Catalogue description ARCHDEACONRY OF BERKSHIRE RECORDS

In the Bodleian Library these records were classified as MSS Archd. Berks D/A2/b2-12, c1-205, d1-13, e1-11. They have now been reclassified D/A2/b2-12, c1-205, d1-13, e1-11. Thus a document formerly known as MSS Archd. Berks c35 is now referred to as D/A2/c35. Please quote the B.R.O. reference when citing documents.

VISITATION RECORDS : visitation books, 1559-1566, 1583-1584, 1594-1596, 1634, 1703-1822; visitation processes, 1613-1642, 1662-1729, 1740, 1761-1839; record of visitations, 1627-1692; visitation accounts, 1798-1799, 1819; churchwardens' presentments and articles of enquiry, 1559-1562, 1583-1584, 1629-1868.

COURT RECORDS : act books, 1535-1536, 1550-1552, 1561-1578; act books (instance causes), 1578-1645, 1661-1682, 1705-1708 (incomplete); act books (office causes) 1579-1640, 1668-1721 (incomplete); act books (instance and office causes, 1768-1796; depositions, 1557-1568, 1590-1611, 1616-1623; mandates for citations, 1661-1684, 1707-1708, 1722; confessions, 1680-1721; excommunication papers, 1628-1805; penances, 1602-1800; absolutions, 1621-1711, 1725-1737, 1762-1798; acts of court (fornication and bastardy cases), 1679, 1745-1768; court papers relating to disputes over tithes (c.1258)-1740; court papers relating to disputes over church rates, 1639-1815; court papers relating to church fabric, 1599-1836; court papers relating to breaches of church rights, 1631-1797; court papers relating to cases involving churchwardens, 1581-1822; court papers relating to defamation cases, 1600-1822; court papers relating to marital causes, 1617-1750s; retainers of proctors, 1806-1813; substitutions of proctors and court officials, 1669-1729, 1756-1771, 1824

MISCELLANEOUS : fee books, 1558-1568, 1635-1637, 1662-1711; procuration and synodal accounts, 1708-1733, 1766-1836; court (office) accounts, 1770-1815; draft surrogates' accounts, 1776-1782; accounts re marriage licences, 1797-1814; glebe terriers, 1588-1788 (most 1634); petitions for repair and building of vicarage houses and for exchanges of glebe, (1402)-1807; mandates for induction, 1581-1853; mandates for sequestration of livings, 1595-1772; sequestrators' bonds, 1559-1828; licences for non-residence, 1632-1717, 1806-1818, 1830; mandates for convocation of clergy, 1679-1831; certificates to licence midwives, 1635-1782, surgeons and physicians, 1635-1746, and schoolmasters, 1671-1777; certificates for butchers to sell, and individuals to consume, meat in Lent, 1661-1664; nominations of parish clerks, 1641-1805; petitions in support of candidates for sexton, 1697-1732; nominations of apparitors to the Archdeacon, 1701-1772; appointment of master of Pangbourne Free School, 1777; returns of schools, hospitals and almshouses, c.1686-1687; certificates of nonconformist places of worship, 1700-1825; copies of deeds registered at the court, 1677-1710; deeds of North Moreton rectory, advowson, glebe and tithes, 1732-1862; inhibitions and admonitions by Bishop of Salisbury, 1584-1641, 1659-1755; marriage bonds, allegations and certificates (very few), 1665-1836; marriage licences (few), 1681-1710; register of marriage licences, 1826-1835; bonds of surrogates for granting marriage licences, 1754-1835; calendar of marriage bonds (1616-1618, 1627-1638, 1669-1846), c.1850; licence for Robert Townsend of Wallingford to perform marriages, 1681; papers relating to ordinations, Oxford and other dioceses, 1674-1792; copy petition of Berkshire clergy against giving political power to Catholics, 1829; miscellaneous papers, 1478-1867.

FARINGDON PECULIAR RECORDS : churchwardens' presentments, 1620-1833; marriage bonds, 1664-1749; annual transcripts of parish registers : Faringdon, 1665-1666, 1672-1678, 1692-1693, 1707-1726 (incomplete), Little Coxwell, 1666-1680, 1689-1693, 1711, 1740-1741; visitation processes, 1665-1742; miscellaneous, mostly court, papers, 1616-1739.

LANGFORD PECULIAR : calendar of marriage bonds, (1676-1814), c.1850.

See D/A1 for the Archdeaconry of Berkshire Probate records

See D/A3 for the Peculiar of Faringdon Probate records

Archdeaconry of Berkshire

Transferred from the Bodleian Library in April 1981 (acc. 2880)

The Archdeaconry of Berkshire (with the exception of the parishes of Chilton and Langford, the former of which was in the Diocese of Oxford, and the latter in the Diocese of Lincoln) was part of the Diocese of Salisbury until 1836 when it was transferred to the Diocese of Oxford. The Archdeaconry of Berkshire was divided into the deaneries of Abingdon, Newbury, Reading and Walling Ford, with a total of 148 parishes.

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