Chalk Genealogical Records

Chalk Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

St Mary, Chalk Baptism Records (1768-1876)

Baptism registers are the primary source for birth documentation before 1837, though are relevant to the present. They record the date a child was baptised, their parents' names and more.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Kent PR Index (1538-1870)

An index to around 40,000 various parish register extracts for Kent.

Chalk Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Chalk Marriage Records (1813-1837)

A searchable transcript of marriages from the parish registers of Chalk. They may list residence, marital status, witnesses and more.

St Mary, Chalk Marriage Records (1768-1876)

Brief notes on marriages occurring in St Mary, Chalk from 1768 to 1876.

Canterbury Diocese Marriage Licences (1751-1837)

Abstracts of marriages licences granted by the Diocese of Canterbury. These records can contain more details than marriage records, including details such as age, occupation, residence and names of parents or guardians.

Vicar General’s Office Marriage Licences (1600-1679)

Abstracts of marriage licences granted by the Vicar-General in London. These licences could be used to marry in any church in the Province of Canterbury.

Chalk Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

St Mary, Chalk Burial Records (1768-1876)

Records of burial for people buried at St Mary, Chalk between 1768 and 1876. Details include the deceased's name, residence and age.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Kent PR Index (1538-1870)

An index to around 40,000 various parish register extracts for Kent.

Chalk Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Kent Hearth Tax (1664)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Kent Register of Electors (1570-1907)

Browsable images of Kent electoral rolls poll books, which list those eligible to vote as well as lists of freemen, apprentices, burgess records and militia musters.

1901 British Census (1901)

The 1901 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Newspapers Covering Chalk

Chatham News Index (1895-1965)

An index to thousands of people, places, organizations and all manner of other things mentioned in the newspaper from 1895 to 1965.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1939)

A conservative-oriented newspaper reporting on local news, births, marriages and deaths in the two counties.

Kent & Sussex Courier (1873-1950)

A record of births, marriages, deaths, legal, political, organisation and other news from the counties of Kent and Sussex. Original pages of the newspaper can be viewed and located by a full text search.

Kentish Chronicle (1859-1867)

A regional paper including news from the Kent area, legal & governmental proceedings, family announcements, business notices, advertisements and more.

Maidstone Telegraph (1859-1870)

The county paper of Kent, containing news by locale, adverts and family announcements.

Chalk Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Tyler's Index to Kent Wills (1460-1882)

Abstracts and references to 10,000s of wills and probate documents, primarily from East Kent.

Diocese of Rochester Wills and Probate (1662-1784)

Browsable images of inventories. Also includes freeman papers for Queenborough.

Archdeaconry of Rochester Wills and Probate (1635-1857)

Browsable images of administrations, inventories and wills.

Diocese of Canterbury Wills and Probate (1559-1858)

Browsable images of account papers, administration bonds, affidavits, depositions, interrogations, visitations, caveats, guardian registers, inventories, renunciation papers, testamentary bonds and wills.

Chalk Immigration & Travel Records

Prisoners Transported from Kent (1851-1852)

A small list of convicts transported to the colonies.

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

Chalk Military Records

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment (1914-1920)

A great deal of information relating to the regiment, including a thorough history, biographical details, photographs, information on honours etc.

West Kent Queen's Own Yeomanry (1794-1909)

A general history of the yeomanry, including extracts from original records

Victoria County History of Kent, Vol. 3 (43-1900)

A volume from the most respected work concerning English history. It covers military history, country houses, industry, roads and a transcription of Domesday entries relating to Kent.

QORWKR Battalion Orders (1914-1916)

A finding aid for records detailing orders relating to ordinary rank men in the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Kent Voluntary Aid Detachments (1914-1918)

Details of voluntary aid workers in Kent during WWI.

Kentish Prison Hulk Registers (1811-1843)

Registers recording details of around 9,000 prisoners held in ships stationed in Kent. Records describe a convict's name, age, place of birth, physical description, offence, conviction, sentence, discharge and conduct report.

Kent Workhouse Records (1777-1911)

Over 70,000 browsable pages detailing the administration of poor law unions in Kent. Records contain details on births, marriages & deaths; punishments; admissions and discharges and more.

Kent Quarter Sessions Index (1657-1804)

A name index to 1,000s of people mentioned in legal records relating to crime and administration. The records include settlements, removals and bastardy orders.

Kent Quarter Sessions & Court Files (1558-1899)

Legal records covering a variety of issues from land to bastardy.

Act Books of the Archbishops of Canterbury (1663-1859)

An index to names and places mentioned in act books of the Province of Canterbury. It records various licences and conferments, such as marriage and physician licences.

Chalk Taxation Records

Poll Book for the County of Kent (1832)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Kent Hearth Tax (1664)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1689-1832)

Browsable images of registers that record owners and occupiers of land. Useful for tracing succession of freehold and tenancies.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

Chalk Land & Property Records

Poll Book for the County of Kent (1832)

A list of those who voted in the election, stating their residence and for who they voted.

Kent Land Tax Assessments (1689-1832)

Browsable images of registers that record owners and occupiers of land. Useful for tracing succession of freehold and tenancies.

Kent Register of Electors (1570-1907)

Browsable images of Kent electoral rolls poll books, which list those eligible to vote as well as lists of freemen, apprentices, burgess records and militia musters.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Land Tax Redemption (1798-1811)

This vital collection details almost 1.2 million properties eligible for land tax. Records include the name of the landowner, occupier, amount assessed and sometimes the name and/or description of the property. It is a useful starting point for locating relevant estate records and establishing the succession of tenancies and freehold. Most records cover 1798, but some extend up to 1811.

Chalk Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1938)

A directory of settlements in Kent detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1938)

An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of settlement's history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1934)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1930)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1922)

A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.

Chalk Cemeteries

Kent Monumental Inscriptions (1500-1920)

Transcriptions of thousands of memorials and headstones found in Kent.

Kent Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Kent's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Mausolea and Monuments (1500-Present)

Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.

Chalk Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Chalk Histories & Books

History & Topographical Survey of Kent (1189-1801)

A sprawling work containing a detailed history of the county and each parish.

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Victoria County History of Kent, Vol. 3 (43-1900)

A volume from the most respected work concerning English history. It covers military history, country houses, industry, roads and a transcription of Domesday entries relating to Kent.

Kent Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Kent.

Kent Church Photographs (1851-Present)

Photographs of parish churches in Hampshire, with architectural details and extracts from the 1851 ecclesiastical census.

Chalk School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Chalk Occupation & Business Records

Smuggling in Kent (1697-1830)

Articles detailing several smuggling gangs that operated in the county.

Smuggling on the South East Coast (1675-1871)

An introduction to smuggling in on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

Smuggling on the East Coast (1600-1892)

An introduction to smuggling on the east coast of England, with details of the act in various regions.

Kent Pub Histories (1820-Present)

Histories of Kent pubs, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

South England Mines Index (1896)

Profiles of coal and metal mines in the south of England.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Chalk

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Kent Families (1066-1840)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Kent's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

Tyler's Kent Families (1500-1900)

A collection of pedigrees, family notes and historical extracts relating to Kent and its families.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Chalk Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Kent (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Pedigrees of Kent Families (1066-1840)

Hand-draw genealogical charts covering Kent's gentry. Includes descriptions of coats of arms.

Kent Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Kent's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Chalk Church Records

Chalk Parish Registers (1768-1876)

The parish registers of Chalk are a collection of books documenting baptisms, marriages and burials from 1768 to 1876.

Visitations of the Archdeacon of Canterbury (1557-1679)

Extracts relating to the ecclesiastical history of the Archdeaconry of Canterbury.

Kent Church Photographs (1851-Present)

Photographs of parish churches in Hampshire, with architectural details and extracts from the 1851 ecclesiastical census.

Kent Bishop's Transcripts (1560-1911)

Browsable images of summaries of registers of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Kent Parish Registers (1538-1911)

Browsable images of registers the recorded baptisms, marriages and burials in Kent. Names are not indexed.

Biographical Directories Covering Chalk

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

The Concise Dictionary of National Biography (1654-1930)

A directory containing lengthy biographies of noted British figures. The work took over two decades to compile. Biographies can be searched by name and are linked to images of the original publication.

Chalk Maps

Maps of Kent (1522-1922)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Parish Maps of Britain (1832)

Maps of parishes in England, Scotland and Wales. They are useful in determining which parish records may be relevant to your research.

Chalk Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Historical Description

The porch of Chalk Church, about three miles east from Gravesend, is deserving of notice, on account of the singular sculptures upon it. Immediately over the entrance arch there is a grotesque figure, in a short jacket, holding a flaggon, squatted beneath the base of a neat recess; above which on the cornice below the gable is an antic or scaramouch grinning from between his own legs, and on each side of him is a human head: "on the faces of the latter," it has been observed," as well as on the visage of the jovial tipler, the sculptor seems to have bestowed such an indelible smirk, that however they have suffered from the corrosions of time and weather, nearly to the loss of features, it is yet visible." These figure,s have been' thought to have some connexion with a Give-Alet or annual feast of ale and bread, bequeathed by a former parishioner, "for the health of his soul !" The inside of the church contains little that is remarkable.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

CHALK is a parish and village, on the road from London to Dover and bounded on the north by the river Thames, a mile and a half south-east from Gravesend stations on the South Eastern and Chatham railway, 24 miles from London, in the Mid division of the county, lathe of Aylesford, Strood union, Gravesend county court district, petty sessional division of Rochester, hundred of Shamwell, rural deanery of Gravesend and archdeaconry and diocese of Rochester. The parish is intersected by the South Eastern and Chatham railway and canal. The church of St. Mary, standing on a rising ground, 1 mile east of the village, a short distance from the road, is in the Early English and later styles, and has a western tower containing 3 bells: there are sittings for 180 persons. The register dates from the year 1661. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £100, with residence, in the gift of the Lord Chancellor, and held since 1894 by the Rev. Laban White M.A. of St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge. The Earl of Darnley is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The sou is light chalky; subsoil, chalk. The chief crops are grain. The area is 1,838 acres of land, 11 of water, 255 of tidal water and 17 of foreshore; rateable value, £4,340; the population in 1901 was 455.

National School (mixed & infants), built in 1866, & enlarged in 1893, for 120 children; average attendance, 72.

Kelly's Directory of Kent (1903)

Most Common Surnames in Chalk

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Shamwell Hundred
1Redsell201:1724.69%1,907
2Williams111:310.30%9
2Russell111:310.42%19
4Richens91:3837.50%4,913
5Reader81:431.51%285
5Relf81:431.88%377
5Mullenden81:43100.00%10,921
8Hills71:490.33%34
8Murrell71:495.56%1,295
8Godden71:490.86%164
8Ager71:4911.67%2,432
8Tillman71:498.43%1,871
13Smith61:570.04%1
13Brown61:570.10%2
13Baker61:570.12%4
13Stone61:570.45%90
13Wickens61:571.49%409
13Millis61:579.68%2,383
19Jeffery51:690.69%199
19Pitt51:694.67%1,489
19Ambrose51:692.16%784
19Finney51:6922.73%5,251
19Ashdown51:690.66%184
19Crowhurst51:690.95%287
19Tolhurst51:691.23%403
19Able51:6916.67%4,158
19Joynes51:6950.00%9,168
19Hurdle51:6938.46%7,644
19Hookey51:6923.81%5,415
19Hartup51:699.80%2,759
31Morris41:860.26%69
31Austin41:860.33%101
31Joyce41:862.47%1,050
31Knott41:860.65%248
31Startup41:862.58%1,091
31Sunnucks41:866.56%2,406
31Vitter41:86100.00%18,001
31Aycott41:86100.00%18,001
39Wilkinson31:1140.41%197
39Palmer31:1140.17%53
39Skinner31:1140.18%57
39Fish31:1142.78%1,477
39Harnett31:1141.99%1,113
39Deaves31:11427.27%8,577
39Mabb31:1147.69%3,392
46Jones21:1720.05%7
46Hughes21:1720.14%78
46Allen21:1720.08%23
46Wheeler21:1720.23%155
46Goodwin21:1720.17%108
46Coleman21:1720.19%125
46Abbott21:1720.46%365
46Collier21:1720.97%856
46Terry21:1720.13%74
46Prince21:1721.98%1,572
46Wickham21:1720.51%429
46Hollands21:1720.26%181
46Tickner21:1720.84%757
46Goulden21:1722.82%2,129
46Cogger21:1720.79%692
46Colegate21:1721.14%990
46Elvy21:1721.28%1,083
46Bran21:1729.52%5,415
46Nickell21:172100.00%24,019
46Hurelle21:172100.00%24,019
66Clark11:3430.03%13
66Martin11:3430.02%6
66Carter11:3430.05%36
66Bailey11:3430.06%46
66Collins11:3430.04%17
66Chapman11:3430.03%14
66Sutherland11:3430.70%1,175
66Field11:3430.10%130
66Nash11:3430.11%146
66Butcher11:3430.09%111
66Welsh11:3430.36%627
66Fry11:3430.15%225
66Dalton11:3430.23%364
66Whitfield11:3431.85%2,637
66Brett11:3430.17%258
66Jeffrey11:3430.41%729
66Jenner11:3430.09%124
66Collinson11:3431.41%2,129
66Tomkins11:3430.61%1,046
66Botting11:3430.76%1,252
66Falkner11:3435.88%6,318
66Buswell11:3435.26%5,815
66Loft11:3430.49%860
66Stoneham11:3430.55%948
66Gorham11:3430.48%856
66Lill11:3436.25%6,630
66Kemsley11:3430.33%570
66Tuff11:3430.98%1,555
66Tritton11:3430.57%995
66Oxlade11:34333.33%20,830
66Cady11:34311.11%9,942
66Bensted11:3430.70%1,175
66Rutley11:3433.57%4,379
66Rumley11:3431.72%2,498
66Wittington11:34325.00%18,001
66Reek11:34314.29%12,184
66Printer11:343100.00%28,817
66Raspison11:3435.26%5,815
66Savine11:343100.00%28,817
66Steffer11:343100.00%28,817
66Dartnail11:34311.11%9,942
66Trunk11:343100.00%28,817