Here's a quick description of what the earliest Wirksworth Register
(1608-1662) looks like. Its kept in the Derbyshire Record Office at Matlock.
The Register is 6 1/2" wide and 15" tall and 3" thick.
The cover is made of Leather
On the spine in large letters is written BMD 1608-1662
There are about 100 pages made of parchment
The condition of the binding is very poor
Each page contains up to 50 records on each side
The Register contains about 10,000 records.
Baptisms start at the front, about 4,500 total
Burials start at the back, about 4,500 total
Marriages start in the middle, about 900 total
Each entry is written in black ink with a quill pen.
Usually one entry covers one line about 6" long.
Legibility varies from good to completely faded.
Pages are marred by ink blots and skin imperfections.
Writing style is mainly "Secretary Hand", in use 1500-1700
The Register smells "old".
Here are three examples that I've typed directly from the Register pages,
to show the kind of wording to be found. The first shows Marriages from 1619,
second Baptisms from 1676 and lastly Burials from 1708. A lot of Latin is
used, but it is pretty easy stuff mainly. Firstnames are often Latinized,
but Surnames and placenames never, fortunately. If you can't guess, here's
what the Latin means:
"et" = and, "nupt" = were married, "filia" = daughter, "filius" = son,
"de" = from, "spurius" = illegitimate son, "ibidem" = from the same place,
"mense" = month
1619
Thomas Buxston et Elizabeth Mort nupt 6 of Aprill
John Toplas et Siselye Cloones nupti 11 of Aprill
Edward Cowper et Marye Bonsall nupti 27 of Aprill
Thomas Godbeare et Susana Alsop nupt 27 of Aprill
Thomas Aspinall et Cathearne Cadman nupt 28 of Aprill
Richard Beghton et Ann Smyth nupt 1 of Maye
Henrye Hall et Ann Walker nupt 4 of Maye
Thomas Hall et Ann Gee nupt maie 11th 1619
RETURN to FRONTPAGE
Mense February 1676
Dorathea filia Roberti Pearson de Wirkesworth 2
Solomon fils Guilielmi Wright de Cromford 7
Thomas fils Adami Holehouse de Midleton 9
Richardus spurius Richardi Steer et Doratheae Wall de Wirkesworth 11
Thomas fils Gulielmi Greatorix ibm 14
Alicia filia Nicolae Birds de Ideridgehay 14
Hellena filia Gulielmi Marson de Alderwasley 14
Thomas fils Thomaae Momford de Wirkesworth 21
Samuel fils Gulielmi Fletcher ibm 21
Johannes fils Johannes Potter de Alderwasley 23
Georgius fils Georgij Buxton de Wirkesworth 28
Josephus fils Johannis Keeling de Cromford 28
Mense Maij Burials 1708
Eliz. Tabbrow de Wirksworth 2
Robertus spurius Sarah Vallance de Wirksworth 2
Hannah filia Samuelis Fletcher de Wirksworth 9
Willielms Huldy ibid 12
Arthurus Bradshaw ibid 13
Ricards Wood ibid 15
Rebecca filia Johan Higton de Cromford 16
Maria filia Sarae Vallence de Wirksworth 19
Edwardus fils Willielmi Ogden de Middleton 19
Maria Hardcastle de Wirksworth 25
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