Birth, Marriage & Death Records
The most fundamental records you will research are often referred to as BMDs or Vital Records. Throughout history the data that was recorded on these documents varied due to requirements of the time, area, or country. Nominal information will contain the date and names of the registrants. A jackpot of data may reveal dates, place names, addresses, parents’ names, grandparents’ names, occupations and religious affiliations.
Old Parish Registers In Scotland prior to 1855 the recording of births, marriages and deaths was the responsibility of the parish of the Established Church of Scotland. These records are called Old Parish Registers (OPR) and are accessible online whereas other religious denominations may only viewed at General Register House in Edinburgh.
In Registers dating back to 1553, records may be sparse due to poor storage and condition, and in part due to a tax that was levied on birth registration after 1783 which many families could not afford to pay. No standard format was followed for recording details and accuracy is unreliable
Statutory Registers On 1st January 1855 civil registration of birth, marriages and deaths became compulsory. These records were often handwritten and legibility can be an issue. Records kept by other religious denominations did not follow a standard format and may be difficult to find.
Documents may show “His X mark” or “X Her Mark” This symbol was recorded on the document in the presence of a witness when the person supplying the information was unable to write, and is confirmation that the person was most likely uneducated.
Minor records are comprised of birth marriages and deaths of Scottish people living outside the country.
Old Parish Registers In Scotland prior to 1855 the recording of births, marriages and deaths was the responsibility of the parish of the Established Church of Scotland. These records are called Old Parish Registers (OPR) and are accessible online whereas other religious denominations may only viewed at General Register House in Edinburgh.
In Registers dating back to 1553, records may be sparse due to poor storage and condition, and in part due to a tax that was levied on birth registration after 1783 which many families could not afford to pay. No standard format was followed for recording details and accuracy is unreliable
Statutory Registers On 1st January 1855 civil registration of birth, marriages and deaths became compulsory. These records were often handwritten and legibility can be an issue. Records kept by other religious denominations did not follow a standard format and may be difficult to find.
Documents may show “His X mark” or “X Her Mark” This symbol was recorded on the document in the presence of a witness when the person supplying the information was unable to write, and is confirmation that the person was most likely uneducated.
Minor records are comprised of birth marriages and deaths of Scottish people living outside the country.