Missing Access to Baptism Records for Redruth, Cornwall

DDubya

I wish to browse the Baptism Registers for Redruth, Cornwall for the years 1813-1836. However the link required for that "Event Type and Year Range" is missing from the Redruth index page.

( https://www.familysearch.org/search/image/index?owc=3CB7-FM9%3A138123201%2C140652101%3Fcc%3D1769414 )

Julia Szent-Györgyi

That date range is missing from the catalog page for the digitized records (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1923520). You may need to inquire of the record custodian (Cornwall Record Office) for the reason.

Paul W

I wonder if for 1813 & 1814 they may have been destroyed, or are totally illegible. I just checked in the Images section (rather than the Catalog) and there do appear records there covering 1815–1817, 1819–1820, 1822–1824, etc., but the appearance of some of the 1815 pages I looked at appear to explain why you will still not be able to view the whole period:

See https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G93K-X91L?view=explore&groupId=TH-1961-30284-636-7, for example:

Julia Szent-Györgyi

Interesting find, Paul. The catalog has those films identified as "late bishop's transcripts" (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1833669), so they're at least a step removed from the parish registers, but they're better than nothing -- if one can decipher them.

DDubya

Thanks for the images Paul but Julia is correct. Those images are from the bishop's transcript and do not contain the baptisms that are of particular interest to me. That is the reason that wish to view the parish registers. (The old mantra is Always go back to the primary record - if it exists and it is practicle to do so.)

The catalog contains entries for both the parish registers and bishop's transcripts. Both can be browsed.

Paul W

Sorry for my lack of distinction between the PR and BT versions of these records. I was about to log out for the night so responded a little too hastily to notice!

I think Julia's suggestion is probably the most suitable line you can take at the moment. Either email or phone the Cornwall Record Office with an inquiry about the missing period for PR Baptisms. It seems coincidence that they might have been subject to damage, too (like the BTs illustrated) for that period.

This reminds me of an Essex parish whose late-17th century registers I wished to check for signs of my ancestors. I found a whole fifty years period missing. When I spoke with an archivist at the Essex Record Office she explained the reason: the register had been removed from the church (in the 18th century) to be presented at the Assizes as in evidence in a legal dispute. After the trial, the register completely vanished - hence the gap in the parish records! Sadly, no Essex BTs survive for that period, so I will never know if the missing family baptism events were to be found as entries in that register!

There could be all sorts of reasons the 1813-36 PRs records (Baptisms) are missing - possibly it's just a case of them not finding their way to the FamilySearch website.

I just did a quick "google" and found a possible starting point for resolving your query: https://kresenkernow.org/

Hope this helps.