The Parish Registers Of Cranfield 1600-1812

The Parish Registers of Cranfield (1600-1812)

Step back over 200 years into the heart of rural Bedfordshire. This meticulously compiled collection of the Parish Registers of Cranfield is an indispensable resource for any family historian with roots in this historic village. Spanning from the Elizabethan era through the Georgian period, these records capture the life events—baptisms, marriages, and burials—of generations of Cranfield residents, from humble agricultural labourers to the lords of the manor.

This high-quality digital transcription provides a direct link to your ancestors, offering names, dates, and family connections that can break down your research brick walls.

Parish of Cranfield, Bedfordshire (1600-1812)
Nestled in the Bedfordshire countryside, Cranfield's history is deeply tied to agriculture and influential landowning families. The registers for the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul are a fascinating chronicle of this community.

The records within this collection are broken down into three key categories:

Baptisms (1600-c. 1812):
Discover the names of children born and christened in Cranfield.
Entries typically include the child's name, baptism date, and the names of the parents (often the father's name and occupation).
Essential for tracing family lines from one generation to the next.
Marriages (1600-c. 1754, Banns & Licences to 1812):
Unite your ancestors as you find their marriage records.
Entries list the names of the bride and groom, the date of marriage, and often the parish of origin for the groom.
Witness names from 1754 onwards can reveal other family members or close friends.
Burials (1600-c. 1812):
Find the final resting place of your Cranfield ancestors.
Entries provide the deceased's name and burial date. In many cases, they also include the age at death, relationship to another individual (e.g., "wife of John Smith"), or occupation, providing crucial context for their lives.
Famous People & Notable Families Connected to Cranfield Parish
The parish registers of Cranfield are not just records of common folk; they also chronicle the major life events of the county's most influential families, who owned the manor and shaped the village's history. Your ancestors may have worked for, lived alongside, or even been related to these figures.

1. The Whitbread Family
Before the famous brewing dynasty became synonymous with Bedfordshire politics, they were significant landowners. Samuel Whitbread I (1720–1796), the founder of the Whitbread brewery and a prominent Member of Parliament, had strong family ties to the area. While his primary estate was at Southill, the family's influence extended across the county. The Cranfield registers from the early 18th century may contain entries for the Whitbread family, their tenants, and the extensive household staff associated with their landholdings in the parish.

2. Sir Samuel Harvey, 1st Baronet (c. 1673–1742)
Sir Samuel Harvey was a wealthy London merchant who purchased the manor of Cranfield in the early 18th century. He became the Lord of the Manor and was a major benefactor to the village, particularly the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where he is buried.

Connection to the Registers: As the resident Lord of the Manor, the baptisms of his children, his own marriage, and his eventual burial would all have been recorded in these very registers. Finding his entries provides a direct look at the records of the parish's most powerful figure of the time. Your ancestors may have been farmers who rented land from him or craftsmen employed on his estate.
Why You Need This Collection:
Direct Lineage: Trace your family tree back over 200 years in one location.
Overcome Brick Walls: Find that missing marriage record or a child's baptism to confirm a family link.
Rich Social Context: Understand the lives of your ancestors by seeing them recorded alongside the powerful landowning families who governed their lives.
High-Quality Data: This product provides a clear, searchable transcript of the original registers, saving you hours of difficult handwriting deciphering.
Begin your journey into Cranfield's past today. Order your copy of The Parish Registers of Cranfield (1600-1812) and discover the stories waiting in your family tree!