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Archiver > POSEN > 2005-05 > 1115337610


From: "Bette McIntosh" <>
Subject: Inclusion into the Parish Record Books
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 19:00:10 -0500
References: <010001c551af$7db88ae0$db04d018@owner5qmruj7lq> <427A9AE6.8060502@adelphia.net>


Diana & Gerd (et al),

Funny how just one little word, in this case "pence", is all it takes to
correctly identify the source of the information.

Evidently, from the sounds of it, the Anglican Church (Britain) had a much
differing policy as regards the baptismal/christening records than those of
countries on the Continent (e.g. West Prussia & Posen). I will lay this
idea, of not registering christenings in the parish record books due to the
lack of funds, to rest as a possible explanation as to why my family's vital
records have not been located even though I have the names, dates & place of
christening for at least three of the children of my direct line ancestors.

All indications are that the records do exist for the Roman Catholic church
in the town known today as Skrzatusz, Poland (formerly Schrotz, West
Prussia). I have been told by much authority that the R.C. church records
are still there in Poland and that they have not been moved to Berlin,
Koszalin or Regensburg. After writing directly to the parish church @
Skrzatusz (in Polish) and despite my repeated attempts to find a researcher
(team) to locate these records, I am still wondering & waiting ..... in this
case I am beginning to doubt that "no news means good news."

Thank you both for your insights.

Bette

Bette: Could I guess this was maybe an English parish or early American
> parish posted on the other list? I don't think the Roman Catholics (and
> most likely not the Evangelical or Lutheran Churches either) ever charged
> for parish record entries. It was their duty to make sure children in
> particular were christened and to list those entries. Also, remember that
> until the civil registries were put into process by the Prussian
> government (circa 1870s), the churches had the duty to record all of the
> information for the government.
>
> Just my opinion, but I've never heard of it in many (25+) years of
> research.
>
> Diana Grzelak Needham


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