Dr Williams Library, Cripplegate, Middlesex
Location: Cripplegate, Middlesex
Surnames/tags: nonconformist dissenter middlesex
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History of Dr William's Register
The register provided a method for nonconformist families to register the birth of their children without having to rely on using christening records from the Church of England.
The Proceedings of the Protestant Dissenting Deputies in 1796 provides a outline of the register.
In 1742 the Committee of Dissenting Deputies established a register of the births of the children of Protestant Dissenters of the three denominations, and of the baptism of such of their children as should be baptised in their infancy.
This register, which, by experience hath been found to be of great service, is open for the common use of persons of all ages and persuasions both in town and country. Blank certificates, with the proper directions for filling them up are delivered by the Librarian, at Dr William's library, in Red Cross Street near Cripplegate, where the register is kept. The only expense of certificate and registering is 9d.
The following is a copy of the certificate: These are to certify, that A B, son (or daughter) of C D, and E his wife, was born at F, in the county of G, the day of in the year one thousand seven hundred and at whose birth we were present
This provided an alternative to the christening records in the Anglican Church. Over 49,000 births were registered up until the national registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths began in 1837. These registers now are at the National Archives under class RG5 and indexed in RG4[1]
The library opened in Red Cross Street, Cripplegate, in 1730 and has moved several times since then. Images of many of the certificates and the register are available on Ancestry.
See also the Wikipedia article on [1]
Nonconformist History of London and surrounding areas
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The Wikipedia article mentioned above has a URL to an old version of the page. Is that old version specifically needed? Or can the URL be updated to the current version of the page?