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
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).