The Parish Registers Of Branscombe Devon 1539-1812

The Parish Registers of Branscombe, Devon (1539-1812): Unlock Three Centuries of Coastal Heritage

Journey back in time to the beautiful Devon village of Branscombe, where the sea meets the chalk cliffs and generations of your ancestors may have lived, loved, and laboured. Now, you can hold their stories in your hands.

This meticulously transcribed collection of the Parish Registers of Branscombe spans an incredible 273 years of English history. Beginning in the tumultuous year of 1539, during the reign of Henry VIII, and continuing through the Elizabethan era, the English Civil War, and into the Georgian age, these records are the primary key to unlocking your family's past.

Within these pages, you won't just find names and dates; you'll find the vital moments that shaped a community. Discover the baptism of a seafaring ancestor, the marriage of a farmhand to the love of his life, or the burial of a great-grandparent who lived through an age of revolution.

What's Inside?

Baptisms (1539-1812): Trace the beginning of family lines and discover the names of parents and godparents, providing crucial links to the previous generation.
Marriages (1539-1812): Unite family branches and follow the journey of couples as they started their new lives together.
Burials (1539-1812): Complete the timeline of your ancestors' lives and gain insight into the hardships and health of the community through the centuries.

Essential for Genealogists:

Whether you are a seasoned researcher or just beginning your family tree, these records are an indispensable resource. They are the foundational documents for anyone with roots in Branscombe or the surrounding East Devon parishes. Break through brick walls, confirm family legends, and add rich detail to your family history with data direct from the original source.

A Famous Connection: From a Devon Village to the New World

Branscombe’s history is not just one of farmers and fishermen; it is also the ancestral home of a figure of immense historical significance. These very registers contain the records of the Colleton family, most notably Sir John Colleton, 1st Baronet (1608–1660).

Born in Branscombe, Sir John was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War. After the Restoration, his fortunes changed, and he became one of the eight Lords Proprietor of the Province of Carolina, granted land in the New World by King Charles II. He was instrumental in the founding of the colony that would later become the U.S. states of North and South Carolina.

Owning this register means you could be looking at the baptismal or marriage entry of an ancestor of one of the American colonies' founding fathers. It's a direct link from a quiet Devon village to the birth of a nation, making this collection invaluable not only for local historians but also for the millions of Americans tracing their roots back to the early colonial period.