The index was purchased from Mr C Bollen Blore of Northampton by the Record Office in April 2000.
Mr Blore's index was begun as a means of helping his wife complete 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. Staff will be happy to search the index subject to our usual fee of £20 per hour. You can either leave your enquiry with the search room staff or write or e-mail the Record Office.
Enquiries handed to staff will not be completed on the same day so please include your contact details.
- 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.