Barbados Vestries and Church Wardens Act 1848

Barbados Vestries and Church Wardens Act 1848. A transcript of the Barbados law regarding keeping books for the registering of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials.

The passing of the Barbados Vestries and Church Wardens Act 1848 started the second series of parish registers in Barbados. Here is an extract from the act that established that baptisms, marriages and burials were to be kept in duplicate with copies returned to the Colonial Secretary’s office.

An Act to consolidate and amend the several acts of this Island relating to Vestries and Church Wardens.

Whereas it is deemed expedient to consolidate and amend the several acts of this Island relating to Vestries and Church Wardens.

29. Vestries to provide books for registering Christenings, Marriages and Burials & Rectors & Curates to return Duplicates to the Secretary’s Office

XXIX. And be it enacted, that it shall be the duty of the several Vestries to provide books of sufficient strength and durability for registering all and singular the Christenings, Marriages and Burials within their respective parishes to be duly kept in Duplicate by the respective Rectors and Curates within the same parish, one of which Registers shall be returned into the Secretary’s Office in the month of January in every succeeding year, signed by the respective Rector and Curates there to remain on record; and the Treasurer of the Island is hereby directed not to pay to any Rector or Curate his stipend after the month of January in any succeeding year until a certificate from the Secretary’s Office has been produced that they have made such return.

32. This Act to come into operation on 1st January 1849

XXXII. Provided also and be it enacted that this act shall come into operation the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.

Source: The National Archives reference: CO 30/24 fo:206-210