Parish Church Records

Darfield Parish Registers date from 1628 but there are also Bishop’s Transcripts which date back as far as 1598. The Parish at one time included the 7 villages of Ardsley, Billingley, Darfield, Great Houghton, Little Houghton, Wombwell and Worsborough. Worsborough had its own Chapel from early years and appears to have kept its own records from 1559. Ardsley Church records start 1839 and Wombwell Church records start 1864 but do not include burials as there was never a church burial ground there. The only registers which are still held at Darfield All Saints Church itself are the registers in current use plus the burial register from 1921 and the graves register (incomplete) from 1890. These last two are transcribed here on the church web site. The remainder of the church records are held by Doncaster Archives. These records include the following :– Baptism Registers from 1628 to 1970 Marriage Registers from 1628 to 1983 Burial Registers from 1628 to 1921

Banns from 1767 to 1983 Doncaster Archives is open to the public but should be contacted first for an appointment. Their address is – King Edward Road Balby Doncaster DN4 0NA Telephone: 01302 859811

Doncaster Archives also holds an abundance of other records for Darfield church including – Confirmation records from 1906 to 1974; Services Books 1892-1963; Draft of bapt and bur 1848-1863; copy will of G Ellis 1711; Papers in the consistory court suit Taylor versus Sorby 1901-1923; Other records 1833-1979; churchwardens accounts 1837-1897; Terriers (4) 1770-1909 and other records 1780-1964; vestry meetings 1883, 1901; PCC minutes 1944-1971 and accounts 1921-1955; Township: overseers of the poor accounts and assessments 1822-1837, apprenticeship 1765-1833, settlement certificates 1703-1846, settlement examinations and appeals 1749-1846, removal orders 1719-1846, bastardy examinations, orders etc 1751-1831, and other records 1799-1843; Census of Darfield, giving name of head of household and statistics on occupants 1821; Tithe apportionments and maps for Billingley 1839, Darfield 1839, Great Houghton 1840, Little Houghton 1840 and other tithe records for Billingley 1924, Darfield 1884-1923, Great Houghton 1922, Wombwell 1888, 1925 and Worsbrough 1903-1928;

For more details please see www.doncaster.gov.uk (The Archives site is reached through ‘Libraries’.) Barnsley Archives. and Local Studies, at Experience Barnsley, also holds copies of some of the Parish Registers and all Census Returns for Darfield (on microfilm and microfiche). They are open to the public and the address is – Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre Town Hall Church Street Barnsley S70 2TA Telephone – 01226 773950 See their website for more information Experience Barnsley – Official website Family History Societies

Darfield area is covered by two Family History Societies – Barnsley Family History Society, which has published a detailed index of the 1851 census for Darfield, http://www.barnsleyfhs.co.uk Doncaster Family History Society, which has transcribed the burial records for Darfield to 1900 and has also recorded the memorial inscriptions. The burial records are available for purchase in book form or on CDRom. The memorial inscriptions are available for purchase on CDRom. Full details can be obtained from Doncaster FHS web site