It was in Elizabethan times that the requirement to record baptisms, marriages and burials was made. The parish registers for Clavering reach back to the earliest period that registers are available, although the very early ones are difficult to read and there are probably some gaps. The early registers themselves have long since been deposited in the Essex Record Office at Chelmsford and no one is now allowed to look at them, in case they deteriorate. Instead they are microfilmed and thus made available to all. Locally they can be viewed at the ERO Archive Access Point in Saffron Walden Town Hall, which is open from 9 am – 1 pm and 2 – 5 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays, and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. No appointment is necessary, but you can ring 01799 516821 if you need any information or email: zofia.everett@essexcc.gov.uk

In addition to Clavering, the AAP has the registers for the whole of NW Essex, and increasingly for the rest of Essex too. There are also all the census microfilms and some parish records. The Clavering registers that have been microfilmed are:

Baptisms 1554-1866
Marriages 1554-1971
Burials 1554 – 1896
Banns 1754-1925

In some cases the 19th century register books have continued in use until quite recently, and the following are still held by Clavering Parish Church:

Baptisms 1866-1985
Burials 1896-1993
Banns 1927-1961

They also of course still have the current volumes, Baptisms from 1985, Burials from 1993, Banns from 1961 and Marriages from 1971. No doubt many genealogists find it frustrating that registers which go right back to the 19th century are not yet microfilmed, because they remain in parochial custody, but this is quite a common situation. Members of the public can apply to look at parish registers and parishes have certain obligations to grant access although they are entitled to make a charge. Since the closure date of these registers was less than 100 years ago, they are not subject to the Parochial Registers & Records Measure storage or deposit requirements. I would be willing as Local History Recorder to do brief look-ups for those who need help.

Nonconformist records are often a problem. Clavering had a Congregational Church (now joined with other churches) but their records are less complete, and the Methodist Church has no such records – they tended to be baptized, married and buried via one of the other churches. There are some Methodist membership roll books at the ERO, but all these give you are names, with no other details. For the Congregationalists there is a church book at the ERO, with occasional lists of names, but again few details. I am in process of computerizing the Congregationalist records but it is a long job! You will probably find these available at the ERO.

The whole situation of copying registers of any denomination at present is slightly complicated by the fact that microfilm and microfiche are becoming obsolete to be replaced by digital images and obviously this has an effect on how the ERO may choose to copy anything in the future. The ERO tells me they do have microfilm copies, however of the Congregational baptisms, 1792-1837 and the burials, 1794-1837, taken from the registers surrendered to the Registrar-General in 1837. The originals are at the National Archives. Once again, if family historians encounter difficulties, I may be able to help.

If you are starting from scratch, the family historian’s first port of call is often the IGI, that is the International Genealogical Index compiled by the Mormon church and put on to microfiches, which can be purchased quite cheaply. A set of these can be consulted at most main libraries e.g. Saffron Walden Town Library. They have the advantage of recording pretty well every parish register entry of every surname throughout the entire country, so are invaluable for finding out the geographical spread of families. The disadvantage is that there can be errors of dates and other matters. You are well advised, therefore, to use the IGI as a starting point but to check the actual details against parish registers.

The Clavering Parish Registers and relating items on film and fiche can also be hired from your local Latter Day Saint’s Church, details at www.familysearch.org in their searchable Library section.

MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS

Both the parish church and the former Congregational (URC) have graveyards that are still in use. Many gravestones have disappeared over the years, but a record of the parish churchyard was made and sent to the Essex MI organizer, who can be contacted via the Essex Society for Family History. The more recent burials and ashes records are kept by the church. The URC churchyard MI record is still in process. There is no gravestone record kept at the parish church apart from the most recent burials. When you think of the thousands of people who must have been buried in Clavering churchyard over the centuries, the number of surviving gravestones from before the 20th century is really minimal, but you might be lucky and to find the one you want! If visiting Clavering church, you will find the burials to the south and east of the church are the oldest but few in number. To the north are mostly 19th century. To the west is the newer part of the churchyard with 20th century burials. This is now full up and another extension was dedicated a few years ago to the west of this. If you are tempted to record the gravestones, please do NOT do any rubbings – Clavering has got some rare lichens on the gravestones and these could be destroyed.

The more prominent citizens of course have their own well-preserved memorials within the church, so if you are descended from the Barlees, Brands, Pattens, etc, you are lucky! A complete record of the monuments and all other internal features of the church has been done by NADFAS, the National Association of Decorative & Fine Art Societies. A copy of this should be in the Saffron Walden Town Library and ERO.

EMIGRATION

Australian researchers descended from Clavering families are particularly recommended to make contact with Angela Phillips of Melbourne:
Email: angelaphillips102@westnet.com .au
who is currently studying the Parish Records, Census and local genealogy extensively from 1755-1971, and is very helpful with around 35 contacts.

If you have any interesting stories, you are most welcome to post details to ‘Friends of Clavering’ section of the website. Apart from other Essex and Hertfordshire villages, quite a few local Clavering families are interconnected with Langley and Chrishall. Here are their websites:

Langley …contact Phil Dawkins at www.langleyessex.net
Chrishall …contact Robert Walden at http://www.users.waitrose.com/~waldenrg/index.htm

Both sites contain family trees, photographs and items of general and historical interest.

As Local History Recorder, I am getting an increasing number of requests to look up records and will help as much as I can but can only do brief searches due to time constraints. Anyway it is more fun to do the research yourself! As time goes on, you will find that other historians linked to your families have probably constructed complicated family trees which they are happy to share. When you have put your family tree together, don’t forget to post it to the ‘Friends of Clavering’ section of the website and that will bring you more feedback.