You are in: Home › Research › Old Parish Registers 1553-1854 › Quality of Information ›

Quality of Information

Was there a set format for these early parish records?

No, there was no set national standard for ministers and clerks to follow. It was very much at the discretion of the individual. As a result there are wide variations in the amount of information which was included between parishes. The early records generally offer the least information and it can be a matter of luck as to which minister or clerk recorded the information you are looking for.

Another factor to consider is that some records may be difficult to read due to bad writing, poor quality ink which has faded or the unfamiliar script used in the older records like this baptism from 1653.

Example of unfamiliar script used in baptism, 1653 (click to enlarge)

Transcripts of some Old Parish Registers are available in the Library.

This website could help you decipher some of the hard to understand script: Scottish Handwriting website