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For those engaged on the tracing of their ancesters it is useful to know that returns become available for public inspection on the first working day of the year following the year in which they become one hundred years old. Researchers should be aware that there is much evidence to suggest that people did not always state their ages correctly.

Parishes of birth were not recorded in the 1841 Census, although an indication 'Y' or 'N' was given as to whether they were born within the county. For those under the age of 14 the exact age is given, but the ages of those aged 15 or more are rounded down to the nearest 5 years below - so someone who stated he was 19 would have been recorded as 15. From the 1851 census the information is more meaningful.

From 1 July 1837 Methodists could get married in their own Chapel if it was licensed for marriages BUT the Superintendent Registrar of the area had to be present and record the details in his own register. Before this date marriages could only take place in the Church of England (Anglican) churches.

It was also possible from 1837 to have a civil marriage in a Register Office. That register of marriages was kept by the Superintendent Registrar also. The registers held by at the Register Office cannot be seen but Index books can be viewed at an hourly cost.

Records of the Diocese of Exeter, (which included most of Cornwall up to 1875), 13th-20th centuries (including bishops' registers of institutions, ordinations, licences, and consecrations, faculties, marriage bonds and allegations, tithe maps and apportionments, glebe terriers, consistory court act and deposition books, testamentary and other papers) are also available in the Devon Record Office. Most Church of England marriage registers for Cornwall up to about 1900 have now been deposited with Cornwall Record Office which is the legal requirement.

Advice on how Civil Registration information in Cornwall can help those researching their family history is available.

The Unions of parishes, established by the Poor Law Commissioners under the 1835 Act of Parliament, became registration districts with the introduction of civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in 1837 for England and Wales, so superseding the medieval division of the county of Cornwall and even breaking with the ancient county boundaries. Whilst registration was compulsary from 1 July 1837, there was no penalty for non-observance until 1874. Some parents failed (and some still do) to register their children's births, and some children were actually registered twice under different forenames. For marriages and deaths, registration is complete apart from the occasional human error. These facts need to be borne in mind, in particular by users of civil registration and Poor Law records. Details of civil registration districts in Cornwall 1837 - 1930 can be found, and further details on civil registration are included in answer to placename queries.

Further information on civil registration in the UK explains the current organisation, and provides links to how birth, marriage and death certificates can be obtained. Brett Langston has also provided details of Registration Districts 1837-1930. Information on what is contained on an English/Welsh certificate is available on-line. Civil registration information in the UK is increasingly being transcribed onto the Internet by the Free BMD Project which is searchable. The GRO (formerly St Catherine's House) Indexes are available on-line.

The main prison for Cornwall was located at Bodmin. The first Bodmin Gaol was built in 1779, and the execution of condemned men took place in a number of different places, since that time (not as is widely believed) exclusively within the confines of the Gaol itself. A list of Executions at Bodmin is available on line.

Prison records are located in the Cornwall Record Office. Quarter Session Records are available by surname by selection the Cornwall Record Office option. Try typing in the name of the parish you are interested in, you can get a fascinating insight of life in the Parish. Those who may be responsible for the care of paupers are shown. Alleged fathers appealing against bastardy orders, neighbours involved in disputes. Names of Jurors, witnesses, etc. appearing at the quarter sessions are listed.