Flintshire Genealogical Records

Flintshire 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.

Flintshire Baptisms (1538-1945)

A searchable database of 246,895 records, linked to original images of baptism registers. The records provide proof of parentage, occupations, residence and other details.

North Wales Birth Index (1837-1995)

A growing index of births registered in the counties of North Wales. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

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.

Flintshire 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.

Flintshire Marriages (1539-1926)

A searchable database of 91,150 records, linked to original images of marriage registers. The records may include fathers' names, age, residence, occupations and more.

Flintshire Banns (1603-1926)

A searchable database of 48,772 records detailing intentions to marry. Includes digital images of the records and may contain information not included in marriage registers.

North Wales Marriage Index (1837-2000)

A growing index of marriages registered in the counties of North Wales. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

British Marriage Records (1392-2011)

A collection of indexes and transcripts of marriage records that cover over 160 million people. Includes digital images of many records.

Flintshire 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.

Flintshire Burials (1539-2007)

A searchable database of 243,440 records, linked to original images of burial registers. The records may include date of burial and/or death, residence, age and other details.

North Wales Death Index (1837-1996)

A growing index of deaths registered in the counties of North Wales. Records include a reference to the sub-registration district, making it easier to order the correct certificate.

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.

FreeBMD Deaths (1837-1964)

An index to deaths registered at the central authority for England and Wales. To 1866, only the locality the death was registered in was listed. Age was listed until 1969, when the deceased's date of birth was listed. Provides a reference to order a death certificate, which has further details.

Flintshire 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.

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.

1891 British Census (1891)

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.

1881 British Census (1881)

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.

Newspapers Covering Flintshire

Flintshire Historical Society Journal (1977-2003)

A collection of scholarly articles and book reviews pertaining to the county of Flint, in Wales.

Flintshire Historical Society Publications (1911-1976)

A series of annual Publications containing transcripts and articles relating to the county, with book reviews and society notes.

Rhyl Record and Advertiser (1888-1910)

A weekly newspaper containing local news, family announcements, sports, advertisements etc. It was liberal in politics. Each edition has been indexed and digitised.

North Wales Express (1878-1910)

A weekly newspaper covering local, parliamentary, community and religious news. It contained family announcements. Each edition has been indexed and digitised.

Dydd (1868-1910)

A weekly Welsh-language newspaper the covered political, religious and other news from an Independent perspective. Each edition has been indexed and digitised.

Flintshire 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.

Welsh Probate Index & Images (1521-1858)

An index to most surviving wills, administrations and inventories proved in Wales' six ecclesiastical courts and the Peculiar of Hawarden. Most documents are available to view online.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (PPV) (1384-1858)

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.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills (Subscription) (1384-1858)

An index and digital images of PCC wills, available on a subscription basis.

British Wills and Probate Records (1163-1999)

A collection of indexes, abstracts, transcripts and digital images of over 5.5 million wills, administrations and other probate records.

Flintshire 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.

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.

Migration from North America to Britain & Ireland (1858-1870)

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.

Flintshire Military Records

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.

British Prisoners of World War II (1939-1945)

Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.

British Army WWI Medal Rolls (1914-1920)

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

British Army WWI Service Records (1914-1920)

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.

Silver War Badges (1914-1920)

An index to nearly 900,000 military personnel who were awarded the Silver War Badge for sustaining injures. Records include rank, regimental number, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, and reason for discharge.

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.

Prison Hulk Registers (1802-1849)

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.

England & Wales Criminal Registers (1791-1892)

This collection lists brief details on 1.55 million criminal cases in England and Wales between 1791 and 1892. Its primary use is to locate specific legal records, which may give further details on the crime and the accused. Details may include the accused's age, nature of crime, location of trial and sentence. Early records can contain a place of birth.

Flintshire Taxation Records

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.

Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures (1710-1811)

An index linked to original images of registers recording apprenticeship indentures. Details are given on the trade and nature of apprenticeship. Many records list the parents of the apprentice.

Index to Death Duty Registers (1796-1903)

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.

Index to the Royalist Composition Papers (1646-1656)

Index to personal names listed in the Royalist Composition Papers that dealt with the estates of royalists.

Flintshire Land & Property Records

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.

UK Poll Books and Electoral Rolls (1538-1893)

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.

Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem (1236-1291)

Abstracts of records detailing the estates and families of deceased tenants from the reigns of Henry III and Edward I.

NLW Manuscript Transcripts (1200-2000)

A searchable database of thousands of transcribed and abstracted manuscripts, largely pertaining to land.

Landowners of England & Wales (1873)

A list of owners of above one acre of land in England & Wales. Lists a landowner's residence, acreage and estimated gross yearly rental.

Flintshire Directories & Gazetteers

Slater's Directory of North & Mid Wales (1895)

Historical and contemporary descriptions of settlements, detailing their governance, churches, schools etc.; to which is appended lists of residents, with their occupations.

Slater's Directory, North and Mid Wales (1895)

Historical and contemporary descriptions of settlements, detailing their governance, churches, schools etc.; to which is appended lists of residents, with their occupations.

Cassey's Directory of the Chief Towns in North Wales (1876)

A directory of the region's nobility, gentry, clergy, traders and professionals. Supplemented with a directory of churches and public schools.

Slater's Directory, North Wales (1850)

Historical and contemporary descriptions of settlements, detailing their governance, churches, schools etc.; to which is appended lists of residents, with their occupations.

Pigot's Directory, North Wales (1844)

A gazetteer covering larger settlements, and listing their trade, commercial and professional entities.

Flintshire Cemeteries

Flintshire Church Monuments (1300-1900)

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

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.

Rail & Canal Photographs Catalog (1880-1970)

A searchable database of photographs relating to railways and canals in Britain.

Flintshire 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.

Flintshire Histories & Books

Flintshire Historical Society Journal (1977-2003)

A collection of scholarly articles and book reviews pertaining to the county of Flint, in Wales.

Flintshire Historical Society Publications (1911-1976)

A series of annual Publications containing transcripts and articles relating to the county, with book reviews and society notes.

Flintshire Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Flintshire.

Geograph: Photos of the UK and Ireland (2005-Present)

A growing database including millions of photographs of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Ireland catalogued by latitude & longitude and OS grid reference.

Britain from Above (1919-1953)

Ariel photographs of the British Isles. Browsable by location.

Flintshire 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.

Flintshire Occupation & Business Records

Smuggling on the West Coast (1690-1867)

An introduction to smuggling on the west coast of Britain & the Isle of Man, with details of the act in various regions.

Sheriffs of Flintshire (1301-1883)

A list of those whose served as High Sheriff, with dates of service.

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.

Railway Employment Records (1833-1963)

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.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Flintshire

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.

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

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

Flintshire Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Flintshire Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Flintshire'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.

Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage (1921)

A dictionary of families elevated to the peerage of Great Britain & Ireland. It includes genealogies and biographical details.

Flintshire Church Records

Flintshire Parish Registers (1538-1980)

The parish registers of Flintshire are the primary source for birth, marriage and death details before civil registration (1837). A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between 1538 and 1980. Parish registers can assist tracing a family as far back as 1538.

Wales Parish Registers (1914-2013)

The parish registers of Wales are a collection of books documenting baptisms, marriages and burials from 1914 to 2013.

Wales Parish Registers (1538-1934)

The primary source of documentation for baptisms, marriages and burials before 1837, though useful to the present also.

The Welsh Church Year Book (1929)

Important information relating to the church, including jurisdictions and names of ministers, archdeacons etc.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Biographical Directories Covering Flintshire

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.

Flintshire Maps

Maps of Flintshire (1607-1913)

A collection of digitalised 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 Maps of Wales (1868-1954)

An interactive map featuring four OS map editions published between 1868 and 1954. To load a map select the menu tab on the far right, select the edition you wish to view and zoom in to a locality.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

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

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.

Flintshire Reference Works

Wales Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in Wales.

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.

Civil & Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction

Historical Description

Flintshire is the smallest in the principality, and is bounded on the north by the Irish Sea, on the north-east by the river Dee, on the east by Cheshire, and on the south-west by Denbighshire. It consists of a narrow slip of land, running southeast, about twenty-seven miles in length, and only ten broad, being in many places much less. A detached part belongs to it, at some miles distance from the rest, separated by the interposition of Denbighshire, and almost encircled by Shropshire and Cheshire; this part is about eight miles long, and ten broad; and the whole of the county comprises 160, 000 acres of land, of which 110, 000 acres are pasturage, and only 20, 000 acres arable. The county, including the detached part, is divided into five hundreds, viz. Coleshill, Maelor, Mold, Prestatyn, and Rhyddlan; and contains one city, St. Asaph; four market-towns, viz. Caerwys, Flint, Holywell, and Mold; and 28 parishes, which are partly in the diocese of St. Asaph and partly in that of Chester. It consists of 8816 houses, and 46, 500 inhabitants.

The air is cold, yet generally healthful; but, like other parts of the Cambrian territories, Flintshire is full of hills, particularly near the shore of the Dee, where the land rises rapidly, forming a ridge of hills, running a considerable way parallel to that river, intermixed with a few vallies, generally fruitful, producing great plenty of wheat and rye, while the low parts, though of a clayey soil, produce sufficient grass for numerous cattle. Here is likewise an abundance of honey, from which a pleasant liquor is made, called Medd, or mead. The mountains contain coal, lead, freestone, and a vast strata of limestone.

The commercial importance of Flintshire is almost solely derived from its mineral productions, particularly the lead ore, which is smelted upon the spot, and the metal exported from Chester. Some kinds of the ore contain silver enough to repay, with profit, the expence of separating it from the lead; and several ounces of silver have been annually extracted in this county, which is chiefly used by the manufacturers of Birmingham and Sheffield.

The calamine is partly exported, and some used in a brass foundry at Holywell. From the coalpits, in the south part of the county, the city of Chester is chiefly supplied. To these may be added some considerable potteries, established near Northop, from whence large quantities of coarse earthenware are exported to the Welsh coast and Ireland.

The most remarkable river in this county is the Alun, which near Mold sinks under ground, and is lost for a considerable space. The rivers of the vale of Clwyd have likewise their exit in Flintshire, including the Elwy and Wheeler, which supply the epicure with delicious fish.

This county returns two representatives to the British Senate, viz. one for the county, and one for the town of Flint.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

FLINTSHIRE is a maritime county of North Wales, bounded on the south and west by Denbighshire, on the north by the Irish Sea, on the north-east by the estuary of the Dee, except that portion called Sealand, on the opposite side of the river, which is bounded by Cheshire, which county is also the boundary of the eastern side; the detached portion of the shire is about 8 miles to the south-east and is placed amidst the counties of Denbigh, Salop, and Cheshire.

The county of Flint has always been regarded as an appendage of the County Palatine of Chester, and has in consequence formed part of that earldom, and several of the princes of Wales, from Edward of Carnarvon (afterwards Edward II.) downwards, were styled “Earls of Chester and Flint”; but it does not appear that any were so created, or that they were summoned to Parliament under these titles, nor was there ever any earldom of Flint as distinct from that of Chester; the title seems to have been assumed simply because the princes using it had received a royal grant of both the counties of Chester and Flint. It may be added that the titles of Earl of Flint and Viscount Wickham were satirically applied to the notorious Judge Jeffreys in the dedication to him of a printed book, the title of which, Dissertatio Lithologica, is evidently a pun on the name.

The principal portion of Flintshire approaches in form to a narow parallelogram stretching along the southwestern side of the river Dee-measured from near Saltney, on the eastern border, to the mouth of the river Clwyd, on the western, the extreme length is 26 miles; the breadth varies from 14 to about 5 ½ miles; the detached portion is somewhat similar in form, and extends from north-west to south-east for a distance of 10 miles, the breadth ranging from about 4 to 7 miles; the total area is 164,050 acres. The main body of the county is much diversified in feature; but the scenery, though frequently bold and striking, seldom assumes the wildness characteristic of the other parts of the principality. Nearly parallel with the Dee, but some 5 or 6 miles distant from the shore, runs a mountainous ridge containing valuable minerals. The country at the foot of the hills is gently undulating and is very fertile, producing good crops of cereals, roots, &c. Eastward of the vale of Clwyd, which extends out of Denbighshire to the north-eastern shore of this county, rises the Clwydia mountain range, the detached summits-Moel Arthur (1,491 feet), Moel Fenlli (1,530 feet), and Moel Fammau (1,823 feet)-forming conspicuous objects. The principal rivers are the Dee and the Clwyd: the Dee first touches this county in its course northwards along the eastern confines of Denbighshire, where for several miles it forms the division between that county and the western border of Flintshire detached; after passing through the city of Chester, the river again enters Flintshire at its eastern extremity and is carried through a low-lying portion of the country by an artificial channel, which terminates within 4 miles of Flint in the estuary of the old channel. The Clwyd enters the western part of the county from Denbighshire, near Bodvari, and, pursuing a north-easterly course, flows through St. Asaph, being joined north of that city by the Elwy; it then continues its course through the Rhuddlan marsh, and falls into the Irish Sea near Rhyl. In addition to these rivers there are numerous small streams, which rise in the hills adjacent thereto.

The county of Flint is well provided with railway communication; the towns on the north-western border being served by the Chester and Holyhead line of the London and North-Western railway, which enters the county at its eastern extremity and continues close to the shore of the estuary of the Dee to nearly the Point of Air, when it turns to the south-west and runs by the Irish Sea through Prestatyn and Rhyl, and on into Carnarvonshire. The Chester, Mold, Denbigh, and Rhyl line of this company branches from the main line directly after the latter’s entry into the county, and proceeds, within a short distance of the south-western border, through Hope (Exchange) (connection here with the Wrexham, Mold, and Connahs Quay railway) Mold (short branch from here to Coed Talon), Denbigh, and St. Asaph, and thence to Rhyl. The Wrexham, Mold, and Connahs Quay railway crosses the southern border of the county close to Cefn-y-Bedd station, and runs northwards through Caergwrle, Buckley, and Hawarden to Connahs Quay on the Dee estuary. The Hawarden bridge across the river Dee, which was opened in 1890, gives communication with the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire railway and the Cheshire lines via Northgate, Chester. The Cambrian railway crosses the southeastern part of Flintshire detached, and has stations at Bettisfield and Fenn’s Bank.

The mineral productions of Flintshire are of great variety and importance, and consist chiefly of coal, lead, and zinc ores, calamine; with limestone and freestone, larytes is also found.

Flintshire contains 36 civil parishes and part of six others, and is partly in the diocese of Chester, archdeaconry of Chester, rural deaneries of Chester and Malpas, and partly in the diocese of Lichfield, archdeaconry of Salop, rural deanery of Ellesmere, but chiefly in the diocese of St. Asaph, archdeaconries of St. Asaph and Wrexham. St. Asaph’s archdeaconry is subdivided into the rural deaneries of St. Asaph, Denbigh, Dyffryn Clwyd, and Holywell; archdeaconry of Wrexham into the rural deaneries of Bangor-is-y-Coed, Mold, and Wrexham. The county is in the North Wales Division of the North and South Wales and Chester circuit, and has one court of quarter sessions and is divided into nine petty sessional divisions; the borough of Flint has a separate commission of the peace, but no separate court of quarter sessions. The only municipal borough is Flint which is also the county town, the population of which was in 1891, 5,247. The chief towns are: Flint, Holywell, Mold, and the city of St. Asaph.

Registration district:—

No. 617. Holywell. Area, 73,380. Population in 1891, 42,565.

Parliamentary Representation of Flintshire

Flintshire returns one member for the undivided county and one for the Flint District of Boroughs, consisting of the contributing boroughs of Caergwyle, Caerwys, Flint, Holywell, Mold, Overton, Rhuddlan & the City of St. Asaph.

Military

Flintshire is included in Regimental District 23, and the headquarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers is at Rhyl (see p. 398).

Flint County Council

Local Government Act, 1888, 51 & 52 Viet. c. 41.

Under the above Act, Flintshire, after the 1st April 1889, for the purposes of the Act, became a separate and distinct administrative county (sec. 4616), governed by a County Council, consisting of chairman, aldermen, and councillors (the number of councillors being determined by the Local Government Board), to be elected in manner prescribed by the Act (sec. 2).

The chairman shall, by virtue of his office, be a justice of the peace for the county, without qualification (sec. 46).

The police for the county are under the control of a standing joint committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council, to be appointed as therein mentioned (sec. 9).

The coroners for the county are elected by the County Council, and the clerk of the peace appointed by such joint committee, and may be removed by them (sec. 83-2).

The clerk of the peace for the county is also the clerk of the County Council (sec. 83-1).

The administrative business of the county (which would, if this Act had not been passed, have been transacted by the justices) is transacted by the County Council.

The following Table shows the acreage under each kind of crop & the number of horses, cattle, sheep & pigs in Flintshire, as taken from the Agricultural Returns, 1893:

CropsAcresLive StockNumbers
Corn & cereals24,385Horses used solely for agriculture4,024
Roots, cabbage, vetches & other green crops8,006Unbroken horses2,232
Clover & grasses16,780Brood mares380
Permanent pasture76,584Cows in milk or calf16,245
Bare fallow664Other cattle, 2 years & above4,759
Market gardens66Other cattle, 1 year & under 27,152
Nursery grounds8Other cattle, under 1 year6,872
Orchards157Ewes kept for breeding27,663
Mountain & heathland6,358Other sheep, 1 year old & above14,111
Woods & plantations7,839Other sheep, under 1 year29,512
  Sows kept for breeding2,554
  Other pigs13,030
Slater's Directory of North and Mid Wales (1895)

Most Common Surnames in Flintshire

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Wales
1Jones10,1321:155.94%1
2Williams5,4741:284.96%3
3Davies4,3531:353.90%2
4Roberts4,2451:369.20%6
5Hughes3,5111:449.47%8
6Evans2,5951:593.50%4
7Edwards1,9561:796.94%11
8Griffiths1,6941:915.75%10
9Thomas1,5381:1002.16%5
10Parry1,4121:10911.25%24
11Smith1,3031:1185.08%12
12Lloyd1,0111:1526.82%21
13Ellis9571:16114.95%34
14Owen8311:1853.85%15
15Morris8291:1864.26%18
15Price8291:1864.18%17
17Lewis8191:1882.05%7
18Taylor7901:1956.08%22
19Brown6681:2315.91%26
20Johnson6331:2439.96%35
21Wilson5441:2838.95%39
22Robinson5111:30110.84%55
23Bennett4841:3188.81%44
24Martin4571:3378.08%41
25Powell4011:3843.25%25
26Morgan3911:3941.14%9
27Pritchard3891:3964.89%30
28Cooper3811:4048.89%64
29Moore3721:4148.15%59
29Walker3721:4147.88%54
31Owens3681:4198.49%62
32Bellis3601:42847.00%439
33Harrison3561:43310.09%82
34Jackson3541:4358.76%73
35Rogers3491:4414.85%31
36Green3331:4636.26%46
36Hewitt3331:46323.19%231
38Humphreys3311:4657.86%66
39Dodd3271:47123.82%241
40Wright3251:4746.52%51
41Thompson3231:4777.25%60
42Hill3121:4944.78%32
43Butler3021:51011.34%107
44James2981:5171.19%13
45Phillips2961:5201.55%19
46Cartwright2941:52419.43%210
47Rowlands2871:5374.73%40
48Clarke2831:5445.15%43
49Bailey2751:5607.76%81
50Wynne2691:57320.47%259
51Richards2631:5861.62%20
52Foulkes2611:59022.76%296
53Hayes2591:59510.53%120
53White2591:5954.15%38
55Harris2581:5971.99%22
56Catherall2521:61177.54%1,046
57Jenkins2481:6211.22%16
58Hall2461:6265.10%52
59Shaw2441:63110.33%125
60Shone2421:63647.83%688
61Collins2381:6474.70%49
61Millington2381:64739.67%564
63Peters2361:65313.42%171
63Turner2361:6534.62%47
65Murphy2271:6795.51%71
66Pugh2251:6854.21%45
67Bell2131:7239.31%130
68Allen2111:7304.49%56
68Ward2111:7305.68%79
70Kelly1981:7787.30%105
71Wood1961:7864.74%70
72Adams1921:8024.55%65
72Blackwell1921:80224.49%426
72Wilcock1921:80263.79%1,139
75Bryan1901:81118.77%330
76Oldfield1881:81945.19%831
77Massey1861:82830.74%559
77Scott1861:8286.60%99
79Parker1841:8374.67%75
79Pearson1841:83710.69%175
81Clark1801:8565.18%84
82Pierce1781:86514.72%286
83Mitchell1741:8855.65%90
84Lamb1681:91725.61%513
84Reynolds1681:9174.41%77
84Young1681:9173.61%58
87Matthews1651:9332.62%37
88Peers1611:95758.97%1,260
89Gibson1591:9699.80%186
89Kendrick1591:96928.44%617
91Buckley1571:98111.37%238
92Baker1551:9942.78%42
93Spencer1531:1,0079.41%184
94Cook1511:1,0203.60%68
94Russell1511:1,0206.51%128
96Hough1491:1,03439.52%910
96Salisbury1491:1,03419.18%432
98Barlow1471:1,04815.57%354
98Latham1471:1,04820.08%458
100Higgins1451:1,0629.68%217
100Lee1451:1,0623.34%61
102Coppack1431:1,07788.27%2,042
103Brooks1411:1,0926.01%126
103Harvey1411:1,0925.36%111
103Vaughan1411:1,0923.35%67
106Bevan1391:1,1082.76%50
106King1391:1,1083.40%72
108Wainwright1371:1,12425.00%629
109Carter1361:1,1323.61%78
109Richardson1361:1,1326.20%133
111Conway1341:1,14916.09%404
111Holmes1341:1,1496.45%140
113Stewart1321:1,1678.37%193
113Watson1321:1,1675.38%121
113Whitley1321:1,16748.18%1,256
116Barnes1301:1,1856.10%136
116Bithell1301:1,18543.62%1,154
116Carroll1301:1,18513.74%353
116Simpson1301:1,1857.81%181
116Wilkes1301:1,18520.47%528
121Connah1281:1,20380.00%2,064
121Dean1281:1,20310.84%289
121Gallagher1281:1,20315.31%403
121Hunt1281:1,2034.44%98
121Rush1281:1,20354.01%1,448
121Walsh1281:1,2035.77%132
127Dixon1261:1,2226.96%164
127Fox1261:1,2227.64%182
129Bartley1241:1,24228.84%804
129Campbell1241:1,2426.17%146
129Dutton1241:1,24220.95%571
129Marshall1241:1,2425.04%118
133Barker1221:1,2628.41%228
133Davis1221:1,2623.81%85
133Woods1221:1,2627.82%197
133Woodward1221:1,2629.12%251
137Holland1201:1,2846.90%174
137Knight1201:1,2844.52%109
137Lawrence1201:1,2844.44%106
140Andrews1181:1,3053.70%87
140Armstrong1181:1,30510.50%304
140Beck1181:1,30521.73%637
143Hopwood1161:1,32832.95%971
144Booth1141:1,3519.14%276
144Carr1141:1,35110.42%311
144Gregory1141:1,3514.93%129
144Probert1141:1,3517.64%220
148Anderson1121:1,3754.53%115
149Burke1101:1,4008.37%258
149Foster1101:1,4006.69%183
149Griffith1101:1,4004.45%116
149Hooson1101:1,40048.89%1,506
149Murray1101:1,4005.36%142
149Rose1101:1,4007.29%213
149Webster1101:1,4008.74%271
156Ashton1081:1,4269.88%312
156Challinor1081:1,42649.32%1,554
156Miller1081:1,4263.97%104
156Mills1081:1,4263.42%88
156Payne1081:1,4263.63%94
156Stevenson1081:1,42612.43%389
162Bradshaw1071:1,43912.26%384
162Gray1071:1,4394.80%131
162Tattum1071:1,43955.73%1,739
165Astbury1051:1,46752.76%1,686
165Lawson1051:1,46714.46%463
165Newton1051:1,4677.97%256
165Sumner1051:1,46727.49%899
169Howard1031:1,4955.56%162
169Messham1031:1,49570.55%2,251
169Reid1031:1,4959.22%306
169Worrall1031:1,49525.94%868
173Bates1011:1,5257.45%246
173Doyle1011:1,5257.18%236
173Gittins1011:1,52513.69%453
173Graham1011:1,5256.98%230
173Oliver1011:1,5255.38%157
173Stanley1011:1,52513.02%433
173Sullivan1011:1,5253.61%100
180Baxter991:1,55614.39%489
180Birch991:1,55611.16%375
180Bradley991:1,5566.16%188
180Francis991:1,5562.11%57
180Guest991:1,55618.17%632
185Byrne971:1,58810.23%351
185Corbett971:1,58815.52%537
185Douglas971:1,58815.02%520
185Fletcher971:1,5885.18%158
185Marsh971:1,5885.79%180
190Ashbrook951:1,62198.96%3,244
190Chamberlain951:1,62111.19%397
190Edge951:1,62115.03%531
190McManus951:1,62134.55%1,251
190Ratcliffe951:1,62117.53%639
190Rees951:1,6210.39%14
190Riley951:1,6219.09%319
190Shepherd951:1,6217.09%250
190Speed951:1,62132.42%1,178
199Atkinson931:1,6568.82%317
199Burrows931:1,6567.93%291
199Fisher931:1,6563.49%107
199Harding931:1,6563.35%102
199Saunders931:1,6562.97%89
RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Wales
1Jones12,3681:67.12%1
2Williams5,9591:135.61%2
3Roberts4,8031:1710.57%6
4Hughes4,2581:1911.86%8
5Davies4,0641:203.99%3
6Evans2,2241:363.15%5
7Edwards1,9361:418.19%11
8Parry1,8051:4414.18%21
9Griffiths1,6551:486.57%10
10Thomas1,1571:691.63%4
11Lloyd1,1231:718.12%20
12Ellis9621:8318.50%34
13Price9251:865.71%15
14Lewis7591:1052.06%7
15Owens5441:1476.00%24
16Morris5421:1483.40%17
17Bellis5221:15362.74%132
18Foulkes4211:19035.74%93
19Powell3441:2323.74%23
20Wynne3431:23329.62%96
21Smith3111:2574.47%26
22Humphreys3101:2587.85%38
23Owen2981:2681.84%16
24Taylor2821:2839.06%46
25Pierce2791:28720.65%78
26Rowlands2701:2965.14%33
27Morgan2691:2971.00%9
28Pritchard2601:3074.55%32
29Rogers2571:3116.30%37
30Hewitt2551:31461.89%260
31Wright2261:35420.02%98
32Peters2191:36523.75%117
33Catherall2151:37296.41%452
34Blackwell2081:38452.13%276
35Bennett2071:38612.45%69
36Johnson2041:39214.95%77
37Shone1961:40868.06%363
38Millington1841:43473.02%412
39Hayes1741:45921.14%133
40Vaughan1671:4795.46%48
41Phillips1661:4821.15%18
42Connah1501:533100.00%631
43Mathews1401:5718.48%71
44Kendrick1361:58843.45%344
45Harrison1331:60115.63%127
46Lamb1311:61042.95%351
47Dodd1301:61521.96%176
48Wilson1271:6299.97%84
49Brown1221:6553.24%41
49Simon1221:65526.81%229
51George1211:6613.36%45
52James1181:6780.60%13
53Martin1171:6837.18%72
54Hopwood1161:68971.60%589
55Adams1151:6956.13%60
55Wilcock1151:69585.82%704
55Whitley1151:69579.86%665
58Jenkins1141:7010.60%14
58Astbury1141:70198.28%806
60Wainwright1111:72063.79%554
60Dowell1111:72077.62%667
62Jackson1101:72712.35%122
62Griffith1101:7271.89%30
64Lee1071:74710.73%107
65Harris1051:7611.36%25
66Green1031:7766.75%75
67Matthews1021:7845.39%59
68Oldfield1011:79249.03%484
69Bryan981:81621.26%228
69Conway981:81639.52%413
71Holland941:85019.38%218
72Pugh931:8602.19%36
73Kelly921:86913.20%153
74Vickers911:87981.25%834
74Huxley911:87947.64%513
76Peers901:88883.33%864
77Tudor891:89817.62%204
78Goodwin881:90816.18%193
79Tattum871:919100.00%1,057
80Fox851:94117.07%208
81Hooson841:95268.85%768
82Hall821:9756.33%83
83Ames811:98777.14%882
84Hill801:9993.88%54
84Cartwright801:99927.12%356
84Piercy801:99981.63%951
87Beavan791:1,01218.33%244
88Cooper781:1,0258.92%125
89Turner771:1,0385.78%80
90Thompson761:1,0528.49%121
90Leighton761:1,05273.79%907
92Richardson751:1,06616.93%236
93Crofts731:1,09584.88%1,068
94Robinson721:1,1108.22%124
94Francis721:1,1101.92%42
96Bartley711:1,12645.81%616
96Iball711:1,126100.00%1,271
98Barker701:1,14224.05%360
99Walker691:1,1599.69%149
99Parker691:1,1595.43%85
99Collins691:1,1593.73%61
99Butler691:1,1598.94%143
99Meredith691:1,1593.30%53
99Weigh691:1,159100.00%1,304
105Richards671:1,1930.48%19
105Latham671:1,19354.92%768
105Redfern671:1,19385.90%1,168
105Probert671:1,1937.99%129
109Messham651:1,230100.00%1,387
110Bagshaw641:1,24992.75%1,304
111Nuttall631:1,26975.90%1,104
111Bevan631:1,2691.72%44
113Burrows621:1,28927.07%441
113Davison621:1,28953.91%813
115Clark611:1,3116.24%108
115Holmes611:1,31112.55%217
115Pickering611:1,31131.61%504
118Moore601:1,3325.27%97
118Shaw601:1,33216.22%297
118Barlow601:1,33235.50%569
118Gittins601:1,33211.24%197
118Coppack601:1,33298.36%1,467
123McDonald591:1,35513.59%242
123Dutton591:1,35530.57%504
123Reece591:1,35513.82%248
126Salisbury581:1,37820.64%373
127Bell571:1,40312.53%229
127Rees571:1,4030.25%12
129Clarke561:1,4284.64%89
130Bithell551:1,45455.56%942
131Brooks541:1,4808.21%159
131Dunn541:1,4809.06%173
131Thornton541:1,48036.73%651
134Langford531:1,50822.27%432
135Mitchell521:1,5376.34%136
136Saunders511:1,5684.15%87
136Edge511:1,56855.43%1,015
136Amos511:1,56824.06%470
136Durkin511:1,56878.46%1,387
136Dykins511:1,56869.86%1,237
141Parsonage501:1,59943.48%813
142Watson491:1,6329.78%207
142Littler491:1,63254.44%1,032
144Ward481:1,6668.16%178
144Hunt481:1,6666.85%152
146Fletcher471:1,70111.60%271
146Luke471:1,70121.36%457
146Denman471:1,70161.04%1,182
146Profit471:1,70175.81%1,450
150Young461:1,7383.84%90
150Humphries461:1,73815.59%356
150Smallwood461:1,73852.27%1,046
150Bithel461:1,73860.53%1,193
154Gregory451:1,7776.11%146
154Blythin451:1,77797.83%1,856
156Reynolds441:1,8172.52%64
156Newton441:1,81715.44%368
156Woodward441:1,81716.00%377
156Savage441:1,81717.19%404
156Brookes441:1,81728.57%620
156Manley441:1,81720.56%467
156Chesters441:1,81786.27%1,694
163Bradley431:1,85916.60%396
163Moores431:1,85986.00%1,723
165Fisher421:1,9034.17%106
165Rigby421:1,90355.26%1,193
165Birks421:1,90393.33%1,900
165Hollins421:1,90384.00%1,723
165Ingman421:1,90352.50%1,139
170Ball411:1,9506.95%177
170Stanley411:1,95019.90%484
170Beckett411:1,95051.90%1,156
170Gallagher411:1,95075.93%1,617
170Watkin411:1,9505.89%154
175Knight401:1,9996.18%164
175Hough401:1,99956.34%1,271
175Maddocks401:1,99914.81%383
178Spencer391:2,05010.16%285
178Davidson391:2,05028.26%683
178Ratcliffe391:2,05047.56%1,113
178Prichard391:2,0502.25%66
178Anwyl391:2,05034.21%821
178Blythyn391:2,05092.86%2,016
184Birch381:2,10424.52%616
184Warburton381:2,10434.55%848
184Molyneux381:2,10490.48%2,016
184Kenney381:2,10477.55%1,749
188Allen371:2,1612.12%65
188Howell371:2,1611.56%50
188Stealey371:2,16188.10%2,016
191Wood361:2,2213.97%120
191Murphy361:2,2213.24%102
191Harper361:2,22111.25%336
191Hopkins361:2,2210.94%39
191Rowland361:2,2213.09%94
191Mather361:2,22190.00%2,093
191Cunnah361:2,22138.71%1,002
198Eaton351:2,28412.24%366
198Bateman351:2,2848.12%244
198Whitfield351:2,28434.31%914
198McManus351:2,28468.63%1,694
198Nield351:2,28494.59%2,234