The Parish Registers Of Lapford Devon 1567-1850

The Definitive Parish Registers 1567-1850

Step back in time and walk in the footsteps of your Devon forebears. Nestled in the heart of Mid-Devon, along the banks of the River Yeo, the historic parish of Lapford holds the key to your family's story. For nearly three centuries, its parishioners were recorded in meticulous detail—baptisms, marriages, and burials that mark the joys and sorrows of generations.

Now, for the first time in a fully searchable and easy-to-use format, The Parish Registers of Lapford, Devon 1567-1850 brings this incredible historical record directly to you.

What You Will Discover Inside:

This comprehensive collection is more than just a list of names; it's a doorway into the lives of the people who shaped this rural community. Within these transcribed and indexed pages, you can uncover:

Baptisms (1567-1850): Discover the names of children born in Lapford, their parents' names, and their dates of baptism. Trace your family line from the Elizabethan era through the Victorian age.
Marriages (1567-1850): Find the unions that formed the backbone of the parish. Locate your ancestors' wedding dates and the names of their partners, often revealing family alliances and maiden names.
Burials (1567-1850): Piece together the end of life's journey. Find burial records that can help confirm death dates and family relationships, closing gaps in your family tree.

A Crucial Resource for Your Research:

The 1567-1850 date range is exceptionally valuable, bridging two distinct historical periods:

Deep Roots: Starting in 1567, these registers take you back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a time of immense social and religious change in England. Find ancestors who lived through the English Civil War and the birth of the British Empire.

The Bridge to Modernity: Continuing to 1850, the records neatly overlap with the start of Civil Registration (1837) and the first detailed censuses (1841). This makes them an indispensable tool for linking your ancient parish records to modern documentation.

A Famous Connection: The Controversial Bishop Colenso

Lapford's history is not just one of farmers and labourers. It was also the early parish of one of the most controversial and fascinating figures of the Victorian era: John William Colenso.

Before becoming the first Bishop of Natal and a renowned biblical scholar, Colenso served as the curate of Lapford in the 1830s. He was a man ahead of his time, whose progressive views on scripture and race caused a major schism in the Anglican Church.

Your ancestor may have been baptized by the young, brilliant Colenso, married by him, or had their funeral service conducted by him. Owning these registers allows you to connect your family's story directly to a man who debated Darwin and challenged the very foundations of Victorian theology. It's a tangible link to a figure who shaped history on a global stage.