Kent, England, Tyler Index to Parish Registers, 1538-1874

Extractions of baptism, marriage, and burial information from parish registers in East Kent, England are available in this database. The information was compiled by Frank Watt Tyler who recorded genealogical data about families in the East Kent area. Parish records—primarily baptisms, marriages, and burials—provide the best source of vital record information in the centuries before civil registration. These records also include some tombstone inscriptions. The majority of these records come between the years 1538 and 1874, although the full range of records extend from the early 1500s to the late 1900s.

A series of mandates in the sixteenth century required clergy to compile records of baptisms, marriages, and burials within each parish. As the clergy were also obliged to send an annual copy to the bishop (called Bishops Transcripts) there are many parish records from this time. During England’s Civil War from 1642–1660 records were destroyed, lost, or never recorded. Of the remaining records, several have been transcribed and collected by genealogical societies providing resources in the search for vital ancestry information. In 1837 civil registration, also known as General Registration, began recording births, deaths, and marriages. These records can include individuals who may not have been associated with a church; however, if you are unable to locate your ancestors in civil records, parish records are a valuable resource.

Because records were compiled by a third party, there may be gaps in information or missing dates and records for each parish/church. The information in this collection is reproduced exactly as Ancestry.com received it only in an electronic format.

Information in this database:

• Parish
• Surname
• Event type
• Birth date
• Marriage date
• Death date
• Parents’ names
• Spouse’s name
• Baptism place
• Marriage place
• Burial place