How to Do Church Record Research For Your Family Genealogy
Have you considered looking into church records for your genealogy research? Church records are not to be overlooked when doing family history research.
Not all churches kept good records, and some kept none.
But plenty of them did keep good and valuable records.
Some denominations are better than others at keeping records and that also may vary depending on the time period and location you are researching.
The various types of church records you can find may reveal birth places, parent's names, baptismal dates, marriage records, marriage witnesses, confirmations or notes about a particular family.
Be prepared to work a little harder than normal to find some of these records, but they may be infinitely valuable.
Before 1910 there was little conformity with the various states in keeping records of births, deaths or marriages.
It is because of this that church records may be a good substitute for the missing information before then.
In addition, church records may contain information not found in civil records, such as witnesses or parents.
Many churches, such as Quaker ones, had a vital concern with what went on in their congregation.
If the records survive, you can find missing pieces to your genealogy.
Since the census data was only taken every 10 years you may have gaps in family history time periods which require investigating.
Before the 20th century many families moved often and these families may be hard to keep track of.
One way to keep track of them is to trace church records.
A census may tell you where children were born, but finding the baptism of these children may reveal that they lived in a different place prior to or after the census.
This will guide you to more research in new areas.
You may luck out if a family member was a priest or minister.
Many churches or religious organizations such as a Catholic dioceses kept, and still keep, detailed records of those serving the church.
You may find family or immigrant information in these records.
You will not be able to purchase a one volume comprehensive guide to doing church record research.
There is none available.
The only way to begin finding where to look is to use state genealogy guides, local family history research center information, random calling of churches, internet research and state archives.
Sometimes it is difficult to figure out which church your ancestor may have attended, unless some document specifically mentions the church.
One of the first questions you will have when beginning church record research for your genealogy is, "How do I find out what religious denomination my ancestors belonged to?" One of the ways to find out is to pay attention to the denomination of the minister who married your ancestors.
Logically, your ancestors may have been married by a minister of a similar denomination.
Another way to find out can be connected to your ancestor's country of origin.
Many Italian ancestors were Catholic, Germans were Lutheran or Reformed and the English, Anglican, Quakers or Presbyterian.
Those of French ancestry were most likely Catholic or Huguenot.
Many Irish were Catholic or Methodist.
The Scottish were commonly Presbyterian.
It was common for ancestors to change denominations somewhere in their history.
Converting to Methodist was common for Quakers and Catholics who could not find a local church or support.
Another way to find your ancestors religious denomination is to simply figure out what common denominations were in the area in which they lived.
Many areas were predominantly Calvinist, Methodist, Baptist or Catholic.
Roman Catholics are well known for passing down their denomination to the next generations, so some traditions may exist related to that.
Another less common way to determine a denomination is to search for biographical sketches of your family that may exist in published form, either locally or in a repository, such as a regional archive or library.
For families that were in the country prior to 1800, there are many biographical sketches available at various libraries.
Not all churches kept good records, and some kept none.
But plenty of them did keep good and valuable records.
Some denominations are better than others at keeping records and that also may vary depending on the time period and location you are researching.
The various types of church records you can find may reveal birth places, parent's names, baptismal dates, marriage records, marriage witnesses, confirmations or notes about a particular family.
Be prepared to work a little harder than normal to find some of these records, but they may be infinitely valuable.
Before 1910 there was little conformity with the various states in keeping records of births, deaths or marriages.
It is because of this that church records may be a good substitute for the missing information before then.
In addition, church records may contain information not found in civil records, such as witnesses or parents.
Many churches, such as Quaker ones, had a vital concern with what went on in their congregation.
If the records survive, you can find missing pieces to your genealogy.
Since the census data was only taken every 10 years you may have gaps in family history time periods which require investigating.
Before the 20th century many families moved often and these families may be hard to keep track of.
One way to keep track of them is to trace church records.
A census may tell you where children were born, but finding the baptism of these children may reveal that they lived in a different place prior to or after the census.
This will guide you to more research in new areas.
You may luck out if a family member was a priest or minister.
Many churches or religious organizations such as a Catholic dioceses kept, and still keep, detailed records of those serving the church.
You may find family or immigrant information in these records.
You will not be able to purchase a one volume comprehensive guide to doing church record research.
There is none available.
The only way to begin finding where to look is to use state genealogy guides, local family history research center information, random calling of churches, internet research and state archives.
Sometimes it is difficult to figure out which church your ancestor may have attended, unless some document specifically mentions the church.
One of the first questions you will have when beginning church record research for your genealogy is, "How do I find out what religious denomination my ancestors belonged to?" One of the ways to find out is to pay attention to the denomination of the minister who married your ancestors.
Logically, your ancestors may have been married by a minister of a similar denomination.
Another way to find out can be connected to your ancestor's country of origin.
Many Italian ancestors were Catholic, Germans were Lutheran or Reformed and the English, Anglican, Quakers or Presbyterian.
Those of French ancestry were most likely Catholic or Huguenot.
Many Irish were Catholic or Methodist.
The Scottish were commonly Presbyterian.
It was common for ancestors to change denominations somewhere in their history.
Converting to Methodist was common for Quakers and Catholics who could not find a local church or support.
Another way to find your ancestors religious denomination is to simply figure out what common denominations were in the area in which they lived.
Many areas were predominantly Calvinist, Methodist, Baptist or Catholic.
Roman Catholics are well known for passing down their denomination to the next generations, so some traditions may exist related to that.
Another less common way to determine a denomination is to search for biographical sketches of your family that may exist in published form, either locally or in a repository, such as a regional archive or library.
For families that were in the country prior to 1800, there are many biographical sketches available at various libraries.
