813 baptisms and burials had to be recorded separately and printed registers were produced with a standard layout.
Baptisms These recorded the names of the child and the parents (but seldom the mother's maiden name) and, after 1813, abode and father's occupation. Sometimes, vicars recorded the child's date of birth in the registers. Remember that baptisms could take place some time after the birth and it was not uncommon for all the children in a family to be baptised at the same time when the eldest could be in his/her teens, or older! For various reasons,
parents did not necessarily use their parish church when their children
were baptised. This is particularly true for those families that
worked on the canals and simply used the nearest church according
to where their boat was moored. A personal name index of baptisms,
marriages, and burials of Wolverhampton boat people has been compiled
which can be seen on the
Marriages Hardwicke's Act 'for the better prevention of clandestine marriage' came into force on 25th March 1754 and was designed to regulate how and where marriages could take place. All marriages had to be performed in 'licensed buildings' which usually meant the parish church (except for Jews and Quakers) and had to be preceded by the calling of Banns or the issue of a Licence. At least one of the couple had to reside in the parish in which the marriage was to take place and the marriage register had to be signed by both parties and by witnesses. Marriages had to be recorded in separate volumes from baptisms and burials. Note that not all churches were licensed for marriages and, therefore, some churches acted as a 'mother church' for other parishes. For example, during the period when Hardwicke's Act was in force, no marriages took place in Bilston or Wednesfield - these would probably have been solemnised at St Peter's Church, Wolverhampton. With the advent of Civil Registration in 1837 Superintendent Registrars could issue licences for marriages either in the Registrar's Office or in a nonconformist church.
Burials The registers listed the name of the deceased and after 1813 their age and abode. As in all cases where age is listed treat the information with a certain degree of caution, although it can be a useful guide. Before 1813 when the age at death was not usually recorded, it can be impossible to establish if the burial was of an adult or a child, particularly when favourite Christian names were used throughout succeeding generations of a family.
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