The index was purchased from Mr C Bollen Blore of Northampton by the Record Office in April 2000.
Mr Blore's justly famous index was begun as a means of helping his wife (who sadly died in 1983) do her professional genealogical research. An initial forecast put the total at 30,000 marriages for the period 1706 – 1813, using the photocopies of the Bishops Transcripts on the Record Office shelves. In time, original registers were used, and the period extended to 1813-1837. The index now fills 13 large card index drawers, and the later period is a separate series.
Access to the index
This substantial index can not be requested for consultation in the Search room, because of its rather fragile and insecure nature. Staff will be happy to search the index subject to our usual fee of £20 per hour. Short searches for one name or a small number of entries free of charge – this is at the discretion of staff on duty.
You can either leave your enquiry with the search room staff or write or e-mail the Record Office. Enquiries handed to staff may not be completed on the same day: please include your contact details.
The index has been compiled on flimsy index slips. The Northamptonshire Record Office will not photocopy the slips but the result of any search will be recorded on a pro-forma sheet; a blank space on any return indicates a nil return in that category on the index slip.
- The index is arranged by groom's surname only – but we also need some idea of the area and date, and the Christian name of the bride, if known.
- Some marriages pre-1706 (from 1660) have been indexed but cover is not comprehensive.
- The index was initially drawn from Bishops Transcripts (hence the date range and geographical range); only later was it drawn from original registers.
- Gaps – the index is not complete geographically for the county but all the parishes included on it, with the exception of Hardwick whose Bishops Transcripts are deficient, are complete in themselves.