1 Presented By: DeAnne Shelley

2 Let’s look at the history of Church Records… 1538 – English Parliament required church records for christenings, marriages, and burials Therefore, we must remember that America was a colony of the British Empire

3 1641: Virginia 1715: North Carolina 1706: South Carolina 1752: Georgia 1697: New York The Church of England was not a popular church with the people of the colonies.

4 After the Revolutionary War, the Church of England was disestablished: 1776: Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York 1777: Virginia and North Carolina 1789: Georgia 1790: South Carolina In 1783, group of Episcopal churches met and adopted the name “Protestant Episcopal Church” (PE Church)

5 The Congregational religion was the state religion in New England until as late as Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Connecticut were all congregational areas. Massachusetts revoked its charter of colonial times.

6 Three Religion Movements from Europe:   Lutheranism   Calvinism   Ana-baptism

7   Lutheranism The State religion in:   Germany   Norway   Denmark   Sweden Churches were established in:   Pennsylvania   New Jersey   New York   Maryland

8 Amish-Mennonite originally settled in Pennsylvania, but moved later into:   Indiana   Ohio   Nebraska   Illinois   Canada

9 The Methodists arrived from Ireland in Moravians date back to 1457, being first formed in Bohemia. In 1734, they arrived in Pennsylvania and then went to Georgia. A group formed settlements at Salem. Their present headquarters are in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Good membership records.

10 Presbyterianism In the U.S., began outside of New England. Maryland was organized in Very good records.

11 The people known as the Quakers or the Society of Friends have one of the most interesting stories to be told in the religious history of America.

12 In 1657, they landed in Virginia, where the law suppressed activity. The first meetings were held in Rhode Island, and then Rhode Island outlawed them. Then Baltimore, Maryland was organized followed by Virginia and North Carolina, and then persecution ended in New England.

13 By 1760, 30,000 Quakers were in the colonies. By mid-1800 there was a separation of Hicksite and Orthodox movement. Certificates of removal are very helpful to research.

14 Church Records are the best source for: Birth The Internet has made them more accessible now than ever before. Marriage Death

15 There are two types of churches: State Churches Free Churches BaptistsBaptists MethodistsMethodists LDSLDS etc., CatholicMexico Church of England British Isles LutheranScandinavia

16 Types of Church Records: Baptism and Christening Marriage Confirmation Membership Deaths or burial

17 Other Types of Church Records: Consent notices Bonds (NC and SC) Intentions Proclamations Letters of transfer Banns Removals Bar Mitzvah

18 Locating Church Records How to find records if the Church is still in the area: 1. 1.Write to ecclesiastical head of the church 2. 2.Check the FHLC 3. 3.Check city directory 4. 4.Check the Internet

19 Locating Church Records How to find records if the Church is no longer in the area: Contact nearest historical society Check to see if church has a central archive Check the FHLC Check the Internet

20 Locating Church Records How to determine church affiliation: Where are they now? What country did they come from? What churches are in the area? Remember… frontier families went to the closest church. Check the county history

21 “Double Dating” Example : 11/22 Feb. 1731/32

22 Julian Calendar Combined lunar and solar time By 1582, he was off 10 days So…

23 Pope Gregory XIII In 1582, the 4 th of October was to be followed by 15 October 1582 In 400 years, there would be an error of 3 days, so there would not be a February 29 th if the year ended in two 0’s and the first two numbers could not be evenly divided by 4

24 Not all countries accepted the Gregorian Calendar at the same time… England and the U.S. colonies waited until 1752 By then, their calendar was off 11 days

25 George Washington was born 11 Feb. 1731, but we recognize the date as 22 Feb Why? When he was born in 1731, the government went by the old calendar, which started with March 25. They said there was over a month of 1731 left before 1732 began.

26 However, when January became the first official month, it meant that the 11 Feb. (or 22 Feb) was in So double dating began, which means: Two children can be born into the same family on 1 April 1720 and 22 March 1720 A man can die in October 1692 and have his will probated in February 1692

27 Let’s look at some Quaker Records…

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38 The Repositories of American Church Records are shown in the enclosed handout.