Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers

The Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers is one of the most fundamental research tools for those doing research on english ancestors. This 320 page book has all the historical maps of each of the parishes of England, Scotland and Ireland, as well as information on the starting dates and locations of parish registers where they have survived, and indexes, such as whether they are included in the International Genealogical Index (IGI) which is, of course, searchable at Familysearch.

Doing research in the old parish registers is difficult unless you know where to look for the information you require. Once your family history research moves back in time before the implimentation of civil registration, in order to move farther and farther back in time, church records such as baptisms and marriages which were kept in these parish records assume paramount importance.

This invaluable book contains topigraphical maps, showing the contemporary road system and geographical features, which helps locate local villages and towns where your ancestors may have lived. These are of couse, very handy, but the parish maps are what will help. They show the boundaries before 1832 and location of churches and chapels for each parish, as well as showing the probate jurisdictions (which assists locating wills and other probate records). The map above is an example of what the parish maps look like and I cannot stress the importance and assistance they provide both seasoned genealogists as well as people just starting their family trees.