Registers at St Peter's Church, Spexhall

Finding Your Ancestors at St Peter's

The Registers

These date back to 1537 but were not kept well or consistently in the eighteenth century. They are now deposited at the Suffolk Record Office, Lowestoft branch. They contain some unique and interesting records of the history of the parish. For example, in 1763, William Beatie, a Scottish drover, was buried on 17th December, after he died at the Halesworth fair of Scottish cattle. This was held annually at St Luke’s Tide at Bullock Fair Farm (now Fairstead) in Spexhall for over 200 years and possibly longer.

The Glebe terriers dating back to 1618 are also deposited at the Records Office as are the records of the seventeenth century poor rates, and the Burial registers up until the 1960’s. The Burial records are incomplete and there is no map of the burials in the south side of the churchyard, (the old burial ground).

The north side is the new graveyard and is maintained regularly by caring families many of whom have lived in the village for many years. Sadly some families have moved away. Our records are incomplete and we do not know exactly where their relatives who died in the village during and after the second- world war are buried as they do not have headstones, although we know broadly where the graves are.  We have a burial register in the church which, although incomplete does include some late 19th century burial records.

If you want to ask anything or find out more please do visit church or contact Jane on jane@held1.wanadoo.co.uk