Basic Facts About Using Baptism Records for Family Historians

Description

Baptism records are important they often provide the only written record of an ancestor’s early life.  However, baptism has never been compulsory by law in the British Isles so, although most Christian and Jewish people were baptised at some stage in their lives, there is no guarantee that such a ceremony did take place.

This guide outlines the various types of baptism record which the family historian is likely to encounter, and in which type of record repository they can be found.  Some of the problems and pitfalls which may occur when consulting these records are also discussed.