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Resources for family history
Below are details of some of our most popular resources for family history.
Yorkshire Biographical Database
The Yorkshire Biographical Database was compiled by the late Prof. Philip M. Stell, MBE, in the 1990s, using mainly record publications (that is, editions of--for example--wills, charters, taxation returns, and gild records). It contains over half a million entries for Yorkshire men and women who lived before 1550, and over forty thousand entries for those who lived between 1550 and 1900. Each entry contains the following information, as far as it was ascertainable: surname, forename, sex, place, job, year, and details of the source from which the entry was created.
Our staff will undertake a search of the database for one surname with its various spellings (or forename, sex, etc.) for £17.50; if there are no results payment will be returned. We will accept payment in other currencies of an amount equivalent to £22.50.
To request a search of the database, open, print out, and complete an application form, and send it, together with a cheque made payable to the 'Dean & Chapter of York', to
The Yorkshire Biographical Database
York Minster Library
Dean’s Park
York
YO1 7JQ.
Registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials
The Department of Archives and Manuscripts holds the Minster's original registers of baptisms for 1686-1745, marriages for 1681-1749, and burials for 1634-1836. It also holds the registers of baptisms and maririages for the chapel of the Vicars Choral of York Minster (1682-1868).
Baptisms, marriages, and interments of ashes still take place in the Minster today, and the original register containing the records of baptisms after 1745, marriages from 1749, and burials after 1836 is kept in the church for use at those ceremonies. However, the Department of Archives and Manuscripts maintains a copy for the use of researchers.
Please note the following with respect to the contents of the registers:
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No Minster baptisms are recorded for the period 1805-1882.
- No Minster marriages are recorded for the period 1763-1886.
- No Minster burials are recorded for the period 1837-1915 (interments of ashes are recorded from 1916)
Only two marriages are recorded in the registers of the Vicars Choral (1706, 1716).
Editions of the Minster’s registers of marriages (1681-1762) and burials (1634-1836) are available online at the GENUKI website, and the Minster’s baptism records for 1686-1804 have been published: Robert, H. Skaife, ‘The Register of Baptisms in York Minster’, Yorkshire Archaeological and Topographical Journal, vol. 6 (1881), pp. 385-395.
The original records of parishes in the Diocese of York are held by the Borthwick Institute for Archives (Archdeaconry of York), East Riding of Yorkshire Archives and Local Studies Service (Archdeaconry of the East Riding), and the North Yorkshire County Record Office, (Archdeaconry of Cleveland). However, York Minster Library collects the editions of the registers of baptisms, marriages, and burials published by the Parish Register Section of the Yorkshire Archaeological Society. Search the Library catalogue to find out whether we have an edition for the parish in which you are interested.
Top of PageKing's Book of Heroes
The King's Book of Heroes contains the names of those men born in York, or who resided within the boundaries of the city, who were killed at the time of the Great War of 1914-18, whether in action or training, or died as a result of their wounds.
York Minster Library holds a photocopy of the original book, currently in York Minster, and welcomes reproduction requests of individual entries, which are made using the Book of Heroes original microfilm.
Please allow two weeks processing time for any photographic request of the Book. If you prefer the photographs to be mailed to you please allow two weeks for delivery on top of the two weeks processing time.
Photographs
- A4 black and white photograph: £17.50