"Alumni Oxonienses : The Members of the University of Oxford 1500-1714. Their parentage, birthplace and year of birth, with a record of their degrees. Being the Matriculation Register of the University. Alphabetically arranged, revised and annotated by Joseph Foster."
Published in two sets of four volumes in each. 1500-1714 (this set), and 1715-1886 (see below).
This is one of the most important sources of family history information in Britain, and which is a rare series of volumes normally only found in major libraries. To own a copy of one's own is virtually impossible. Until now. (A copy of the books was published in 1999 with a retail price of £750.00, so we won't count those!)
"Alumni Oxonienses : The Members of the University of Oxford 1715-1886. Their parentage, birthplace and year of birth, with a record of their degrees. Being the Matriculation Register of the University. Alphabetically arranged, revised and annotated by Joseph Foster."
These books have been at the top of the "wants list" for the Archive CD Books Project since the project began in March 2000. They are that important.
A typical example: Chandler, Richard, s. Daniel, of Elston, Hants gent. QUEEN'S COLL., matric 9 May 1755, aged 18; demy MAGDALEN COLL. 1757, B.A. 1759, M.A. 1761, fellow 1770, proctor 1772, B. & D.D. 1773, classical antiquary and traveller, vicar of East Worldham and West Tisted, Hants, 1779, of Tilehurst, Berks, 1800, died 9 Feb., 1810. Bloxham, vi.
By Joseph Foster, 1893
This work continues and completes "Alumni Oxonienses" containing the MATRICULATION REGISTER from 1880 to 1892 alphabetically arranged as a distinct division, to which has been added where practicable birthdays, schools, honours, and degrees. It also includes cross-references to all the biographical notices under the respective colleges or elsewhere in the other portion of the work, in addition to the index in that volume.
While the MATRICULATION REGISTER has been placed at my service as before by the University Authorities, the Heads of Houses have allowed me full access to their COLLEGE RECORDS, from which,in the majority of instances, I have been enabled to glean the birthdays and schools of their members since 1880,thus accentuating and perpetuating the link between the Schools and the Universities. Moreover, from the official University publications, viz.: the Honours register, Calendar, and Gazette, I have incorporated the particulars of the Honours, the degrees, and the appointments relating to each individual. This elaborate array of facts, together with the miscellaneous annotations from Crockford and my own collections, especially parliamentary and legal, should prove a trustworthy and unique guide, such as can be found nowhere else,to the rising generation of Oxford Men, destined to play so large a part in the government and intellectual life of this country.
Fully searchable.
The third edition with additions. Four volumes.
These vast books, 23cm by 30cm in size contain an exact history of all educated at the University of Oxford. Published in 1813 it also has chapters on the annals and history of the university. This isn't just a list of those attending the university but has full biographical details about each person, their family life and achievements. This book is indexed and the CD is searchable
A register of those attending the college from 1509-1909
Thomas Barker, 1869 (Part 1)
A very detailed scholarly history of the college, including transcripts of old manuscripts and letters, etc.
Fully searchable using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
"An Essay towards deducing a regular succession of all the principal dignitaries in each cathedral, collegiate church or chapel in those parts of Great Britain called England and Wales, from the first erection thereof to this present year MDCCXV; Containing the names, dates of consecration, admission preferment, removal or death of the Archbishops,
Bishops, Deans, Precentors, Treasurers, Chancellors, and Archdeacons in their several stations and degrees. To which is added the succession of
the Prebendaries in each Prebendal Stall (of most of those erected at the Reformation, and) continued down to this time. As also, of the Heads or Masters of each College or Hall in either of our famous universities from their first settlement to this time. The Whole extracted from the several Registers of the respective Cathedral or Collegiate Churches or Foundations, as also from other authentic Records and valuable Collections never before published."
Written and compiled by John Walker.
"An attempt towards recovering an account of the numbers and sufferings of the Clergy of the Church of England, Heads of Colleges, Fellows, Scholars etc."
This is a particularly important and interesting book, as it concerns the sufferings of the clergy during the English Civil War (1642), when the bishops were dismissed, and many of the clergymen of England were hounded out of their churches by the Cromwellian forces.
Contains the names of very many clergy and provides biographical details such as the name of his father and any other important relations, where educated, career details, date and place of death. Many of the biographies contain very detailed information about the way each was treated during the Civil War. Information is arranged in alphabetical order by place.
The book also contains detailed chapters about the environment in which these people lived and worked, the politics of the day and how it affected them directly.
Contains the names and livings of clergymen in England, Wales and Ireland, the Scottish Episcopal Church, military, naval and prison chaplains, as well as those working all over the British Empire. It also lists the benefices in England and Wales, their values, populations and patrons.
Crockfords directories are a superb source of information for those with ancestors in the clergy. The contents are similar to the earlier Clergy Lists but are much more detailed, giving vital personal information about each individual, such as where they studied, when they matriculated and all of their previous posts.
See description as above
Incorporating the Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory.
Published by Kelly & Co.
Containing the Complete Lists of the Clergy in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies. Including Army, Navy, Prison, Union, and Foreign Chaplains, etc.
An alphabetical list of benefices, with the dedication of the churches (church names).
This wonderful book was loaned to the Archive CD Books Project by "Your Family Tree Magazine" as a part of a co-operative project.
An invaluable resource, not only for family historians searching their clergy ancestors, but also for all of the general information relating to churches.
Clergymen are often quite difficult to trace, as they moved around so much, but this book solves all of those problems, as there is not only a short biography of each person, but also a list of all churches and places where they served.
Reynolds, Chas. Herbt. B.A. King's Coll. Cam[bridge]; 1882. p.1883 (Lich); Curate of St. James, Wednesbury, Staffs. 1882-3; Chaplain Ch. Belper, Derbys. 1884-5; chaplain Bengal Eccles. Estab from 1885; St. James Calcutta 1885; Bankipur 1885-6; Dum Dum 1886, and 1886-7; St. Paul's Cath. 1886; Cuttack 1887-8; Landour & Dehra 1891-2; Muttra 1893-4; furl. From 1894.
Newly remastered as an Archive CD Books Series 3 CD. Fully searchable.
Crockford's directories are a superb source of information for those with ancestors in the clergy. The contents are similar to the earlier Clergy Lists but are much more detailed, giving vital personal information about each individual, such as where they studied, when they matriculated and all of their previous posts.
Crockford's directories are the number one resource for tracing the lives and careers of the clergy.
Usually the books also contains a huge amount of reference material relating to the Church in general but sadly this book has had much of the reference material removed. Fortunately the biographies of the clergy are intact and those are what is included on this CD.
Each individual biography contains details of where and when he studied and the qualifications he gained, where and when he was incumbent in each of the places he worked (including foreign posts) and also his full address at the time of publication.
A complete alphabetical list of all of the patrons in England and Wales with the dignities, livings and benefices in their gift and their values.
Contains an index of all the benefices.
A superb reference book for those interested in Church history or with ancestors who were clergy.
Every Church of England place of worship is included with details of its income and expenditure, the name of the incumbent and his year of admission.
This register for Rugby School is very detailed, containing the age of the boys, names of parents, dates they entered school and often what they got up to after they had left. It also tells you their dates of birth, baptism and death, some entries may contain more details than others but its still as interesting E.g.
" Blake, Thomas, son of the late Rev. Nathaniel Blake, and of Mrs Blake, Rugby. (August). Baptised October 1709. A nephew of the Headmaster. Buried at Rugby 13 November 1784."
Not only are the boys registered in the book but also the trustees and Headmasters of the school. It also contains a useful 29-page index.
This book was kindly loaned to the Project by the Institute of Heraldic & Genealogical Studies.
This Eton College Register has fantastic detail about those who attended the college between 1441 and 1698. The introduction gives you a good insight into when the background of the college, it also states who the Masters of the college were and how long they were in state.
It lists in chronological order, the names, relatives, duration of stay, profession, achievements and death dates of all those matriculated through Eton. It has a general index of 9 pages.
This Eton College Register has fantastic detail about those who attended the college between 1698 and 1752. The introduction gives you a good insight into when the background of the college, it also states who the Masters of the college were and how long they were in state.
It lists in chronological order, the names, relatives, duration of stay, profession, achievements and death dates of all those matriculated through Eton. It has a general index of 8pages.
The Eton School list includes the boy's names (and sometimes nicknames), their form, date of death and profession after graduating. The biographical details for some are quite extensive whilst for others it only registers their basic name and dates.
For example
Bacon - Anthony. Was in 10th Hussars; afterwards a general in the queen of Spain's service; m. Lady C. Harley.
It also lists all the Head masters, Fellows, Provosts, Assistant Headmasters and Mathematical Masters with their date of election into their role in Eton school.
Records of all those entering the school in each year from 1546 to 1895. A typical entry gives the date, age, birthday, date of leaving the school, together with a short biography, and a death date.
Students entering the school came from all parts of the British Isles, and therefore this book is invaluable for family history studies.
This CD contains an alphabetical list of every parish in England in 1890 and the name of the church or churches that served it.
This is an incredibly useful resource. How many times on county mailing lists do you see a message asking if anyone knows what the name of the church in the parish of, for example, Holme-Lacey is. No mention of even which county the parish is in...
Well, using the information on the CD we can look up Holme-Lacey and see that the church was called St Cuthbert and that the parish lies in the county and diocese of Hereford. The dedication is also described as 'Ancient: i.e. of pre-Reformation date'. Incredibly easy when you know how!
The records of the alumni of this famous University College in London, attended by people from all over the world.
Every person studying there is noted with the dates of their time spent there plus, in some cases, details of subsequent achievements in life and other biographical and genealogical details.
St. Peter's College is the College of Westminster Abbey.
Yearly lists of admissions of students, together with their dates of entry to Oxford or Cambridge. In many cases there are additional notes of what happened to these people later in life.
The results of a religious census of London, taken in two parts on Sunday October 24th 1886.
The first part was an enumeration of the worshippers at the two principal services in all of the churches and chapels in London, including Non-Conformist and Catholic establishments.
Whilst no names are given, just the numbers of worshippers, this book is an extremely useful tool as it mentions every Christian place of worship in the capital.
New Releases every month. Subscribe to our newsletter. Click here.
