Newport pew rentals, 1557–1797
Whisper it: there’s much more to Anglican church records than parish registers. While finding details of baptisms, marriages and burials is essential if you’re planning to trace an ancestor in the years before civil registration, it’s definitely worth delving into some of the lesser-used documents kept by churches.
The rentals are rich with the names of local families, and give you a sense of their wealth and social status
One especially illuminating collection can be found at Isle of Wight County Record Office, as the manager of the island’s Heritage Service Richard Smout
