Baptisms, marriages and burial registers
/The historic baptism, marriage and burial registers of Rochester Cathedral are a part of the archives of the Dean & Chapter of Rochester Cathedral held at Medway Archives in Strood (DRc/S1-5 and S21). Records survive from shortly after the requirement became law in the mid-seventeenth century.
This post features in our Colonial and Military series available through the Heritage page. For an introduction to the series see Rochester Cathedral and the British Empire.
The earliest register records just 15 years from 1657 to 1672, after which a subsequent register is missing. Comprehensive records up to the present day begin in 1694 , even that of Susanna, daughter of the Rev. Walter Frank, & Christian his wife, who was baptised 9th June 1742 in the Parish Church of St. Nicolas ‘while the Cathedral was repairing & beautifying’. In 1768 the sacrist Rev. Richard Dene made a copy of both surviving earlier registers and began a new register which was in use until 1813 (DRc/S3). From this date baptisms, marriages and burials are recorded in seperate registers.
The historic baptism, marriage and burial registers have been digitised by Medway Archives (available online DRc/S1, DRc/S2, DRc/S3 and DRc/S21).
Services have generally been restricted to those resident within the Precinct. The earliest registers are full of intruiging records: of a foreign ‘prince’, military men from the local Chatham dockside, clergy and of men, women and children from many walks of life.
‘Melior May the Daughter of George May Esq was the first that was Baptised in the ffont Jannario the 20 – 1669’. Little is known of the site of this font, which was replaced in the 18th century and again in the 19th.
The date of birth as well as baptism is often recorded. It was common for both to occur on the same day, particularly when there seemed to be a danger the child might not survive. Occasionally even those born but not baptised are recorded: ‘Robert, Son of Mr George Fisher, born & baptized June 11, 1698. … Jane, twin, a Daughter, born but not baptized.’ Early records reveal adult baptisms were not uncommon: Martha Mancleloe was ‘about 20 years old)’ when baptized October 29, 1729.’
Baptism records are almost exclusively those of children from wedded couples, although occasional discrepencies in surnames of parents hint at adoption, scandal or births of unwed servants. In the case of the latter the head of the household was often recorded: ‘Joseph & John, both born Twins, of Mary Hubbard, Servant to Mr Gillman, by John Carman, his man, born & baptized December 20, 1697.’
Burial registers occasionally specify interment ‘in ye body of ye church’. Most other early burials are presumed to have been within the churchyard to the north of the Cathedral, and later within the area outside the west front and eventually into a portion of the castle moat. From the nineteenth century a small parcel of Cathedral property near Priestfields was used for Cathedral clergy and staff of which many are present throughout the records: Anthony Hogg ‘one of the Singingmen ‘ was interred in the Cathedral 28 of July 1667.’.
The earliest register is interspersed with pages of accounts recording payments for burials and expenses for various official duties.
From the end of the seventeenth century burial records include the reference ‘in Woollen’, refering to the statutory requirement to use English wool in burial shrouds specified by the Burying in Woollen Acts 1666–80.
A broad range of occupations are recorded. There is a distinct maritime heritage to many records, with sailors, a cordwainer, and ship-carpenter. Others include brick-layers, carpenters, . Several leuitenants feature, ‘Mons.r Labiniere Trelbey of the family of Dizia o the Province of Onege rare Admirall to the ffrench King was inter'd the 6th of May 1672’
There is a well-known story of the burial of a ‘Translyvanian Prince’ murdered close to the Cathedral, his interrment recorded in the earliest register.
J D Davies follows the story in a blog post Highways and Byways of the Seventeenth Century: the Prince of Transylvania (we won’t spoil the twist!).
On the 3rd December 1713, William Thompson, ‘a Black’, was baptised:
Neither parent, day of birth or estimated age being recorded suggests William may have been an infant born in servitude within the Precinct. William is the only baptism registered with this description, although in the same register DRc/S2 (which also contains marriages and burials), a burial of an Anthony Mumford on May 30th 1720 is similarly described in place of the typical record of occupation:
The transcription of the registers is ongoing – links are provided to complete registers below.
Jacob Scott and Jo Cali
Baptisms
1657-1672
DRc/S1, see online facsimile and transcript
| Date | Baptised | Father/Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 7th February 1657 | Bridgett Ballard | William Ballard |
| 10th November 1660 | Richard Ballard | William Ballard |
| 20th June 1661 | Ellina Woolgate | Stephen Woolgate |
| 21st April 1663 | Isaac Mathewes | Richard Matthews |
| 20th June 1664 | Sarah Sampson | George Sampson |
| 20th January 1669 | Melior May1 | George May Esq. |
| 17th October 1669 | John Joy | Thomas Joy2 |
| 28th May 1671 | Rebacca Lyra3 | Dr John Codd4 |
| 13th June 1671 | Charles May5 | George May |
| 26th June 1671 | John Wyvell | John Wyvell6 |
| 10th November 1672 | John Gambull | John Gambull |
| 24th November 1672 | ffrancis Punter | George Punter |
1694-1768
DRc/S2, see online facsimile
| Date | Baptised | Parents/Sponsor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13th Nov 1694 | Anne Axe | James and Mary Axe | |
| 6th Aug 1695 | Mary Gillman | John and Anne Gillman | |
| 18th Aug 1695 | Thomas Garner | Augustine and Margar Garner | |
| 5th Feb 1695 | Nayler ffisher | Capt. Thomas and Susanna ffisher | |
| 9th Feb 1695 | Robert Hutchins | James and Margaret Hutchins | |
| 6th Mar 1695 | Benjamin Heait | Edward and Susanne Heait | |
| 16th Jun 1696 | Sarah Solway | George7 and Jane Solway8 | |
| 16th Aug 1696 | Henry Washington | Henry Washington | |
| 20th Sep 1696 | Laetitia Gamball | ||
| 7th Jan 1696 | Rose Wickers | ||
| 19th Jun 1697 | William Axe | ||
| 30th Jul 1697 | Elisabeth Hutchins | ||
| 21st Sep 1697 | Elizabeth Sheaff | ||
| 1697 | Robert Crew | John and Martha Crew | |
| 1697 | John Gillman | John and Anne Gilman | |
| 1697 | Anne Heait | Edward and Susanne Heait | |
| 1697 | Joseph and John Hubbard9 | John Carman and Mary Hubbard | |
| 1698 | John Gamball | John and Anne Gamball | |
| 1698 | Robert ffisher | George ffisher | |
| 1698 | Mary Slaughter | William and Mary Slaughter | |
| 1698 | Thomas Gilman | John and Anne Gilman | |
| 1698 | Patience Hartley | William and Elizabeth Hartley | |
| 1698 | William and Elizabeth Oliver | Samuell and Elizabeth Oliver | |
| 1698 | Sarah Newby | George and Sarah Newby | |
| 1699 | Mary Fisher | Lieut. George and Elizabeth Fisher | |
| 1699 | Mary Axe | James Axe | |
| 1699 | Harry Gilman | John and Anne Gilman | |
| 1699 | Susanna Heaite | Edward and Anne Haite | |
| 1700 | Jane Gamball | John Gamball Jnr. and Anne Gamball | |
| 1700 | Richard Gilman | John and Anne Gilman | |
| 1701 | Frances Sheaff | Richard Sheaff | |
| 1701 | Robert Gamball | John and Anne Gamball | |
| 1701 | Jacob Rolt | Jacob and Agnes Rolt | |
| 1701 | William Furner | James and Jane Furner | |
| 1701 | Elizabeth Hugbon | Lieut. John and Mary Thompson | |
| 1702 | Mary Thompson | Lieut. John and Mary Thompson | |
| 1703 | Samuell Sheaf | Richard Sheaf | |
| 1703 | Robert Gillman | John and Anne Gillman | |
| 1703 | Elizabeth Gamball | John and Anne Gamball | |
| 1703 | Frances Axe | James Axe | |
| 1704 | Thomas Wren | George and Susanna Wren | |
| 1705 | Samuel Sheaf | Richard Sheaf | |
| 1706 | Catherine White | William and Grace White | |
| 1706 | Carolina Wren | George and Susanne Wren | |
| 1706 | Sarah Sheaf | ||
| 1707 | John Axe | ||
| 1707 | Margaret Rolt | ||
| 1707 | Mary Barrell | ||
| 1708 | Herman Sheaf | ||
| 1709 | Mary Roult | ||
| 1709 | Susanna Wren | ||
| 1709 | Robert Pickering | ||
| 1709 | Anne Spain | ||
| 1710 | Anne Sheaf | ||
| 1710 | Elizabeth Pickering | ||
| 1710 | Anne Wren | ||
| 1711 | Jane White | ||
| 1711 | Edmund Sheaf | ||
| 1711 | Sarah Spain | ||
| 1712 | Jacob Rolt | ||
| 1712 | Mary Rondeau | ||
| 1712 | Thomas Osmotherly | ||
| 1713 | John Spain | ||
| 1713 | William Thompson* | ||
| 1713 | William White | ||
| 1716 | Elizabeth Spain | ||
| 1716 | Sarah Rondeau | ||
| 1717 | Elizabeth Rolt | ||
| 1717 | John James | ||
| 1718 | Elizabeth Rondeau | ||
| 1719 | Anne James | ||
| 1719 | William Dormer | ||
| 1720 | Thomas Rondeau | ||
| 1721 | Mary Tickell | ||
| 1722 | Elizabeth Hull* | ||
| 1722 | James Hodges | ||
| 1723 | Charles Birkbeck | ||
| 1723 | Thomas Tickell | ||
| 1723 | Deborah Dormer | ||
| 1723 | Ann Harris | ||
| 1723 | Elizabeth Jones | ||
| 1724 | Elizabeth Jacobs | ||
| 1724 | Susanna Bilson | ||
| 1725 | Henry Booker[?] | ||
| 1725 | John Rondeau | ||
| 1725 | Alexander James | ||
| 1725 | James Hales | ||
| 1725 | Martha Parfect | ||
| 1726 | Esther Bilson | ||
| 1726 | Ralph Bishop | ||
| 1726 | David Jones | ||
| 1726 | Susanna Rondeau | ||
| 1726 | Ann Bilson | ||
| 1727 | Bennet Parfect | ||
| 1727 | Sarah Lashly* | ||
| 1727 | Mary James | ||
| 1727 | Jane Hayes | ||
| 1727 | Rebecca Rondeau | ||
| 1727 | Henrietta Jemima Lock | ||
| 1728 | Henry Jones | ||
| 1728 | Elizabeth Lowder/Bainam | ||
| 1729 | Mary Hayes | ||
| 1729 | Martha Mancleloe[?]* | ||
| 1729 | Susanna Hales | ||
| 1729 | Amelia Rondeau | ||
| 1730/1 | Abigail Maria James | ||
| 1731 | James Cobham Hayes | ||
| 1732 | Abigail Maria James | ||
| 1732 | Richard Cobham Hayes | ||
| 1732 | Susanna Radborne | ||
| 1734 | Mary Hickman | ||
| 1736 | Mary Frank | ||
| 1737 | George Hickman | ||
| 1737 | Walter Frank | ||
| 1737 | Elizabeth Stubbs[?] | ||
| 1738 | Richard Cobham Serby[?] | ||
| 1738/9 | Mary Pratt | ||
| 1739 | Susanna Burges | ||
| 1739 | Sarah Stubbs | ||
| 1740 | Jane Frank | ||
| 1740 | Ellen [?] | ||
| 1740 | Mary Wade | ||
| 1741 | William Stubbs | ||
| 1741 | Anne Howland | ||
| 1741 | Susanna Frank[?] | ||
| 1742 | Catherine Hayes | ||
| 1742 | Maria Kirchel[?] | ||
| 1743 | Hannah Lloyd* | ||
| 1744 | Elizabeth Frank | ||
| 1744 | George Nicholls | ||
| 1745 | Edward Stubbs | ||
| 1746 | James Gardner | ||
| 1746 | John Goldsmith Wade | ||
| 1747 | Robert Booker[?] | ||
| 1747 | Sarah [?] | ||
| 1748 | Robert West | ||
| 1749 | William Stubbs | ||
| 1750 | John Harrison | ||
| 1751 | Thomas Sacket[?] | ||
| 1752 | Martha Bayley | ||
| 1753 | Eason Harrison | ||
| 1754 | Joseph Howe | ||
| 1754 | Mary Warns | ||
| 1755 | [?] | ||
| 1755 | Elizabeth [?] | ||
| 1756 | William Rogers | ||
| 1756 | Edward [?] | ||
| 1756 | Elizabeth Howe | ||
| 1757 | Mary Bramsby[?] | ||
| 1758 | John Howe | ||
| 1759 | James Billfoure[?] | ||
| 1760 | Philip Stone | ||
| 1761 | John Daniel | ||
| 1761 | George Gransbury | ||
| 1761 | Frances Howe | ||
| 1763 | Deborah Turner | ||
| 1764 | Thomas Nigsell[?] | ||
| 1764 | John Boghurst | ||
| 1766 | Jane Boghurst | ||
| 1768 | James Osborn Hymase[?] |
1657-1810
DRc/S3, see online facsimile
1813-1994
DRc/S21, see online facsimile
Marriages
1669, 1670, 1677
DRc/S1, see online facsimile and transcript
1695-1768
DRc/S2, see online facsimile
1695-1754
DRc/S3, see online facsimile
Burials
1661-1672
DRc/S1, see online facsimile and transcript
| Date | Buried | Occupation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd June 1661 | Ann Barrell | ||
| 14th Sep 1661 | Joane Lee | ||
| 21st Oct 1661 | Cossuma Albertus* | ||
| 31st Oct 1661 | Richard Holden | ||
| 11th Dec 1661 | Thomas Case | ||
| 28th Dec 1661 | Joane Edwards | ||
| 11th Nov 1661 | Mary Petty | ||
| 1662 | John Cod | ||
| 14th Mar 1663 | Benjamyn Crumpe | ||
| 26th Apr 1665 | Mary Codd | ||
| 13th Jul 1665 | Elizabeth Lorkin | ||
| 24th Oct 1665 | David Denn | ||
| 4th Oct 1666 | Henery Denn | ||
| 16th Jan 1667 | John Lorkin | ||
| 28th July 1668 | Anthony Hogg | ||
| 21st Sep 1669 | Christopher Wyvell | ||
| 27th May 1669 | Humphrey Lorkin | ||
| 28th Aug 1666 | Melior Heblethwayte | ||
| 26th May 1670 | John Wyvell | ||
| 30th Sep 1670 | Robert Rose | ||
| 26th Dec 1670 | Richard Barrell | ||
| 18th Jul 1671 | Ann May | ||
| 20th Oct 1671 | Laurance Gascoyne | ||
| 14th Nov 1671 | John Petty | ||
| 6th May 1672 | Rabiniere Trelboy | ||
| 5th Aug 1672 | Elizabeth Cobham | ||
| 26th Sep 1672 | Gartrude Codd | ||
| 3rd Oct 1672 | Dr. John Codd | ||
1695-1757
DRc/S2: Facsimile
| Date | Buried | Sacrist |
|---|---|---|
| 1695 | Catherine Lauder | |
| 1695 | James Thurston | |
| 1695 | Capt, John Thornbury | |
| 1695 | James Jervaise | |
| 1696 | Elisabeth Pigeon | |
| 1696 | William Gamball | |
| 1696 | Jane Solway | |
| 1696 | Sarah Solway | |
| 1696 | Robert Hutchins | |
| 1696 | Mary Gilman | |
| 1696 | Martha Batten | |
| 1696 | Mary Johnson | |
| 1696 | Elizabeth Cowly | |
| 1696 | Rose Wickers | |
| 1697 | Sarah Huggins | |
| 1697 | Brockel Smith | |
| 1697 | Joseph and John Hubbard | |
| 1697 | Joanna Parker | |
| 1697 | John Travers | |
| 1698 | William Richards | |
| 1698 | Martha Lun | |
| 1698 | Robert ffisher | |
| 1698 | Henry Sharp | |
| 1698 | Anne Gamball | |
| 1698 | Katherine Warner | |
| 1698 | William Oliver | |
| [Incomplete] |
1661-1812
DRc/S3): Facsimile
Footnotes
1 ‘the first that was baptized in the ffont.’
2 ‘of this Precinct.’
3 ‘about nyneteene years old’
4 ‘eldest son of…’
5 ‘vicar of ffriendsbury in Kent.’
6 ‘ye posthumous daughter of George Solway deceased…’
7 ‘ut fertur’ (‘so it is said’)
8 ‘Base born Twins of Mary Hubbard Servt. to Mr. Gilman (by John Carman his man)’
9 ‘At the same time a daughter was Born but not Baptized.’
Explore more exceptional items in the Chapter Library collection from medieval manuscripts to 19th-century photographs.
The Cathedral archive records of the Dean & Chapter are held at Medway Archives in Strood, subdivided into records of the Dean & Chapter (DRc) and the Priory of St Andrew (DRc - priory).
