Parish Records
Most of the Parish Registers are stored at the Suffolk Records Office (SRO) Ipswich, but they are not readily available to the public. All the data is now stored on microfiches that can be accessed at the SRO. Gradually the Campsea Ashe Local Heritage Group is transcribing these registers and those that have been transcribed so far are available for download by clicking on the links (Excel worksheets). These include:
Baptisms from 1811 to 1821 and 1858 to 1902
Marriages from 1885 to 1889
Burials from 1559 to 1900
Download the spreadsheets HERE
In his book, a History of Campsea Ashe, Rev Lucas reviewed the registers and these are summarised as follows:
In 1538 orders were issued that all baptisms, marriages and burials should be registered in every Parish. This order was not obeyed by all Churches. In 1538, when Queen Elizabeth 1 became Queen, the order was re-affirmed but even then was not implemented by all parishes.
In Campsea Ashe, the Parish Registers date from 1559. This consists of a volume about 12.5" x 10" of parchment leaves bound in brown leather. There are 69 pages. It is in fairly good condition but some ink is faded and some of the writing difficult to decipher.
This book is not the first register used. In 1597 it was ordered that parchment register books should be used and that all entries in the original books, which were paper, should be transcripted into the new book. This is what happened in Campsea Ashe because entries from 1559 - 1598 are of the same hand.
Register 1 - baptisms, marriages and burials from 1559 - 1697.
Register 2
Consists of 50 parchment pages 15" long x 6 3/4" wide and contains Baptisms, marriages and burials from 1698 - 1774.
There were a lot of child deaths during this period.
From 1767 the age of the person buried starts to be entered. Also details of whether they were a married man or woman, widow, etc.
Register 3
Only 6 1/2 parchment leaves in bound leather (13" x 8 1/4") and contains:
Burials 1775 - 1783
Baptisms 1776 - 1782
Register 4
Bound in thick white parchment cover, 113/4" x 91/2" in good repair.
Register 5
Contains Marriages from 1754 - 1812
Banns of marriages from 1745 - 1907
Register 6
Baptisms from 1813 - 1880 - some transcripts available for download here
Register 7
Marriages from 1813 - 1866
Register 8
Baptisms from 1880