Semer Genealogical Records

Semer 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.

British Birth and Baptism Records (1400-2010)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of birth and baptism records that cover over 250 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

FreeBMD Births (1837-1957)

An index to births registered at the central authority for England & Wales. The index provides the area where the birth was registered, mother's maiden name from September 1911 and a reference to order a birth certificate.

British Army Birth Index (1761-2005)

An index to births registered to British Army personal at home and abroad.

Birth Notices from The Times (1983-2003)

An index to over 100,000 birth and christening notices from The London Times.

Semer 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.

Semer Marriage Registers (1813-1835)

An index to marriages in Semer listing the date of marriage and the names of the bride and groom.

Ely Diocese Marriage Licences (1684-1811)

Abstracts of around 8,000 records containing details of parties who intended to marry.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Marriage Licences (1815-1839)

Abstracts of marriage licences from the Sudbury Archdeaconry. These records may contain more details than marriage registers, including occupations, ages and parents' names.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Marriage Licences (1782-1814)

Abstracts of marriage licences from the Sudbury Archdeaconry. These records may contain more details than marriage registers, including occupations, ages and parents' names.

Semer 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.

All Saints, Semer Burial Records (1750-1902)

Burial records covering those buried at All Saints, Semer_. This resource is an index and may not include all the details that were recorded in the burial registers from which they were extracted.

Suffolk Quaker Burials (1813-1837)

An index to burials recorded at Quaker meetings. The records contain the name of the deceased, the date they were buried and their age.

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.

British Death and Burial Records (1379-2014)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of death and burial records that cover over 140 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Semer 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.

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

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

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

A list of Suffolk householders and the number of hearths they possessed.

Suffolk Subsidy Returns (1568)

A list of taxes paid by heads of households.

Newspapers Covering Semer

Ipswich Journal, The (1748-1900)

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

Ipswich Journal (1720-1800)

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

Bury and Norwich Post (1801-1900)

A regional newspaper covering news and events in Norfolk and Suffolk. The newspaper contains numerous notices and articles useful to family historians, such as notices of birth, marriage and death.

The Colchester Gazette and General Advertiser (1814-1817)

A newspaper covering Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Around 50% of issues from 1814-1817. Original images, searchable by an OCR index.

The Daily Herald (1926)

A London newspaper that later became The Sun.

Semer 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.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Will Transcripts (1630-1638)

Full transcriptions of around 1,400 17th century wills from the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in Suffolk. Contains an index of all the people and places mentioned in the wills.

Sudbury Archdeaconry Will Transcripts (1439-1474)

Full transcriptions of several hundred early wills from the Archdeaconry of Sudbury in Suffolk.

Suffolk Testator Indices (1847-1857)

An index to over 10,000 names occurring in Suffolk wills.

Bury & Sudbury Calendar of Wills (1354-1535)

An index to early wills proved at the Archdeaconry Court of Sudbury and the Commissary Court of Bury St. Edmunds.

Semer Immigration & Travel Records

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.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Semer Military Records

History of the Suffolk Regiment (1685-1959)

An introductory history to an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army.

A Suffolk Regiment Calendar (1685-1962)

A calendar that lists most of the important dates in the history of the Regiment.

Suffolk WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War One monuments in Suffolk, with some service details.

Suffolk WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Suffolk, with some service details.

Prisoners of War of British Army (1939-1945)

A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.

Suffolk Eyre Roll Civil Pleas (1240)

Transcriptions and translations of pleas brought before a court. They largely concern land disputes. A number of cases relate to Suffolk.

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.

Home Office Prison Calendars (1868-1929)

Records of over 300,000 prisoners held by quarter sessions in England & Wales. Records may contain age, occupation, criminal history, offence and trial proceedings.

Central Criminal Court After-trial Calendars (1855-1931)

Over 175,000 records detailing prisoner's alleged offences and the outcome of their trial. Contains genealogical information.

England & Wales Electoral Registers (1832-1932)

Digital images of ledgers recording those registered to vote, searchable by an index of 220 million names. Entries list name, address, qualification to vote, description of property and sometimes age and occupation.

Semer Taxation Records

Poll for the Knights of Suffolk (1830)

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

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1790)

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

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1710)

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

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

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

Suffolk Hearth Tax Returns (1674)

A list of Suffolk householders and the number of hearths they possessed.

Semer Land & Property Records

Poll for the Knights of Suffolk (1830)

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

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1790)

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

Poll Book for the County of Suffolk (1710)

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

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.

Semer Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1938)

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

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1927)

Descriptions of physical and geological landmarks, a listing of government offices and descriptions of the villages & parishes, including a list of the private Descriptions of physical and geological landmarks, a listing of government offices and descriptions of the villages & parishes, including a list of the private residents..

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1925-1926)

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 Suffolk (1916)

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 Suffolk (1912)

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

Semer Cemeteries

Suffolk Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Suffolk'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.

Maritime Memorials (1588-1950)

Several thousand transcribed memorials remembering those connected with the nautical occupations.

Semer 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.

Semer Histories & Books

Victoria County History: Suffolk (1086-1900)

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

Suckling's History and Antiquities of Suffolk (1066-1846)

Describes the parishes in the three hundreds of Wangford, Mutford and Lothingland, in the north-east of the county.

Suffolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Suffolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Norfolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Norfolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Handbook: Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk & Cambridgeshire (1892)

A traveller's guide to four Southern counties.

Semer 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.

Semer Occupation & Business Records

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.

South England Mines Index (1896)

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

Lost Pubs of Suffolk (1750-Present)

Short histories of former public houses, with photographs and lists of owners or operators.

British Trade Union Membership Registers (1870-1999)

An index to and images of registers recording over 3.7 million trade union members.

UK Medical Registers (1859-1959)

Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Semer

Victoria County History: Suffolk (1086-1900)

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

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.

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.

Semer Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Suffolk (1086-1900)

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

Suffolk Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Suffolk'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.

Visitation of England and Wales (1700-1899)

Over 600 pedigrees for English and Welsh families who had a right to bear a coat of arms.

Semer Church Records

Suffolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Suffolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

Norfolk Church Histories (1000-Present)

Histories of Norfolk's parish churches, illustrated with a plethora of photographs.

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.

British Church Albums (1990-Present)

Photographs of churches of all denominations throughout England and part of Wales.

England Parish Registers (1914-2013)

Documentation for those baptised, married and buried at England. Parish registers can assist tracing a family back numerous generations.

Biographical Directories Covering Semer

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.

Semer Maps

Essex and Suffolk Maps (1360-1910)

A collection of maps plotting the counties of Essex and Suffolk, and some of their settlements.

Maps of Suffolk (1607-1886)

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.

Semer 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

SEMER is a parish and village, on the river Brett, 3 miles north-west from Hadleigh terminal station on a branch from Bentley on the Colchester and Ipswich section, and 6 south-east from Lavenham station on Bury and Sudbury line of the Great Eastern railway, in the Southern division of the county, Cosford hundred and union, Hadleigh petty sessional division and county court district, rural deanery of Hadleigh, archdeaconry of Sudbury and diocese of Ely. The church of All Saints is a Decorated structure of flints with stone dressings, and consists of a chancel, nave, vestry, south porch and an embattled western tower containing 3 bells: in 1873 the chancel was rebuilt, paved with encaustic tiles, and seated with oak benches with carved ends; at the same time a vestry and oak pulpit were added and the general fabric of the church restored at a cost of over £1,000; the church was repewed in 1843, and in 1899 was internally improved and reseated and the south porch rebuilt, under the direction of Mr. J. S. Corder, architect, of Ipswich, when a new organ and new lamps were presented by G. A. Bear esq.: the church has 150 sittings. The register dates from the year 1713. The living is a rectory, net income £345, with 67 acres of glebe and residence, formerly the manor house, in the gift of and held since 1897 by the Rev. Algernon Charles Stafford O’Brien, of St. Bees. The charities amount to 40s. yearly, which sum is distributed in bread to the poor of the parish on St. John’s day. Semer Lodge, the seat of Mrs. Archer, is a small substantial residence. The principal landowners are the trustees of the late Rev. Charles Russell Cooke, and the late Rev. George Cooke, the Rev. Francis John Eld MA. rector of Polstead, Essex, and Mrs. Archer, of Semer Lodge. The soil is mixed; subsoil consists of stone, sand, gravel and clay. The chief crops are wheat and barley. The area is 1,235 acres of land and 7 of water; assessable value, £1,157; the population in 1891 was 305 in the civil and 344 in the ecclesiastical parish, including 116 officers and inmates in the Cosford workhouse.

By Local Government Board Order 16,469, March 25, 1885, detached parts of Semer were annexed to Whatfield, and by the same Order parts of the latter parish were added to the former.

The Workhouse for Cosford union, standing on rising ground, is a plain brick building, erected in 1780, at a cost of about £8,000, & will hold 400: for particulars of union see Hadleigh.

A School Board of 5 members was formed May 7, 1897; W. S. Coe, clerk to the board.

Board School (mixed), opened in Feb. 1899, for 36 children; average attendance, 35.

Kelly's Directory of Suffolk (1900)

Most Common Surnames in Semer

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Cosford Hundred
1Green171:201.13%11
1Clarke171:200.69%3
3Payne111:302.06%95
4Holder101:339.52%721
4Vince101:333.39%236
6Martin91:371.03%34
6Keeble91:371.30%63
6Cutting91:372.65%191
9Mann81:421.17%64
10Hammond71:470.56%13
10Grimsey71:474.17%452
12Palmer61:550.64%31
12Butcher61:550.57%23
12Collis61:5513.64%1,403
12Emerson61:555.94%747
12Knock61:553.85%486
17Manning51:660.75%70
17Partridge51:661.60%219
17Button51:661.21%142
17Grimwood51:660.84%78
17Scutcher51:6618.52%1,975
17Chassman51:66100.00%5,441
23Skinner41:832.90%539
23Elmer41:831.65%300
23Goymour41:8317.39%2,163
23Sebbons41:83100.00%6,084
27Schofield31:1115.88%1,277
27Birch31:1112.59%639
27Proctor31:1112.34%585
27Pitt31:1112.94%742
27Mansfield31:1112.80%705
27Coe31:1110.79%161
27Ramsey31:1111.56%389
27Hines31:1111.08%249
27Last31:1110.24%16
27Borley31:1111.38%333
27Cone31:1114.05%969
38Johnson21:1660.25%41
38Harvey21:1660.19%21
38Day21:1660.24%39
38Cooke21:1660.62%206
38Todd21:1660.52%157
38Beaumont21:1660.62%210
38Gosling21:1660.54%169
38Boon21:1661.09%416
38Sage21:1661.12%428
38Gooch21:1660.36%89
38Southgate21:1660.36%90
38Griggs21:1660.75%266
38Crick21:1660.68%237
38Bedwell21:1661.47%550
38Ensor21:16614.29%2,863
38Sterling21:16633.33%4,877
38Bradbrook21:1661.72%639
38Juby21:1662.56%935
38Tatum21:1662.25%831
38Gladden21:1664.35%1,356
38Sibbons21:16613.33%2,754
38Goldacre21:16666.67%6,900
38Louser21:166100.00%7,894
61Smith11:3320.01%1
61Taylor11:3320.05%7
61White11:3320.14%60
61Cook11:3320.05%5
61Simpson11:3320.13%55
61Carter11:3320.12%43
61Bailey11:3320.17%81
61Hunt11:3320.10%26
61Cole11:3320.17%75
61Cross11:3320.20%105
61Long11:3320.18%85
61Harper11:3320.20%111
61Frost11:3320.09%20
61Lambert11:3320.13%48
61Clayton11:3321.12%831
61Barton11:3320.41%295
61Bull11:3320.39%271
61Herbert11:3320.61%463
61Tyler11:3320.89%668
61Church11:3320.67%497
61Whiting11:3320.21%114
61Snell11:3320.28%179
61Farrow11:3320.14%61
61Driver11:3320.29%191
61Spooner11:3320.49%366
61Cuthbert11:3320.51%378
61Dawes11:3323.85%2,023
61Wilding11:3320.37%259
61Prentice11:3320.46%331
61Constable11:3323.57%1,927
61Goodchild11:3320.26%158
61Pettit11:3320.25%148
61Matthew11:3323.33%1,861
61Ratcliff11:3321.18%861
61Story11:3328.33%3,101
61Eley11:3320.88%654
61Seager11:3320.78%579
61Ranson11:3320.34%237
61Garnham11:3320.15%66
61Avis11:3321.10%818
61Alderton11:3320.31%214
61Scrivener11:3320.54%410
61Minter11:3320.95%721
61Offord11:3320.40%286
61Bottom11:332100.00%9,362
61Whyatt11:3321.35%969
61Cousens11:3322.22%1,381
61Nice11:3320.67%497
61Tricker11:3320.25%151
61Ruffell11:3321.69%1,158
61Wand11:332100.00%9,362
61Disney11:3323.85%2,023
61Leman11:3324.17%2,116
61Borrett11:3320.48%350
61Marjoram11:3320.36%251
61Carrell11:332100.00%9,362
61Stribling11:3322.38%1,451
61Prike11:3321.27%920
61Bradstreet11:3323.57%1,927
61Ennals11:3324.35%2,163
61Musland11:332100.00%9,362
61Manrin11:332100.00%9,362