William Dade, an eighteenth century incumbent working in Yorkshire, considered that as much information as possible should be included in parish registers, particularly for baptisms. The Archbishop of York at the time, William Markham, was so impressed by Dade’s idea that he recommended its use throughout the diocese. The registers are known as Dade’s Registers and date from around 1778 up to the commencement of Rose’s Act registers at the start of 1813.

Although the format of the registers is of value for family history research, there was resistance at the time from the clergy. Many resented the extra work involved in recording all this information, especially those in urban areas of high density population.

Various incumbents from areas outside Yorkshire also recorded additional information during the same time period based upon the content of Dade's registers. Such registers can be found for parishes in Cheshire, Devon, Essex, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Gloucestershire, and Dorset. For some reason they seem to have gained the classification of Dade registers. However, a similar scheme was developed in the Diocese of Durham under Bishop Shute Barrington. He followed a similar system, but the Barrington Registers did not begin until 1798 when he became Bishop of Durham. He was previously Bishop of Salisbury.

Baptism registers

The Dade baptism registers contained the following information:

Child’s name

Seniority of the child - whether first born etc.

Father’s name

Profession of the father

Place of abode

Names, professions and abodes of father’s parents

Mother’s name

Mother’s profession (if applicable)

Names, professions and abodes of mother’s parents

Child’s date of birth and baptism

Burial registers

The Dade burial registers contain similar information for children and adults.

Name of deceased

Parent's names and occupation

Residence

Cause of death

Date of death

Age at death

Where buried.

Known parishes using the Dade registers

                                                              The adoption of the register format was mainly in the Yorkshire area.

  1. 1

    Yorkshire

                Aberford

                Ackworth

                Addingham

                Adel

                Airmyn

                Armthorpe

                Badsworth

                Bardsey

                Barnby-upon-Dunn

                Barwick in Elmet

                Batley

                Bolton Abbey

                Braithwell

                Bramham

                Brayton

                Carlton juxta Snaith

                Cawood

                Church Fenton

                Drax

                Farnley

                Fishlake

                Giggleswick

                Hatfield

                Headingley

                Kirk Bramwith

                Kirkburton

                Monk Fryston

                Newton Kyme

                Owston

                Pannal

                Pudsey

                Ryther

                Saxton in Elmet

                         Selby           

  2. 2

          Acomb

          Ainsty

                Acaster Malbis

                Askham Bryan

                Bilbrough

                Bishopthorpe

                Bolton Percy

                Healaugh

                Long Marston

                Moor Monkton

                Nether Poppleton

                Rufforth

                Thorp Arch

                Walton in Ainsty

                Wighill

                Acklam & Leavening

                Allerthorpe

                Aughton

                Barlby

                Barmby Moor

                Barmston

                Bishop Wilton

                Bubwith

                Catton

                 Sherburn in Elmet

                Skipton

                Spofforth

                Swillington

                Tadcaster

                Wath-on-Dearne

                Wentworth

                Wistow

               Wetwang

                Wheldrake

               

  3. 3

              Copmanthorpe

                Ellerton Priory

                Elvington

                Escrick

                Everingham

                Fangfoss

                Fulford

                Garton-on-the-Wolds

                Great Givendale

                Hayton

                Hemingbrough

                Heslington St Paul

                Holme-upon-Spalding Moor

                Huggate

                Kirby Grindalythe

                Kirby Underdale

                Lythe

                Market Weighton

                Millington

                Naburn

                North Cave

                North Ferriby

                Pocklington

                Riccall

                Sancton

                Scrayingham

                Seaton Ross

                Stillingfleet

                Thorganby

                Thornton

                Ulrome

                Weaverthorpe

                West Heslerton

                Westow           

  4. 4

          Alne

                Bossall

                Bowes

                Brafferton

                Brandsby

                Castle Bolton

    Redmire

                Coxwold

                Crayke

                Easingwold

                Farlington

                Gate Helmsley

                Haxby

                Hovingham

                Huntington

                Husthwaite

                Huttons Ambo

                Kirkbymoorside

                Marton-cum-Moxby

                New Malton

                Old Malton

                Osbaldwick

                Overton

                Raskelf

                Scruton

                Skelton

                Stainton

                Stillington

                Stockton-on-Forest

                Strensall

                Thormanby

                Topcliffe

                Wigginton

                Yapham

  5. 5

    City of York   

                All Saints, North Street

                All Saints Pavement

                Holy Trinity, Goodramgate

                Holy Trinity, King's Court

                Holy Trinity, Micklegate

                St Crux

                St Cuthbert

                St Denys-with-St George

                St Helen, Stonegate

                St John, Ousebridge

                St Laurence

                St Margaret, Walmgate

                St Martin, Coney Street

                St Martin, Micklegate

                St Mary, Bishophill junior

                St Mary, Bishophill senior

                St Mary, Castlegate

                St Maurice

                St Michael le Belfrey

                St Michael, Spurriergate

                St Olave

                St Sampson

                St Saviour

  6. 6

    Cheshire      

       Alsager

            Macclesfield Christ Church

         Witton-cum-Twambrooks

                East Witton

                Devon           

        Uplyme

         Essex

           Moreto

     Lancashire  

                Aldingham

                Ashton-in-Mackerfield

                Blawith

                Hawkshead

                Hindley

                Lowick

                Rufford

                Satterthwaite

                Nottinghamshire   

                Beeston

                Coddington

                East Stoke

                Finningley

                Mansfield

                Sutton Bonington

                Syerston

                Teversal

      Surrey          

                Chertsey

                Gloucestershire     

                Stroud

     

This article was contributed by Ian Waller from Family History Federation.
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