CIVIL REGISTRATION

The Record Office does not keep civil records of births, marriages and deaths. These are held by the Isle of Wight Registry Office, and date from 1 July 1837 when it became a legal requirement for all births, marriages and deaths in England to be registered.

The Isle of Wight Family History Society have indexed Isle of Wight Birth, Marriage and Death records and their database is available on line.

Please click here to access their web site: Isle of Wight BMD project

Anglican (Church of England) marriages which took place on the Isle of Wight within the civil registration period (i.e. from 1837) can however be accessed at the Isle of Wight Record Office.

These Anglican marriages can be identified in the IWFHS database as the name of the church will be given (for example Arreton St. George, Carisbrooke St. Mary).

The Record Office holds the registers for parish marriages which took place within a parish church and copies of these can be supplied for the period 1837-1910 at 20p a copy (minimum charge £1.00) + postage and packing.

A marriage, which took place in a Non-Conformist chapel, Roman Catholic Church or Registry Office, can only be accessed via the Registrar's Department.

Marriage Notice Books: The Isle of Wight Record Office holds two Marriage Notice books these record notices of intention to marry. The covering dates are: 1854-1859 and 1888-1890.

Microfiche indexes to Civil Registration from 1837 (i.e. births, marriages and deaths) for England are available locally at the Lord Louis Library.

The Isle of Wight Record Office keeps Baptism, Marriage and Burial records from c1539 to various dates up to the 21st century depending on the parish. These are the only source for family historians prior to Civil Registration in 1837 and can of course be used for family history purposes after 1837.