Source Information
About Bexley, Kent, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1558-1812
This collection includes parish registers containing baptism, marriage, and burial records from parishes in the current administrative area of the London Borough of Bexley, England.
Both the British government and the church had an interest in record keeping, and a 1538 act of Parliament required ministers in the Church of England to record baptisms, marriages, and burials. This database includes records with dates ranging from 1558 through 1812, when George Rose’s Act called for preprinted forms to be used for separate baptism, marriage, and burial registers as a way of standardizing records.
See the browse on the right to determine which parishes are included in this collection and the date coverage for each parish.
About Baptisms
Children were usually baptized within a few days or weeks of birth. The records generally include when the date of baptism and in what parish it took place, child’s Christian name, parents’ given names and the family surname, residence, father’s occupation, and who performed the ceremony. Sometimes you’ll find additional facts, such as date of birth. Earlier records may contain less detail.
About Marriages
Couples were usually married in the bride’s parish. Marriage records typically include the bride and groom’s names, residence, date and location of the marriage, names of witnesses, condition (bachelor, spinster, widow, or widower), and the name of the officiant. Some records may also include the father’s name and occupation. Earlier records may contain less detail.
About Burials
Burials took place within a few days of death. Records generally list the name of the deceased, residence, burial date, and age at death. Earlier records may contain less detail.