The Parish Registers Of Ulverston 1545-1812

The Parish Registers of Ulverston (1545-1812) In 2 Volumes

Journey back over 450 years to the heart of the Furness peninsula. Walk the cobbled streets of historic Ulverston and trace the lives of your ancestors through the turbulent reigns of the Tudors, the English Civil War, and into the elegant Georgian era. This is more than a book; it is the key to the foundational records of your family's past.

Before the dawn of civil registration in 1837, the parish church was the official keeper of life's most significant moments. For the people of Ulverston and its surrounding hamlets, those moments were faithfully recorded in these very registers. Now, this complete and meticulously transcribed collection places that history directly into your hands.

What's Inside?

This essential volume contains a full, chronological transcription of the original parish registers, providing unparalleled access to:

BAPTISMS (1545-1812): Discover the names of newborns, their parents, and often the father's occupation. Find the entry that marks the beginning of your family line in Ulverston.
MARRIAGES (1545-1812): Unite ancestors as you find marriage banns and solemnizations. Trace the joining of families and uncover maiden names that break down stubborn brick walls.
BURIALS (1545-1812): Mark the end of a life and find details about the deceased, offering poignant glimpses into family tragedies and the hardships of the past.
Why These Registers are Indispensable:

Complete Coverage: Spanning from the reign of Henry VIII to the Regency period, this collection captures a vast and pivotal sweep of English history.
Pre-Civil Registration Data: These are the only official records for most of the population for this era. They are the bedrock of any serious family history research in the region.
Fully Indexed: A comprehensive surname index allows you to quickly and easily locate every mention of your family names, saving you countless hours of searching.
Broader Scope: The registers cover not only the market town of Ulverston but also the adjacent townships and hamlets that fell within its large parish, including places like Osmotherley and Swarthmoor.

A Parish of Notable Lives

The registers of Ulverston chronicle the lives of ordinary folk, but they also recorded the beginnings of individuals who would leave their mark on the world. As you search these pages, you may find the ancestors of, or even entries for, these famous figures connected to the parish:

Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet (1764-1848): One of Britain's great explorers and statesmen, John Barrow was born in the hamlet of Dragley Beck, within the parish of Ulverston. His baptism is recorded in these very registers on 19 June 1764, the son of Roger Barrow, a tanner. Finding his entry provides a direct link to a man who Second Secretary to the Admiralty and was a driving force behind Arctic exploration. The Barrow family's presence would be woven throughout these records.

The Quaker Pioneers of Swarthmoor: While George Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), was not from Ulverston, his most important convert, Margaret Askew (later Margaret Fell) of Swarthmoor Hall, was. The Hall became the "mother church" of Quakerism. The registers of Ulverston are vital for researching the Anglican origins of the Fell family and other early local Quakers whose families would have been baptised, married, and buried in the parish church before their conversion.

The Legacy of a Comedy Legend: While born just after this period, the town that raised one of the world's greatest comedians, Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson, 1890-1965), is the very same community documented within.
These registers provide the rich social and familial context of the town that shaped his early life. You can discover the families and neighbours who formed the backdrop to his childhood.
Who Is This Product For?

Family Historians with roots in Lancashire (now Cumbria).
Descendants of Ulverston families looking to connect with their heritage.
Local Historians researching the demographics and social history of Furness.
Anyone with a passion for British history and genealogy.