The Parish Registers Of Knightwick Baptisms 1529-1812 Burials 1672-1812 Marriages 1542-1812 & Doddenaham Baptisms & Burials 1538-1812 Marriages 1639-1812

The Parish Registers of Knightwick & Doddenham (1529-1812)

Journey back through over 280 years of English history. Step into the lives of your ancestors who lived, loved, and died along the serene banks of the River Teme in rural Worcestershire. This meticulously compiled volume is an indispensable key for any family historian with roots in Knightwick or the hamlet of Doddenham, offering a direct, unbroken link to the generations who shaped this ancient land.

Within these pages, you will find the vital records of two parishes, now brought together for the first time in a single, accessible edition.

What's Inside Your Ancestral Archive:
The Parish Registers of Knightwick:

Baptisms (1529-1812): Discover the very first entries of your family's story, spanning from the reign of Henry VIII to the Regency era.

Burials (1672-1812): Trace the final resting places of generations, offering poignant insights into family lifespans and tragic periods of loss.

Marriages (1542-1812): Unite family lines and follow the joining of names and fortunes, from the Tudor period through to the Napoleonic Wars.

The Parish Registers of Doddenham:

Baptisms & Burials (1538-1812): A unique combined register providing a comprehensive view of the cycle of life in this small but significant community.

Marriages (1639-1812): Follow the matrimonial history of Doddenham from the tumultuous time of the English Civil War onwards.

More Than Just Names and Dates: Whispers from the Teme Valley

This collection doesn't just list names; it opens a door to the world your ancestors knew. The Teme Valley is steeped in folklore, and the echoes of its myths and legends may just be found between the lines of these registers.

The Knight of the Weeping Willow: Local legend speaks of a 16th-century knight, Sir Rowland de Vaux, who was jilted at the altar. In his grief, he supposedly buried a silver chalice beneath a great willow tree on the riverbank near Knightwick. It is said that on moonless nights, his spirit can be seen weeping, waiting for a descendant of his lost love to reclaim the chalice. Could the name "de Vaux" or his beloved's family name appear in these very marriage or burial records?

The Phantom Smuggler of Doddenham: The remote lanes of Doddenham were once a haven for smugglers bringing contraband from the Welsh border. The most famous was "Silent Tom," a ghostly figure said to protect a hidden cache of treasure. Locals warned of a flickering lantern light that would appear on foggy nights, luring the curious away from the path and towards an untimely end. Perhaps an ancestor was a victim of the phantom, or maybe one of "Silent Tom's" accomplices.

The Curse of the Teme Valley Treasure: During the Civil War, a Royalist officer fleeing the Battle of Worcester (1651) allegedly entrusted a small fortune in gold coins to a trusted Knightwick family, the Fletchers. He swore them to keep it safe until his return. He never came back. The Fletchers soon vanished from the records, and a curse was said to fall upon any who sought the gold—unless they were a true Fletcher, returned to claim their birthright. Your family tree could hold the key to breaking this centuries-old curse.

Why This Volume is Essential for Your Research:

Break Through Brick Walls: Find that missing marriage or birth record to connect the branches of your family tree.

Discover Your Entire Clan: With comprehensive records spanning centuries, you can build a complete picture of your ancestral families in the area.

Understand Their Lives: Contextualize your ancestors' existence against the backdrop of major historical events, from the Reformation to the Industrial Revolution.

High-Quality, Accessible Format: This is a faithful transcription of the original registers, presented in a clear, easy-to-read format, complete with a helpful everyname index to guide your search.

Don't let your ancestors' stories remain forgotten in the archives of time.

Order your copy of The Parish Registers Of Knightwick & Doddenham today and begin the most important journey of your life—the journey back to your roots.