Sark Genealogical Records
Sark Birth & Baptism Records
An index to births registered to British Army personal at home and abroad.
An index to over 100,000 birth and christening notices from The London Times.
An index to children born to British parents at sea. The index contains the name of both parents, child's name, date of birth and other details. Provides a reference to order a birth certificate.
An index to over 40,000 births and baptisms recorded in the Channel Islands.
An index to evidences provided to the British Civil Service Commission to establish the age of prospective and current civil servants. The index includes date & place of birth and provides a reference to surviving documents.
Sark Marriage & Divorce Records
An index to marriages registered for British Army personal at home and abroad.
An index to over 80,000 marriage and engagement notices from The London Times.
A growing index of marriages, currently containing over 4 million entries from Anglican and Non-conformist records in Britain and Jersey.
A name index linked to images of documents detailing over 18,000 marriages of men employed in marine occupations, some of which occurred at sea. Records also give some details on children of a marriage.
An index linked to digital images of marriage registers. They record the bride, groom and their parish.
Sark Death & Burial Records
An index to deaths of British Army personal at home and abroad.
An index to over 54,000 death notices and obituaries from The London Times.
A name index linked to images of original documents detailing around 950,000 deaths of those who worked on the seas and related industries.
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.
Details of crew and passengers who died aboard RMS Titanic. Information given includes date, place & cause of death; gender; age; nationality; profession; and residence.
Sark Census & Population Lists
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.
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.
The 1891 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.
The 1881 census provides details on an individual's age, residence and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows for searches on multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
Directories containing over 275,000,000 entries. As well as name, address and phone number, occupations are often recorded. A useful census substitute.
Newspapers Covering Sark
A newspaper published for those who escaped from the German occupied Channel Islands during WWII. It contains reports on the military front on the islands, with details on persons deported to Germany; obituaries; birth, marriage & death notices and general news of interest to former islanders. The newspaper is fully text searchable.
A London newspaper that later became The Sun.
Originally founded as a chartist organ, the newspaper became a liberal platform.
A 'radical' newspaper founded and initially edited by Charles Dickens. Regularly published birth, marriage and death announcements.
A popular illustrated, liberal newspaper; one of the most popular in Britain.
Sark Wills & Probate Records
A index to testators whose will was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. They principally cover those who lived in the lower two thirds of Britain, but contain wills for residents of Scotland, Ireland, British India and other countries. A copy of each will may be purchased for digital download.
An index and digital images of PCC wills, available on a subscription basis.
An index to wills and administrations that incurred a death duty tax. The index can be used to order documents that give a brief abstract of the will and details on the duty. It can be used as a make-shift probate index.
An index to over 60,000 wills of people who died with money in public funds. Useful when researching counties where wills have been destroyed. Also contains wills for citizens of British colonies.
A register of over 70,000 unclaimed estates.
Sark Immigration & Travel Records
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.
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.
Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.
A list of over 40,000 passengers traveling from North America to the British Isles. Details of passengers may include: occupation, nationality, gender, age, martial status, class, destination, and details of the vessel they sailed on.
An un-indexed collection of over 100,000 documents of correspondence and other documents of the Home Office and the Aliens Office. Contains a great deal of information on aliens and those who applied for naturalisation.
Sark Military Records
A newspaper published for those who escaped from the German occupied Channel Islands during WWII. It contains reports on the military front on the islands, with details on persons deported to Germany; obituaries; birth, marriage & death notices and general news of interest to former islanders. The newspaper is fully text searchable.
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.
Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.
Index and original images of over 5 million medal index cards for British soldiers It can be searched by individual's name, Coprs, Unit and Regiment. Due to the loss of many WWI service records, this is the most complete source for British WWI soldiers
This rich collection contains contains records for 1.9 million non-commissioned officers and other ranks who fought in WWI. Due to bomb damage in WWI, around 60% of service records were lost. Documents cover: enlistment, medical status, injuries, conduct, awards and discharge. A great deal of genealogical and biographical documentation can be found in these documents, including details on entire families, physical descriptions and place of birth.
Sark Court & Legal Records
From the late 18th century many prisoners in Britain were kept on decommissioned ships known as hulks. This collection contains nearly 50 years of registers for various ships. Details given include: prisoner's name, date received, age, year of birth and conviction details.
A publication giving brief details of bankruptcies, including the names of parties and companies involed.
Abstracts of 17th and 18th century chancery bills and answers. Details listed are: plaintiffs, defendants, details on the dispute and where the proceedings were held.
Abstracts of late Tudor & early Stuart legal proceedings, listing plaintiffs, defendants, details on the dispute and where the proceedings were held.
Abstracts of early legal records listing parties involved, details of the dispute and where the proceedings were held.
Sark Taxation Records
An index to wills and administrations that incurred a death duty tax. The index can be used to order documents that give a brief abstract of the will and details on the duty. It can be used as a make-shift probate index.
Sark Land & Property Records
Poll books record the names of voters and the direction of their vote. Until 1872 only landholders could vote, so not everyone will be listed. Useful for discerning an ancestor's political leanings and landholdings. The collection is supplemented with other records relating to the vote.
A calendar of papers relating to Henry VIII's rule at home and abroad. Contains records relating to people from all walks of life.
Sark Directories & Gazetteers
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.
An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of the bailiwicks' history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.
A directory of settlements on the Channel Islands detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.
A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.
A directory to the settlements of the Channel Islands detailing their history, agriculture, topography, economy and leading commercial, professional and private residents.
Sark Obituaries
A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.
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.
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.
Sark Histories & Books
Photographs and images of churches in Sark.
Over 19,000 postcards depicting places in the UK & Ireland.
A collection of 220,000 professional photos covering most towns and villages in Britain, and parts of Ireland.
A database of over 300,000 photos, etchings, engravings and other mediums depicting places and events in the British Isles and the rest of the world.
A detailed look at the management of 19th century farm houses.
Sark School & Education Records
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.
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.
A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.
A directory of registered teachers – their current school and date of registration. Also contains details on officers and operations of the Teachers Registration Council.
Sark Occupation & Business Records
Books listing doctors who were licensed to operate in Britain and abroad. Contains doctor's residencies, qualification and date of registration.
A rich collection of records documenting those who worked for railway companies that were later absorbed by the government. Records include: staff registers, station transfers, pensions, accident records, apprentice records, caution books, and memos. Records may include date of birth, date of death and name of father.
Indexed medical journals from British ships containing personal and medical details of patients. The journals list names, ages, rank/status, diseases, illness duration and notes on symptoms and treatment. Contains details on military men as well as people immigrating or being deported to colonies.
This collection gives brief details on the appointment of over 1.4 million people who worked for the Post Office. Includes references to corresponding data in the Postmaster General’s minute books and is a starting point for research in the rich archive of the British Postal Museum.
An index linked to original index cards and photographs of over 28,000 aviators who were issued their flying licences by the Royal Aero Club. These included the first military and naval personnel to become pilots. Contains over 13,000 photographs of pilots.
Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Sark
A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.
Lineages and biographies for extinct peerage titles in England, Scotland & Ireland.
Lineages of Britain and Ireland's untitled landed families; supplemented with biographical sketches.
Lineages and biographies for extinct baronetcies in England, Scotland & Ireland.
A lengthy working charting the descendants of Edward III, of England by the esteemed genealogist, The Marquis of Ruvigny. Contains much information from family archives.
Sark Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records
A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.
Lineages and biographies for extinct peerage titles in England, Scotland & Ireland.
Lineages of Britain and Ireland's untitled landed families; supplemented with biographical sketches.
Lineages and biographies for extinct baronetcies in England, Scotland & Ireland.
Lengthy biographies accompanied by portraits of notable persons from British History. Primary covers royalty and nobility.
Sark Church Records
Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.
An interactive map plotting the location of church institutions and delineating the church's boundaries.
An overview of Baptist institutions in the British Isles and abroad, with details of chapels and their particulars.
Architectural plans, with some details of their construction. The database covers England, Wales, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands & Fife.
Biographical details of around 32,000 Congregationalist ministers in the British Isles and further afield.
Biographical Directories Covering Sark
Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.
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.
Detailed biographies of thousands of notable Europeans with details on ancestry.
An index of names connected to over 60,000 biographies of notable British and Irish people from arguably the world's most respected biographical compendium. Gives details on ancestry, careers and personal wealth.
Brief biographical notes on around 10,000 of Britain's foremost nobles, landowners and professionals.
Sark Maps
County and national maps covering the British Isles, extracted from John Speed's landmark work, Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain.
Digital images of maps covering the islands.
An interactive index to thousands of maps covering the world, continents, countries and regions. The majority of maps cover Britain and Ireland.
An interactive map plotting the location of church institutions and delineating the church's boundaries.
Sark Reference Works
A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in the Channel Islands.
A calculator measuring the changing value of the British Pound using two price indices.
A dictionary of nearly 4,000 terms found used in documents relating to trade and retail in early modern Britain.
A dictionary of words used in heraldry, supplemented with over 1,000 illustrations.
A chart showing numerous renderings of Latin letters in court hand, a script common in the medieval and early-modern periods.
Historical Description
Sarke lies two leagues east from Guernsey, and six west from Cape Rose, in Normandy, three leagues to the north of Jersey; and though, in point of size, it is but small, yet, in other respects, it is far from being inconsiderable. In its form it approaches an oval, having a smaller island annexed to it by a narrow isthmus. They are not together above three miles in length, the largest being little more than one mile in breadth, and about five or six in circumference. This island rises high above the sea, and may be said to be regularly fortified, by a rampart of steep impenetrable cliffs, so that it has but one access, which, though in itself easy and commodious, might be rendered impervious to invasion, let the enemy’s force be what it will.
In point of climate this island yields not to any of the rest, and the soil is so fertile that it produces more corn than sufficient for its consumption, as also grass enough for the support of the black cattle, sheep, and horses, with which it is extremely well stocked.
This island is allowed two hundred tods of wool annually from England. The number of inhabitants is about five hundred, out of which they raise a company of militia, without taking the necessary hands from tillage.
Though this island was peopled so early as the sixth century, when St. Magloire, or, as he is commonly called St. Manlier, built a convent here, yet it was afterwards deserted, and in that state was seized by the French, in the reign of Edward the Sixth, and recovered by surprise, (for by force it could not have been taken) in that of Queen Mary, which was effected in this manner:— Leave being obtained to bury a person, a coffin full of arms was sent on shore, which served to arm the attendants, who had been carefully searched on their landing. Part of the small garrison was allured on shipboard, and detained there under pretence of sending some provisions on shore, till those who had landed recovered the island. In the succeeding reign, to prevent any future accident of this kind, it was granted to Hellier de Carteret seigneur de St. Ouen, in the island of Jersey; by whom it was settled, but has passed since into other hands, and is now in a state of improvement, and the number of inhabitants is continually increasing.
SARK, or Serk, which is in the bailiwick of Guernsey, and forms part of that deanery, and in the diocese of Winchester, is the fourth in size of the Channel islands, standing high, and surrounded by abrupt cliffs from. 100 to 320 feet in height, the land, unlike that of the other islands, having no declivity towards the sea. Sark is about 3 ½ miles in length, 1 ½iles broad and 9 in circumference, and contains 1,400 English acres; it is 8 miles east from Guernsey and 14 miles north-west from Jersey, 18 miles south-west from. Alderney and 24 miles from the French coast. Adjoining it on the south is Little Sark, a peninsula connected with Sark by a natural bridge, 300 feet above the sea and 300 feet in length, known as La Couple. The scenery throughout the island is rugged rock of the most picturesque description. The history of Sark (or, as in the old records,” Sercq” and “Cercq is necessarily much broken, as at different periods the island was for centuries uninhabited. It was given by Queen Elizabeth, as a reward for faithful services, to Helier De Carteret, of Jersey, his heirs and successors for ever, to be held under the Crown, for which he was to pay yearly a knight’s fee of 50 shillings to the Court of Guernsey; from that period the island has been held by its seigneurs or lords. It is one of the smallest states of Europe with a separate legislature, and the only one of the small feudal territories or half sovereignties which has remained unimpaired, these of Germany, Austria and Prussia being now either abolished or restricted: the most conspicuous feature of its internal economy is the existence of the law of primogeniture in all its original purity, and the ancient division of the island into 40 estates remains the same even to this day. The present lord is William F. Collings esq. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits and fishing: the land generally is very productive, from the nature both of the soil and climate. There are abundance of rabbits in Sark, and in the winter woodcock and snipe are to be found on the island. The fish most common are lobsters, crabs, mackerel, whiting, rock-fish, silver bream, cod, soles and congers; in the summer the latter are taken in great abundance. Altheugh Sark abounds in mineral veins no attempt was made to explore them till the year 1834; a company was then formed for the purpose of working the whole of the mineral veins in the island, and a lease for 31, afterwards extended to 39, years was obtained from the late lord, Peter Le Pelley esq. who was drowned, in 1839, while crossing from Sark to Guernsey in a small boat. The operations were confined to the metalliferous vein or lode at the south part of the island, called the Pot, until 1836, when the silver lode, situate in the south-west part of the island, called Sark's Hope, was discovered: there are four shafts in the mine, varying from 360 to 600 feet in depth, and eight galleries, three of which extend horizontally for a distance of 3,600 feet, and one is driven 300 feet under the sea. The ores raised up to the year 1847, when the operations finally ceased and the mines were closed, contained upwards of 30,000 ounces of fine silver, in addition to a large quantity of lead.
Although in the immediate vicinity of Jersey and Guernsey, Sark is considered to possess a climate somewhat different. In the sheltered parts the winter passes almost without cognizance, and frost, though an expected visitor, is regarded as one of which the stay is brief. Three-fourths of the island is under cultivation, and potatoes, until recent years, were the chief product of the island; wheat is now grown to a considerable extent; cows, a few bullocks, sheep and hogs are reared and sent to the Guernsey market.
Creux harbour, on the east side of the island, was constructed in 1866, under the instructions of the seigneur, at a cost of £1,700, raised in the form of a duty on all spirituous liquors used in the States of Guernsey. The Gouliot caves, on the west of the island, are three or four in number, with arched openings on the north, west and south, and the sides of one of these are covered with an enormous, quantity of sea anemones, zoophytes and corralines, in great variety.
The church of St. Peter, built in 1820, at a cost of £1,100, by Peter Le Pelley, the seigneur, is a plain edifies of granite, consisting of chancel and nave; there are tablets to Helier De Carteret, first seigneur of Sark, 1563. to Peter Le Pelley and William T. Collings (d. 1882), who were also seigneurs of the island, and other memorials to the Rev. J. L. V. Cachemaille, 42 years vicar of Sark; his son Eugene G. V. Cachemaille, who was lost at sea, and to A. J. J. Cachemaille, priest of Gonville, youngest son of the late vicar; there are 350 sittings. The register dates from the year 1570. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £100, with residence, in the gift of the seigneur of the island, and held since 1896 by the Rev. Louis Napoleon Seichan of the University of Paris.
There is a Wesleyan chapel in the island, built in 1796, at a cost of £300, and seating 250 persons, and a free library and reading room, containing 600 volumes.
Brecqhou is a small island to the west, off the Gouliot rock, dependent on the lordship of Sark, and separated from it by a narrow passage 5 it is 1 ½ miles in circumference, and has one family settled on it.
On the western coast of the island, opposite Brecqhou, is a granite obelisk, erected by the widow and children of Mr. Jeremiah G. Pilcher, of London, who, with four companions, was drowned while endeavouring to cross to Guernsey, 19 Oct. 1862.
The Seigneurie, or manor house of the lords of Sark, is in that part of the island called the Moinerie: the entrance is through an arched gateway and a fine avenue of trees: the house is a well built edifice, partly erected in the year 1730, by Seigneur Peter Le Pelley, on the site of the old monastery. At the back of the house is a small isolated tower, and near this is a miniature battery containing some small pieces of cannon, one of which bears the inscription; “Don de la Boyne Elizabeth au Seigneur de Sercq, A.D. 1573.”
St. Magloire, who lived near the site of the manor house, founded here in the 4th century a monastery, of which slight remains still exist.
The area of the island is 1,400 acres; the population, according to the census of 1901, was 463.
SCHOOLS
Parochial (boys’), erected by funds supplied by the National Society, & now supported by the Seigneur & the States of the island; it was built in 1820, for 80 boys; average attendance, 43.
Girls’, Le Manoir, established in 1840, by Peter Le Pelley, a former seigneur, who also endowed the same with about £25 yearly; the school will hold 70 girls; average attendance, 38.
Most Common Surnames in Sark
| Rank | Surname | Incidence | Frequency | Percent of Parent | Rank in Channel Islands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamon | 117 | 1:5 | 22.12% | 4 |
| 2 | Baker | 76 | 1:8 | 26.86% | 28 |
| 3 | Carre | 72 | 1:8 | 24.00% | 25 |
| 4 | de Carteret | 67 | 1:9 | 34.90% | 65 |
| 5 | Guille | 59 | 1:10 | 34.10% | 79 |
| 6 | Drilliot | 29 | 1:20 | 80.56% | 413 |
| 7 | Le Feuvre | 20 | 1:29 | 4.99% | 10 |
| 8 | Le Masurier | 15 | 1:39 | 5.60% | 36 |
| 9 | Hotton | 11 | 1:53 | 10.19% | 141 |
| 10 | Vaudin | 8 | 1:72 | 6.15% | 110 |
| 10 | Naftel | 8 | 1:72 | 10.39% | 200 |
| 12 | Pontin | 7 | 1:83 | 100.00% | 1,914 |
| 12 | des Caudeville | 7 | 1:83 | 53.85% | 1,068 |
| 14 | Cook | 6 | 1:96 | 15.00% | 368 |
| 14 | Henry | 6 | 1:96 | 3.95% | 93 |
| 14 | Mollet | 6 | 1:96 | 3.43% | 77 |
| 14 | Remfrey | 6 | 1:96 | 100.00% | 2,193 |
| 18 | Kelly | 5 | 1:116 | 6.17% | 195 |
| 18 | Stock | 5 | 1:116 | 83.33% | 2,193 |
| 18 | Lefeuvre | 5 | 1:116 | 100.00% | 2,601 |
| 21 | Massey | 4 | 1:145 | 40.00% | 1,382 |
| 21 | Godfray | 4 | 1:145 | 1.93% | 55 |
| 21 | Girard | 4 | 1:145 | 2.38% | 80 |
| 24 | Vermeil | 3 | 1:193 | % | NaN |
| 24 | Tanquerel | 3 | 1:193 | % | NaN |
| 26 | Le Page | 2 | 1:289 | 0.34% | 2 |
| 26 | Robin | 2 | 1:289 | 0.65% | 24 |
| 26 | Akerman | 2 | 1:289 | 100.00% | 4,129 |
| 26 | Pallot | 2 | 1:289 | 0.81% | 44 |
| 26 | Drillot | 2 | 1:289 | 50.00% | 3,046 |
| 31 | Jones | 1 | 1:578 | 0.61% | 85 |
| 31 | Rowe | 1 | 1:578 | 1.20% | 189 |
| 31 | Gascoigne | 1 | 1:578 | 25.00% | 3,046 |
| 31 | Pay | 1 | 1:578 | 25.00% | 3,046 |
| 31 | Mauger | 1 | 1:578 | 0.18% | 3 |
| 31 | Hazlehurst | 1 | 1:578 | 100.00% | 4,913 |
| 31 | Martel | 1 | 1:578 | 0.36% | 31 |
| 31 | Letcher | 1 | 1:578 | 20.00% | 2,601 |
| 31 | Vibert | 1 | 1:578 | 0.50% | 60 |
| 31 | Tostevin | 1 | 1:578 | 0.43% | 45 |
| 31 | Denis | 1 | 1:578 | 5.56% | 771 |
| 31 | Le Lacheur | 1 | 1:578 | 0.62% | 86 |
| 31 | Sarre | 1 | 1:578 | 0.60% | 82 |
| 31 | Rouget | 1 | 1:578 | 1.64% | 258 |
| 31 | Betham | 1 | 1:578 | 100.00% | 4,913 |
| 31 | Silly | 1 | 1:578 | 100.00% | 4,913 |