EurekA Indexes

Two new publications by the EurekA Partnership of indexed transcripts have excellent introductions, including references to the documents in the Oxford and Berkshire Record Offices, plus outline maps and indexes. EurekA are doing a good job making these records available for family and local history research. The EurekA Partnership address is: 19a Station Road, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury, Bucks HP22 5UL.

Chipping Norton, Faringdon, Witney & Woodstock Registration Districts: Marriage Notices 1837-1851
(The EurekA Partnership, 2003).
A.5, green card, 2Opp; indexed.

From 1 July 1837, under the Civil Registration Acts, any couple not marrying by banns or licence in the Church of England had to give notice of their intended marriage to the local Superintendant Registrar. Since, in many cases, he was also Clerk of the local Poor Law Union, the notice was read out at three meetings of the Guardians at the local Workhouse. The information varies but includes names of the parties and their residence; some also contain condition and/or occupation, plus the church or chapel where the marriage was to take place. The marriage certificate will include the words ‘marriage by certificate’.

Bradfield Union — Workhouse Births 1836-1862, Baptisms 1845-1900, Deaths 1835-1842, Burials 1835-1900 & Affiliations 1853-1864
(The EurekA Partnership, 2003)
A5, grey card, 40pp; indexed.

Bradfield Poor Law Union is west of Reading PLU and contains 26 parishes north to south across central Berkshire plus three parishes in south Oxfordshire. For privacy, although the baptism register continues to 1944, the transcript ends at 1900. The Affiliation Register identifies the putative father of some illegitimate children born in the workhouse or who became chargeable to the Union. The introduction includes a plan of the workhouse.

[JD Sep 2003]