Welsh Nonconformist RecordsBy Darris G. Williams, AG

Nonconformists

Nonconformity Nonconformity had the greatest influence on the

spiritual and social life of Wales By the mid nineteenth century 80% of the population

were nonconformists Before 1689 and the Toleration Act nonconformity

was illegal so few records were kept The church was unable to cater to the spiritual needs

and growth of the population Nonconformity offered religion in the Welsh

language

NonconformityHigh incidence of nonconformity

Growth of Welsh NonconformityYear 1716 1742 1775 1816 1861

Chapels 110 105 171 993 2927

Many records have not been deposited. About 5,500 chapels existed in Wales but less than thirty per cent of the registers have been deposited at a record office

Fate of Nonconformist RecordsNo record made Records may have been lost

The records may still be with the chapel

Families traveled a considerable distance to worship & may not appear where you expect!!!

NonconformityTypes of chapel records

1. Birth/baptismal register

2. Marriage register

3. Burial register

4. Membership lists

5. Accounts

6. Minute books

NonconformityMore chapel records

1. Transfer registers

2. Pew rent books

3. Sunday school records

4. Lists of society members, Band of Hope & Temperance League

5. Monumental inscriptions

NonconformityMore chapel records

1. Chapel histories

2. Personal accounts of the chapel’s early history

Strategies for SuccessIdentify the chapels in the area where your

ancestors lived using the 1851religious census and the six inch to one mile scale Ordnance Survey maps http://www.old-maps.co.uk/

Strategies for SuccessUtilize chapel records other than the registers of birth,

marriage, and death/burial

Request a search in Capeli Cymru for other chapel records when registers of birth marriage and death/burial are not available. National Library of Wales enquiries: holi@llgc.org.uk

Strategies for SuccessSearch the National Burial Index compact disc. This databaseincludes 265 thousand entries for Wales (Glamorganshire,Cardiganshire, Radnorshire, Monmouthshire, andMontgomeryshire)

Search for burials at the parish church. Nonconformist chapelsseldom had their own burial ground before 1800 Search monumental inscriptions

Strategies for SuccessSearch records within a fifteen mile radius of

where your ancestors lived.

Strategies for Success

Utilize histories about the: Chapel Area Denomination

Baran Chapel Monumental Inscriptions

Strategies for SuccessSearch the Historical Manuscripts Commission

National Register

of Archives web site for information on recently deposited

records. Do a “Place Name”search

http://www.nra.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/

IGI

The International Genealogical Index for WalesPre 1813 extractions are based on the assumptionthat everyone used patronymics. Post 1812 extractions are based on theassumption that no one used patronymics. A small percentage of church and chapel recordshave been extracted.

Analysis of Extracted Welsh Records There are about 1,200 parish churches in

Wales There were about 5,500 nonconformist

chapels in Wales There should be about 6,700 registers of

church/chapel records for Wales About 1,408 registers have been extracted for

Wales (based on findings for Glamorgan)

Analysis of Extracted Welsh Records

Conclusion

Less than 21% of the church and chapel records

for Wales have been extracted for the IGI

The International Genealogical Index for WalesStrategies for successSearch by given name for christenings before 1813

Search by surname for christenings after 1812 Use the IGI as a starting point but never expect it torepresent a high percentage of the population Always examine the original record