The Parish Registers Of Cardington 1572-1812

Unlock Your Bedfordshire Roots: The Parish Registers of Cardington (1572-1812)
Step back in time and walk in the footsteps of your ancestors with this essential genealogical resource. For family historians with roots in Bedfordshire, the parish registers of Cardington are an invaluable key to unlocking family stories from the Elizabethan era through the Napoleonic Wars.

This meticulously transcribed volume contains the official records of life's milestones—baptisms, marriages, and burials—providing a direct link to the people, families, and community of Cardington over a 240-year span. Before the introduction of civil registration in 1837, these parish records are the primary source for tracing your lineage.

Parish Included in this Volume
This publication focuses exclusively on the records of a single, historically significant parish:

The Parish of Cardington, Bedfordshire
Nestled just two miles from the market town of Bedford, Cardington's history is deeply intertwined with agriculture and, in the 18th century, with one of England's most influential industrial and political families. The registers within this volume capture the daily lives of its villagers—the farmers, labourers, artisans, and gentry who formed the fabric of this rural community. Within these pages, you will find the names of your ancestors, recorded at the most important moments of their lives, offering a direct connection to your Cardington heritage.

Famous People & Families Connected to Cardington
The registers of Cardington are not just the record of ordinary folk; they chronicle the lives of a family that rose to national prominence. Tracing your family tree here may even reveal a connection to these notable figures.

The Whitbread Family
The most famous individuals associated with Cardington during this period are undoubtedly the Whitbreads, who became Lords of the Manor and transformed the local landscape. Their significant life events would be recorded in these very registers.

Samuel Whitbread I (1720–1796): The founder of the Whitbread brewing empire and one of the wealthiest commoners in England. He purchased the Cardington estate in the 1780s and built the magnificent Cardington Hall (known as "The Great House"). A Member of Parliament for over 30 years, he was a noted philanthropist and a prominent supporter of Charles James Fox. The registers would contain the baptismal records for his children and details of his household's activities within the parish.
Samuel Whitbread II (1764–1815): Following in his father's footsteps, Samuel Whitbread II was a leading political figure of the Regency period. A close friend of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, he was a powerful orator and a key advocate for the abolition of the slave trade. While his death falls just after this register's cut-off, his entire life and political career were centered around the family's Cardington estate.
Why is this important for genealogists?
The Whitbread family employed hundreds of people on their estate as labourers, craftsmen, and domestic staff. If your ancestors lived in Cardington during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it is highly likely their lives were connected to the Whitbread household, and their names appear in these registers alongside those of the great family itself.

What You Will Discover Inside:
Baptisms (1572-1812): Name of the child, date of baptism, and often the father's name and occupation.
Marriages (1572-1812): Names of the bride and groom, their parish of residence, and the names of witnesses.
Burials (1572-1812): Name of the deceased, date of burial, and occasionally their age or cause of death.
This is an indispensable resource for anyone researching family history in Cardington, Bedfordshire, and the surrounding region.

Order your copy today and uncover the stories waiting in the Parish Registers of Cardington!