Taking it beyond transcriptions
An ever-increasing number of transcriptions are available online and on CD of documents such as parish registers and censuses. Sometimes they’re available for free, and sometimes as part of a subscription. But don’t rely solely on transcriptions – combing through the original images, either on microforms (fiche or film) or online is definitely worthwhile.
Extra information in the register
Transcriptions are done by teams of people, following different conventions. You might sometimes see, even on the same website, transcriptions that feature everything the original record contained, even down to the minister who performed the ceremony, and beside it, a record that notes only names, a date and a location.
From 1813, when parish churches started using printed registers for baptisms, most mentioned the father’s occupation and the family’s abode, but this information might not be in the transcription you’re looking at. Knowing the father’s occupation and the family’s abode not only helps you
