The Parish Registers Of Scorborough Yorkshire 1653-1803

Unlock Your Yorkshire Heritage: The Parish Registers of Scorborough, 1653-1803

Step through the churchyard gate of St. Martin’s and into the lives of your ancestors.

Are the names and faces of your Yorkshire past lost to the mists of time? Do you feel a pull towards the rolling hills of the Wolds, a sense that your story began there? Within the pages of the Parish Registers of Scorborough, 1653-1803, you hold the key. This meticulously transcribed and indexed collection is more than a list of names; it is a direct line to the heartbeats, hopes, and heartaches of a community forged over 150 tumultuous years.

From the aftermath of the English Civil War to the dawn of the Victorian era, these registers are the definitive record of the people who tilled the soil, prayed in the pews, and shaped the very soul of this quintessential East Riding village.

What You Will Discover Inside:

Baptisms (1653-1803): Find the names of your forebears, often with the crucial names of their parents, allowing you to build your family tree branch by branch. Witness the generations as they are welcomed into the world.

Marriages (1653-1803): Unite family lines as you discover marriage vows exchanged. Discover the names of witnesses, who were often family members, providing further clues to your kinship network.

Burials (1653-1803): Trace the final journey of your ancestors. These entries often include ages, offering poignant glimpses into the hardships and realities of life in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Fully Indexed: An easy-to-use index of surnames allows you to quickly locate every mention of your family lines, saving you countless hours of research.

Historical Context: An introduction places the registers in their historical setting, from the Cromwellian period to the Georgian age of agricultural revolution.

Echoes from the Wolds: Myths, Legends, and Local Lore

The registers are more than just data; they are the silent backdrop to the rich tapestry of Scorborough life, steeped in its own unique lore. As you trace your ancestors' names, imagine the stories they told and the legends they lived alongside:

The Wold-Wraith of Scorborough: Local legend speaks of a spectral figure, sometimes called "Old Man Hemphill," who is seen wandering the lanes near the church on moonless nights. Said to be the spirit of a 17th-century landowner who was buried without a coin for the ferryman, his mournful whispers are carried on the wind. Was your great-great-grandfather one of the villagers who left a coin on the grave to appease his troubled soul? The names in the burial register from that era may hold a clue.

The Lost Cavalier's Gold: As the Civil War drew to a close in 1651, a defeated Royalist officer fleeing the Battle of Marston Moor is said to have buried a small chest of his family's silver and gold somewhere on the outskirts of Scorborough. He marked the spot with a unique, carved stone before fleeing to the continent, never to return. The treasure was never found. Could your ancestor have been a trusted servant who knew the secret? Or perhaps a local farmer who later bought the land, unknowingly sitting on a fortune? The names in the land and marriage records of the 1650s and 1660s are filled with possibility.

The Healing Well of St. Martin: Long before the registers began, a spring near the church, dedicated to St. Martin, was renowned for its curative properties, particularly for ailments of the eye. Pilgrims would travel for miles to bathe their faces in its cool waters. By the 18th century, the well had fallen into disuse, but older residents still spoke of its power. Look for clusters of baptisms or families living near the old well-path—perhaps they were the last guardians of this ancient tradition.

Why This Book is Essential for Your Research:

A Primary Source: This is not a second-hand account. It is a direct transcription of the original records, the most reliable source for your family history.

Break Down Brick Walls: The records from 1653 are especially rare and valuable, filling a crucial gap for many family trees.

Connect to Your Roots: Go beyond names and dates. Understand the community your ancestors were a part of, the local beliefs that shaped their world, and the land they called home.

Don't let your ancestors' stories remain forgotten in the archives. Order your copy of The Parish Registers of Scorborough today and begin the journey back to the place where your history began.