Forthcoming Parish Chest course from Pharos

I've been asked to give a quick plug by Gill Blanchard for her forthcoming Pharos course, The Parish Chest - There was more to life than baptism, marriage and burial, for which there are still a few places. The course starts June 28th, is four weeks long, and costs £39.99.

The following is a quick description:

The records and accounts of the parish make up what is collectively called the parish chest. From the reign of Elizabeth I the parish’s role in local affairs expanded to include many civil responsibilities that affected the lives of your ancestors. Parish officers - the churchwardens and overseers - raised taxes, kept accounts and managed parish affairs including maintaining the church, providing relief to the poor, setting local rates, repairing roads, maintaining law and order, and operating schools. You will discover other fascinating records as well, among them the wills of benefactors, militia records and parish magazines. This course explains how to locate parish chest records, describes indexes and finding aids, and discusses how to interpret and use search results. As a result you will build your family tree and expand your understanding of the parish and its day to day activities.

Instructor: Gill Blanchard

• What is the Parish and what role did it play in your ancestors’ lives?
• Churchwardens, Overseers and Vestry Records
• Property and Land Records
• The Parish Constable, School Records and Other Records 

To book the course visit http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=310 - additional forthcoming Pharos courses can also be consulted at http://pharostutors.com/coursesmainsd.php

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)