A major new collection of over 1.7 million family history records from the Channel Island of Guernsey has been added to family history website Findmypast.
Over four hundred years of records of the island’s history have been digitised over the past year in a project led by the Bailiwick of Guernsey Digitization Partnership, which represents the Priaulx Library, Island Archives, the Deanery of Guernsey, La Société Guernesiaise and the Greffe (Guernsey’s civil registrar).
The digitised record sets are:
- 236,000 parish baptism records
- 132,000 parish marriage records
- 179,000 parish burial records
- 70,000 civil birth records
- 23,000 civil marriage records
- 81,000 civil death records
- 588,000 land records
- 39,000 cemetery records
- 15,000 records from the 1827 census of Guernsey
- 400,000 records from the occupation of Guernsey by Germany from 1940-45– the only German occupation of a part of Britain during the Second World War.
Famous historical figures from Guernsey can be found in the records, which often offer a lot of details about their lives and families. For example, the baptism records include the baptism of Isaac Brock. Isaac, born in 1769 in St Peter Port on Guernsey, joined the British army and became a major general in the War of 1812, fought between Britain and the USA in Canada. He was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights.
Before the 19th century, most official Guernsey records were kept in French. This is true of Isaac’s baptism record, which reads: “Isaac, Fils des Monsieur Jean Brock & de Dame Elizabeth De Lisle Sa Femme, né le 6es d’Octobre 1769 & batisé le 13es dudit mois, a eu pour Parrains Daniel De Lisle Ecr son Grand-père {qui étant indispose représenté par Monsr Pierre De Lisle Son Fils} & Ferdinand Brock Frère de l’Enfant: & pour Marraine, Dame Rebecca De Lisle Sa Grand mère.” This translates as: “Isaac, Son of Monsieur Jean Brock & of Dame Elizabeth De His Wife, born on the 6th of October 1769 & baptised on the 13th of the said month, had as Godfathers Daniel De Lisle Esq his Grandfather {who being indisposed [was] represented by Monsieur Pierre De Lisle His Son} & Ferdinand Brock Brother of the Child: & for Godmother, Dame Rebecca De Lisle His Grandmother.”
The records of the German occupation are also important. They include:
- Occupation ID forms, with photographs and details of individual civilians during the occupation.
- The documents of Occupation Orders, which were issued by the Germans and inflicted restrictions such as curfews, banning public entertainment, and banning playing the British National Anthem.
- The ‘Wish to Return’ records, compiled at the end of the war by refugees from Guernsey living in Britain.
During the war, 2300 Channel Island residents were deported to German internment camps. Poignantly, the occupation ID forms include the records and photographs of the 16 Guernsey residents who were deported and died in the camps.
Vikki Hart, Island Archivist on Guernsey, said: “This is a major achievement for our island, bringing us in line with other jurisdictions that have already digitised their records. By making these important documents available online, we are ensuring they remain accessible to researchers worldwide, while also preserving the originals for our future generations.”
Separately, Findmypast is also offering 30% off one-month subscription packages and 50% off annual subscription packages until 22 April.
