Dorchester & Fordington Updates
made since January 2018

As new files are added to the website or significant updates are carried out to existing files they are listed below

Link to Update Index for period April 2009 - December 2017

April 2024 (301 Records added this month)

16th - Update to West Fordington Christ Church Baptisms 1881-1900 (278 new baptisms added for years 1896-1900 inc - now totals 1,205 baptisms)

12th - Complete Revision of Union Arms Inn at 8/9 Cuckold's Row (now Holloway Road) Fordington - 1839-1978 (Lot more information about 3 succesive buildings on the same site and landlords since 1839)

9th - Fire 1841 Fordington - 2nd Sep 1841 - 23 Houses inc 'Ansty's bakehouse', and 'Union Arms Inn' destroyed (Links provided to 6th June1841 Census with names of the families affected)

February 2024 (97 Records added this month)

25th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - Listing of Tenants -1600 (Access to an alphabetical listing of Tenants - now includes 78 links to wills, later surveys etc, burials where located have also been linked back to the survey)

22nd - Military Service Records - 1756-1900 (95 Records) A further 17 soldiers added to this listing that gave either Dorchester or Fordington as their place of Birth compiled from Records held by the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

14th - Inquisition of Hermitage - 1598 (Hermitage is a Tything within the Manor of Fordington - It names a number of people in Fordington serving as Reeve in previous years)

12th - Update to Biography of Thomas GRIGG (1857-1932) Photographic Artist of Dorchester (A great photograph taken by Thomas Grigg in 1905 of George Kail HENDERSON (1853-1926) and his wife Eliza Jane JESTY (1854-1929) has been added as Photograph 11b)

January 2024 (44 Records added this month)

29th - Will of William COSENS ( d.1587) Husbandman of Fordington - Relict Margaret - Administration by son Robert 1579

26th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - 1650 - West Mills (Transcription kindly provided by Peta Winzar)

23rd - The BARNES Family (1500-1660) Tenant Farmers in Fordington

11th - Will of John WINDSOR (d.1583) the Elder Husbandmen of Fordington - Relict Alice


December 2023 (83 Records added this month)

17th - Map of Dorset 1830-1843   (James Pigot & Co's British Atlas )

16th - Map of Dorchester Area 1805-1874    (Cassini Old Map Series1805 and 1874)

13th - Update to Biography of Captain Anthony EAMES (1595-1661/2) Churchwarden & Constable of Fordington (Transcription of the Surveys of Fordington Manor in 1600 and 1650 has provided more background to his parents and siblings life in Fordington prior to his emigration to America)

10th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - Listing of Tenants -1600 (Access to an alphabetical listing of Tenants - includes year copyheld granted, whether whole or half place or farthinghold with rent and comments)

10th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - 1600 (Transcription kindly provided by Peta Winzar now provides a list of 78 tenants holding copyhold land in Fordington by custom of the manor in the year 1600)

10th - Notes on Fordington Manor by Henry Joseph Moule (1825-1904) published 1892 (Description of the ancient customary land tenure, management of crops and stock, that ended in the 1870s)

10th - Will of Henry JOLLIFFE( d.1580) of Fordington - Relict Emme

5th - Will of John HENNING (1532-1617) Gentleman of Poxwell and High Sheriff of Dorset in 1609/10 - His father was Mayor of Dorchester in 1570 (Link to an updated account of his life)

November 2023 (11 Records added this month)

27th - L/A and Inventory of Roger WINDSOR (bur.1680) of Fordington - Relict Elizabeth - 1680

25th - Update to Biography of Arthur William CHRISTOPHER Signal Fitter of Essex from the House of CHRISTOPHER - (revised text for his daughter Minnie Amelia CHRISTOPHER (1894-1972) with 2 more pictures)

25th - Will of William BUNN (bur.1680) Yeoman of Fordington - Relict living - name unknown as L/A and Probate missing

24th - Update to Town Criers & Bill Posters of Dorchester A new section has now been added to include "Bill Posters" of Dorchester 1881-1839 from Info supplied by Richard Smith.

24th - Will of Agnes BARNES (bur.1591) Widow of Fordington - widow of Robert BARNES (bur.1588) husbandman of Fordington

24th - Will of John BARNES (bur.1567) husbandman of Fordington - Relict Christian BARNES

24th - Will of John BARNES (bur.1609) husbandman of Fordington - Relict Maud BARNES

24th - Will of Robert BARNES (bur.1588) husbandman of Fordington - Relict Agnes BARNES (bur 1591)

24th - Update to the Will of William BARNES (1587-1660) Yeoman of Fordington - Son of William BARNES Senior (1545-1620) - Now linked to Survey of Fordington Manor in 1650

24th - Will of Edith BUNN (bur.1654) Widow of Fordington - widow of Robert BUNN (bur. 1639) - Linked to Survey of Fordington Manor in 1650 with info on their 8 children

September 2023 (164 Records added this month)

18th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - 1615b (Direct Access to Listing of Tenants - includes size of plot, rents, lives with ages, imputed birth year, comments and links to other information)

15th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - 1650 (Transcription kindly provided by Peta Winzar now provides a list of 82 tenants holding land in Fordington by custom of the manor against a number of lives.)

14th - Update to Biography of Captain Anthony EAMES (1595-1661/2) Churchwarden & Constable of Fordington (Transcription of the Survey of Fordington Manor in 1615 has provided lot more background to his parents and siblings life in Fordington prior to his emigration to America)

14th - Survey of the Manor of Fordington - 1615a (Transcription kindly provided by Peta Winzar now provides a list of 82 tenants holding copyhold land in Fordington by custom of the manor against a number of lives.)

August 2023 (503 Records added this month)

30th - Town Criers of Dorchester 1875-1913

25th - Update to Fordington St George Baptisms 1881-1900 (baptisms 1896-1900 inc added, 451 new records new total 1527)

9th - Update to West Fordington Christ Church Marriages 1847-1895 (52 new records added for years 1896-1900 now totals 340 marriages)

July 2023 ( 243 Records added this month)

22nd - Update to Fordington St George Marriages 1860-1900 (86 Marriages added for the period 1896 to 1900 inc.)

20th - Will of Samuel WINZAR (1683-1761) Ironmonger and Blacksmith with links to more information about his family

17th - The BARTLETT Family, Marriages in Dorchester and Fordington- (155 Marriages located with links to more information on most of them)

June 2023 ( 61 Records added this month)

24th - 9th - Update to All Saints Marriages 1800-1900 (28 new marriages added for years 1896 to 1900 inc now totals 525 records)

20th - Update to Holy Trinity Marriages 1800-1900 (33 marriages added for years 1896 -1900 inc - now has 794 marriages)

Mar 2023 ( 49 Records added this month)

20th - Update to Protestant Dissenters file Wesleyanism in Dorchester (1823-1932) (Now added from newspaper reports 49 Wesleyan Marriages that took place at the Chapel in Dorchester between 1841-1903)

Feb 2023 (185 Records added this month)

[NOTE:- A large exercise has now been completed to improve the information available in the "Strays" Files for both Dorchester and Fordington concentrating on Marriages of People who married elsewhere. In most cases a full transcription taken from original images on Ancestry.com is now available and I have included the image ref number for ease of identification for members. All Marriage Banns files have as a consequence been updated to include reference to where the marriage actually took place. In most cases I have simply confirmed it was in the appropriate parish (i.e. All Saints; Holy Trinity, or St Peters in Dorchester or St George {FStG} or Christchurch in Fordington ) and added the actual date they married. Where the marriage was outside of these parishes I have added the full transcription to the appropriate 'Strays File' which as shown below added 237 marriages. Discrepancies between the original spelling used (or transcribed for indexing) between the banns and the marriage also resulted in changes to some original marriage transcriptions in a dozen or so cases which should improve searching.]

16th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Marriages 1801-1900, - (22 new marriages added for years 1896-1900 inc - file now has 546 marriages)

16th - Further update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (61 new marriages added - now totals 1,272 records)

2nd -Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1927) (94 marriages and 8 burials and baptisms have been added, now totals 767 records)

Jan 2023 (144 Records added this month)

20th - Revision to Biography of Rev. Arthur Evans Moule (1836-1918) Missionary & Archdeacon of Mid China (Now includes information about his 9 children, more images and links to other relevent material)

2nd - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (144 marriages added - now totals 1,211 records)


Dec 2022 (49 Records added this month)

4th - Update to Holy Trinity Dorchester  Marriage Banns 1853-1885 (49 records for the years 1891 to 1895 inc added - now totals 504 records)

Nov 2022 (130 Records added this month)

18th - Update to All Saints Dorchester Marriage Banns 1825-1895 (File updated & extended to cover Banns for 1891-1895 inc- 30 Records added now totals 379 Records)

5th - Update to West Fordington Christchurch Banns of Marriage (100 Banns added --including information from thier actual marriage -- for years 1891-1895 inclusive - total now 463 Banns. Note: As Christchurch was situated next to West Fordington Barracks many of the participants were soldiers who came from outside the Parish or married brides at Christchurch from surrounding parishes )

Oct 2022 (39 Records added this month)

15th - Fire at St George's Church Fordington - 1912

1st - Update to Fordington St George  Marriage Banns 1852-1885 File extended from 1880 tto 1885 inc - but years 1881 ton 1893 are missing. 38 records added for 1884 and 1885 (now has a total of 611 Records)

Sep 2022 (226 Records added this month)

26th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Marriages 1801-1895, - (28 Marriages added for years 1891-1895 inc - file now has 524 marriages)

16th - Update to Holy Trinity Marriages 1800-1895 (39 marriages added for years 1891 -1895 inc)

9th - Update to All Saints Marriages 1800-1895 (15 new marriages added for years 1891 to 1895 now totals 497 records)

8th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Baptisms 1851-1895, - (133 new baptisms added for years 1891 to 1895 inc)

8th - Extensive Revision to Biography of Thomas GRIGG (1857-1932) Photographic Artist of Dorchester (Research into local newspapers has resulted in better information about changes in location of his Studio and home address. More photographs and extracts from newspapers added and hopefully better dating of photographs)

7th - Update to Fordington Poor Law and Apprenticeship Records (11 Apprenticeship records added dating between 1733 and 1825 - new total 104)

5th - Dorchester Co Members File (1624-1626) - Account of the life ancestry and descendants of  Rev John GALTON vicar of East Lulworth and Coombe Keynes added.to listing

July 2022 (528 Records added this month)

29th- Update to Will of William SPARKS Fellmonger of Fordington 1740 (Extensive new section of Research Notes about his ancestry including extracts from Puddletown Parish Register for SPARKES surname.)

22nd - Update to Holy Trinity Baptisms 1851-1895 (113 new baptisms added for years 1891 to 1895 inc, now totals 1,595 records)

17th - Update to Glossary (22 entires added since Feb 2021 now has 723 entries ) + Section added for "The Great Western Hotel" in West Fordington.

14th - Update to All Saints Baptisms 1851-1895 (63 new baptisms added for years 1891 to 1895 inc - now totals 896 records)

7th - Update to West Fordington Christ Church Baptisms 1881-1895 (330 new baptisms added for years 1891-1895 now totals 927 baptisms)

May 2022 (42 Records added this month)

13th - Update to West Fordington Christ Church Marriages 1847-1895 (42 new records added for years 1891-1895 now totals 288 marriages)

April 2022 (293 Records added this month)

9th - Update to Fordington St George Baptisms 1881-1895 (baptisms 1891-1895 added 293 new records)

16th - Update to Biography of Captain Anthony EAMES (1595-1661/2) Churchwarden & Constable of Fordington (Change in death date from 1686 to 1661/2 + comments + many more genealogical notes and 3 extra images of documents )

March 2022 (333 Records added this month)

17th - Update to Fordington People in historical documents & Newspapers 1614-2010 (42 records added reporting inquests on the deceased, which have also been linked to burials - total now 499 Records)

15th  - Update to Fordington Burials 1866-1895, (291 Burials added for the years 1891-1895 inc )

February 2022 (90 Records added this month)

23rd - Update to Fordington St George Marriages 1860-1895 (89 Marriages added for the period 1891 to 1895 inc.)

3rd - INDEX to The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset by John HUTCHINS - Extract for Dorchester. The index has now been updated to include the 29th and final sub division relating to 'Dissenting Congregations with Hutchins brief notes on The Town Hall; banks, newspapers; railway stations, The Workhouse; schools; cemetery; races; the Dorset County Hospital; The Dorset County Museum and the Militia Stores and Barracks.

January 2022

5th - Dorchester Co Members File (1624-1626) - Revision of the Account of Rev Richard ALLEN MA. (c1575-1656)

December 2021 (17 records added this month)

11th   GIFTS made to the town of Dorchester for the Relief of the Poor 1614-1731 (Extracted from "The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset" by John Hutchins)

November 2021 (187 records added this month)

16th - The CHURCHILL Family of Colliton House, Dorchester and Muston Manor, Piddlehinton, Dorset (Account of life of John Churchill (1568-1621) now includes a transcription of his tripartide Indenture dated 1599 gifting £100 to the benefit of poor artificers of Dorchester.)

2nd - 22nd - Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1927) (71 marriages and burials have been added, now totals 665 records)

2nd - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (16 marriages added - now totals 1,034 records)

1st - The LAKE Families of Dorchester and Fordington (29 Families with links to more information about each of them concerning their ancestry and descendants)

July 2021 (78 records added this month)

22nd - Military Service Records - 1756-1900 (78 Records) Soldiers that gave either Dorchester or Fordington as their place of Birth. Compiled from a range of surviving documents at National Archives and Royal Hospital Pension Records)

June 2021 (119 records added this month)

30th  - Update to Fordington Burials 1813-1836, (Additional info from the Overseers of the Poor Accounts added to 53 burials beteen 1813 and 1822)

20th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (66 marriages added, many from Stinsford - now totals 1,018 records)

May 2021 (2 records added this month)

8th - Map of West Fordington Barracks - 1886

8th - Trial and Execution of William KENNEDY (1811-1830) (3 separate accounts of the trial with links to other information about some of the people mentioned)

April 2021 (2 records added this month)

27th - Will of William STANTON Clothier and owner of Loud's Mill Fordington together with information about his family

16th - Will of William BOWER Gentleman, Bailiff, Capital Burgess, Alderman and Mayor of Dorchester in 1806, 1812 & 1822, Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset and Lieutenant Colonel of the Dorset Volunteers- Transcription of extensive Will dated 1827 proved 1829 and sale particulars of Fordington Brewery and 16 Public Houses in Dorchester and Weymouth. together with links to his family

February 2021 (90 records added this month)

11th - Update to Glossary (37 entires added since Sep 2020 now has 701 entries ) +Research notes added for 'Fordington House' and 'Loud's Mill'.

11th -Update to  Hayne Family of Dorchester Mercers from the 14th Century (Documents located - see year 1660 - at National Archives concerning Colonel James HAYNE who sold part of the Manor of Fordiington to Richard FINCHER Quatermaster General in the Parliamentary Army who was imprisoned in the Tower and later helped in the restoration of Charles II - Also corrections made to Marriage of John Hayne and Elizabeth Palmer in 1817 and a new section added under the year 1807]

January 2021 (98 records added this month)

17th - WHITE Family Husbandmen & Yeomen of Fordington (From 1576 to The Civil War 1642)
5th - Update to  Society of Friends (Quakers) in Dorchester & Fordington (1655-1833) (Information about Quaker Joseph WHITE of Poole added + image of a debt owed by Henry BOULES [BOLES] of Charlton Marshall)
2nd - The PITMAN Families of Dorchester (From Grocers to Mayors of Dorchester) - {Note:- covers the Nonconformist PITMAN and DAMON Familes of Godmanstone who came to Dorchester c1692 ]

December 2020 (2 records added this month)

27th - Will of John PITMAN Gentleman, Capital Burgess, Bailiff and Mayor of Dorchester in 1746, 1758 & 1768 - Will dated 1781
27th - Will of Thomas PITMAN The Elder (d.1717) Grocer of Dorchester (Nonconformist)

November 2020 (70 records added this month)

26th - 1665 - The affect on Dorchester of The 2nd Anglo Dutch War, and spread of The Plague from London
20th - Fordington Church Wardens, Overseers of the Poor & Members of the Church Vestry 1731-1799.
20th - Update to The Will of Isaac SPARKS - Gentleman of Fordington 1788 (Some illegible parts of the will now completed from a copy held at the PRO - Family Background notes updated, considerably expanded and links to other records added)
17th- Update to The Will of William SPARKS (1700-1778) a Maltster of Fordington (Family Background notes updated, considerably expanded and links to other records added)
10th- Update to The Will of William SPARKS the Elder (1665-1741/2) a Fellmonger of Fordington (Family Background notes updated, considerably expanded and links to other records added)

October 2020 (27 records added this month)

8th  - Revision to Fordington Burials 1577-1599, + 26 names added of people who asked to be buried at Fordington in their Wills etc prior to the start of surviving parish registers (now 108 records)
3rd - Update to Biography of Captain Anthony EAMES (1595-1686) Churchwarden & Constable of Fordington (now includes more information about his early life and relationship with Wm BOONE of Fordington in 1580)
3rd - Will, Inventory and Letter of Administration of William BOONE (d.1580) husbandman of Fordington

September 2020 (44 records added this month)

30th - Update to Charters of Dorchester & Company of Freemen (New Section added about the Charter of Edward VI - dated 12th November 1547)
22nd - Inventory, & Letters of Administration of Hamnet WHITE (d.1634/5) Husbandman of Fordington (Son of John WHITE (d.1600) & Elizabeth (d.1607)
19th - Inventory, & Letters of Administration of William WHITE (d.1607) & Robert WHITE (d.1607) Clerk and Husbandman of Fordington (Sons of John WHITE (d.1600) & Elizabeth (d.1607)
11th - Update to Glossary (30 entires added since Oct 2019 now has 664 entries )
9th - Nuncupative Will, Inventory, & Letter of Administration of William WHITE (d.1595) Husbandman of Fordington (Includes guardianship of his children George White and Eme White during their minority)
2nd - Will and Inventory of Robert WHITE (d.1576) Husbandman of Fordington (Son of Agnes WHITE widow)
1st - Will and Inventory of Agnes WHITE (d.1576) widow of Fordington
1st - Will and Inventory of Elynor WHITE (d.1576) spinster of Fordington [Daughter of Agnes WHITE (d.1576)]

August 2020 (316 records added this month)

23rd - Freemason Admission Records Durnovarian Lodge (1775-1820) and The Lodge of Faith and Unanimity (1834-1889) (316 Records added relating to admission of freemasons at Dorchester between 1834 and 1899)

July 2020 (25 records added this month)

25th - Update to Protestant Dissenters file Wesleyanism in Dorchester (1823-1932) (To include in Section 4 three marriages at the Wesleyan Chapel in Durngate Street inluding the marriage of Gideon Wright to Elizabeth Shaw on 28th Dec 1841 with an image of their Marriage Certificate and links to the Wright Family Biography.
25th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (Entry for marriage of John WRIGHT Junior (1785-1861) in 1820 added with details on his parents and 7 siblings, marriage and 4 children, with links to descendants and WRIGHT Family Biography. Also entry for Marriage of Gideon Denner WRIGHT (1844-1919) with links on ancestry and information and links on his 14 children)
25th - WRIGHT Family of Dorchester  - Biography of Douglas Norman Wright (1916-2001) 

June 2020 (51 records added this month)

27th - Update to Holy Trinity Baptisms 1618-1669 Missing page in Register located (30 new baptisms added for years 1653 and 1654)
25th - Update to the Biography of Horatio MOULE (1805-1886), Chaplain of St Paul's Cathedral Calcutta [More information added about his son Horatio Fredrick D'Oyly Moule (1843-1925)]
22nd - Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1927) (stray marriage from Cheselbourne added, now totals 594 entries)
22nd - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (5 stray marriages added from Cheselbourne)
22nd - Protestant Dissenters Wesleyanism in Dorchester (1823-1932) Includes 13 baptisms for Dorchester Families carried out between 1823-1831 at the Wesleyan Chapel in Conygar Lane Weymouth prior to Dorchester having it's own circuit, and 73 baptisms held at Wesleyan Chapel in North Square Dorchester from 1831-1837 - many for families from surrounding parishes
20th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (Considerable background information added about the BESANT and ENSOR Families of Dorchester with many links to other records relating to them)

May 2020 (44 records added this month)

7th - Update to Biography of Thomas GRIGG (1857-1932) Photographic Artist of Dorchester ( another photograph and text added of George Hoddinott (1839-1919)
6th - Will of Thomas KNAPTON the Younger (1662-1725) Keeper of the Dorchester Gaol: Mayor Dorchester 1713: Maltster
6th - Update to Glossary (22 entires added and updates to many references to Inns taverns etc)
6th - Update to The PITFIELD Families of Fordington from 1685 (Links to Knapton Family and more information about origins in Wiltshire)
6th - The KNAPTON Family of Fordington & Dorchester (1627-1754) Originating from Wiltshire before 1597
5th - Update to Mayors of Dorchester, (1629-2018) (Mayors for 2013-2018 added + Link to biography of Nicholas Gould MP Mayor 1680)
3rd - Biography of Nicholas GOULD [1635-1691] MP 1679, Mayor 1680 [Link to History of Parliament Website]
3rd - Biography of John PARKINS [1571-1640] MP 1621, Mayor 1629) [Link to History of Parliament Website]

April 2020 (11 records added this month)

20th - Update to the History of The Baptist Church in Dorchester & Fordington (1645-2017) - ( Marriage of John Hoddinott to Maria Emily Butt/Brownsea in 1875 added together with baptisms of their 11 children to the Dorford Chapel Registers)
20th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (2 marriages + a burial added with 7 baptisms attached to 1 marriage, Hoddinott - now totals 952 records)
20th - Update to Biography of Thomas GRIGG (1857-1932) Photographic Artist of Dorchester ( another photograph and text added of William Uruah Hoddinott)

February 2020 (156 records added this month)

18th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Baptisms 1851-1890, - (156 new baptisms added for years 1886 to 1890 inc)

January 2020 (1,039 records added this month)

26th - Update to Holy Trinity Baptisms 1851-1885 (125 new baptisms added for years 1886 to 1890 inc, now totals 1,482 records)
20th - Update to All Saints Baptisms 1851-1890 (57 new baptisms added for years 1886 to 1890 inc - now totals 833 records)
19th - Update to Fordington Christchurch Baptisms 1881-1890 (314 Baptisms added for years 1886-90 inclusive - total now 597 baptisms)
19th - Update to History of Christchurch West Fordington (Account of the life of Rev. William John BETTS (1841- 1913) B.A. - served as a temporary curate at Christchurch June 1889 - Nov1890 added)
9th - Update to Fordington St George Baptisms 1881-1890 (baptisms 1886-1890 added 402 new records)
6th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (18 entries added - now totals 949 records)
6th - 1861 Census Dorset County Prison St Peters Parish Dorchester (Note:- 122 Entries)


December 2019 (1,464 records added this month)

29th - Update to Holy Trinity Dorchester Marriage Banns 1853-1885 (49 records for the years 1886 to 1890 inc added - now totals 455 records)
27th - Update to All Saints Dorchester Marriage Banns 1825-1890 (File updated & extended to cover Banns for 1888-1890 - 16 Records added now totals 349 Records)
22nd - Update to Dorchester People in Medical Directories - (39 Records - Background added to a further 6 members listed)
17th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (11 entries added - now totals 931 records)
17th - 1891 Census Dorchester St Peters En Districts 5 and 6 (Note:- 1,385 Entries)

November 2019 (1,574 records added this month)

18th - Dorchester 1841 Census - Parish of Holy Trinity , Enumerators district 9 (Previously omitted in error - 272 entries added)
2nd - 1891 Census Dorchester Holy Trinity En Districts 3 and 4 (Note:- 1,302 Entries)

October 2019 (103 records added this month)

26th - Update to Glossary (103 entires added since 2016 now has 634 entries - I have recently been gathering together and adding to the Glossary references I have located relating to Inns, Taverns, Hotels and Public Houses in Dorchester and Fordington referred to in Wills, Census returns and directories - to aid research )
21st - Update to Bull's Head Inn 19 Fordington Hill (More Information added about Thomas Riggs Innkeeper)
20th - Update to Union Arms Tavern in Cuckold's Row/Holloway Road Fordington - 1839-1931 (More Information and links added about Elias William Mayo & his daughter Mary Elizabeth Thomas)

September 2019 (24 records added this month)

30th - Update to the Biography of William BARNES (1801-1886) Poet and Philologist (More information added about his boarding school in Dorchester 1835-1862)
28th - Update to the Will of Caleb BROOKS , Collar Maker & brother of Mary CHANNING who was executed in 1705 (Significant update to genealogical notes provided about his life and immediate descendants),
26th - Update to The Will of Richard BROOKES,Wagoner of Dorchester 1708 (name of Inn bequeathed to his son Richard BROOKS corrected from 'The Royal Gate' to 'The Royal Oake' and more information added about the death of his widow Elizabeth in 1720)
9th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (15 entries and 6 images added - now totals 920 entries)
9th - Update to Fordington St George Marriages 1860-1890 (Image of Marriage Certification to Army for David Marjoram 1861 added)
9th - Update to Fordington St George Baptisms 1837-1850 (Image of Birth Certificate added for Frederick Foote Cutler 1850 added)
9th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Marriages 1801-1890, - (Image and transcription of Marriage Certification to Army for Henry Stanford 1820; and Image of MC with Births of Gunner Francis Walsh to Emma Meach 1864; giving more information about the marriages added)
9th - Update to St Peters Dorchester Baptisms 1771-1812, -(Image and transcription of Baptism Certification to Army for Barbara Boardman 1801 giving more information about the baptism added)

August 2019 (3 records added this month)

28th - The Cardrowe Family of Cerne Abbas and Dorchester (1557-1632) (Note:- Includes transcriptions of the wills of William CARDROE (d.1592) Merchant of Cerne Abbas and Henry CARDROE (d.1592) Mercer of Dorchester)
27th - Update to notes attached to Will of Roger KETE [KEATE] Gentleman of Fordington - 1620
27th - Update to Durngate Independent Church File (1778-1837) ( Information added about Rev. Thomas Molland (1748-1808) (Minister 1776-1783)
6th - Update to Biography of Rev John WHITE (1575-1648) (Information about the Manor of Stanton St John Oxfordshire revised and correction made to his birth place as Rectory Farm House rather than Manor Farm where his family were not tenants until 1602)

July 2019 (1,552 records added this month)

21st - Civic Cemetery Burials (1880-1900) - (1,552 Burials arranged alphabetically by year)
19th - Further update to Biography of Arthur William CHRISTOPHER Signal Fitter of Essex from to the House of CHRISTOPHER (Note:- Lot more information e.g. baptisms in Essex, additional pictures & information supplied about the lives of the children of Arthur William & Catherine Lucy Christopher)

June 2019 (2,050 records added this month)

19th - Update to Biography of Arthur William CHRISTOPHER Signal Fitter of Essex added to the House of CHRISTOPHER Note:- Correction made and additional information supplied about the 2nd wife of his youngest son - Eva Isobel Drake (1913-2013)
14th - Civic Cemetery Burials File (1856-1879) - (Burials for the missing years of 1856; 1858; 1862; 1864; 1868; 1871; 873 and 1876 have been added to complete the file) (571 burials added total now 1,790 records)
14th - Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1926) (19 entries added, now totals 633 entries)
5th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1998) (57 entries added now totals 905 entries - email address updated)
1st - 1881 Census Dorchester St Peters En Districts 5a, 5b & 6 (1,403 records)

April 2019 (1,445 records added this month)

10th - 1881 Census Dorchester Holy Trinity En Districts 3, 3a & 3b (Note:- Thanks to Jon Baker we now have a full transcription of all 1,445 Records for Holy Trinity)

March 2019 (923 records added this month)

3rd - 1881 Census Dorchester Parish of All Saints En Districts 2 (923 Records)

February 2019 (1,382 records added this month)

22nd -Update to Biography of John CHRISTOPHER (1844-1923) and his wife Ellen Channing (1855-1924) (Another granddaughter of John & Ellen called Lilian Alice Christopher (1919-2000) added to the account]
17th - Significant update and revision to The ARDEN Family 16 Times Mayors of Dorchester (34 new names, extensive research and new pictures)
16th - Dorchester People in Medical Directories - 36 Records)
16th - 1871 Census Dorchester Parish of St Peters En Districts 5 (1,310 Records)
12th - Will of Ann ARDEN (1690-1771) - Spinster of Dorchester

January 2019 (2,557 records added this month)

19th - 1871 Census Dorchester Parish of Holy Trinity En Districts 3 and 4 (1,630 Records)
18th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1914) (4 entries added now totals 848 entries)
18th - Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1926) (4 entries added, now totals 614 entries)
6th - Update to Dorchester Church Officials File (from 1068) (Info on The Rev John Perrett, and Rev John Hugill [Hewgill] (1816-aft 1881) Wesleyan Ministers added - now totals 346 entries)
6th - 1871 Census Dorchester Parish of All Saints En District 2 (925 Records)
4th - Update to Durngate Independent Church File (1778-1837) (More Information about the Rev Thomas NEAVE (1838-) [Minister 1869-1886] )
2nd - Update to Fordington St George Marriages 1837-1859 (More information added about the family of John Hansford SPRANKLIN (1822-1856) and Bathsheba GREEN (1822-1881) who married on 20 Oct 1844)

December 2018 (2,314 records added this month)

30th - Update to 1891 Census Dorchester Parish of All Saints En District 2 (Some names clarified / corrected and comments added)
29th - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1593-1914) (10 entries added now totals 844 entries)
18th - Update to Fordington Strays File (1577-1926) (16 entries added, now totals 610 entries)
15th - Fordington 1891 Census Dorchester Union Workhouse- 109 Records)
14th - Fordington 1891 Census Artillery & Depot Barracks- 487 Records)
11th - Fordington 1891 Census Enumeration District 10 (only) See transcription for streets etc - 1697 Records)
4th - Update to Dorchester Church Officials File (from 1068) (4 entries added and update to Chaplains of Dorchester Gaol Section- now totals 344 entries)

November 2018 (668 records added this month)

16th - Fordington 1891 Census Enumeration District 8 (only) See transcription for streets etc - 666 Records)
7th - Will of Rev Thomas COLSON (1717-1784) - Rector of Studland and resident of Dorchester
7th - Update to The COLSON Family Apothecaries of Dorchester from 1596 (new information added about Rev. Thomas COLSON (1717-1784) including link to transcription of his Will)

October 2018 (48 records added this month)

22nd - Update to Biography of George CHRISTOPHER (1771-1843) part of the House of CHRISTOPHER (added more information about children of Richard Christopher (1823-1885) & Elizabeth Wheelbat (1818-1871)
5th - Update to Trinity School of Dorchester Estab 1623 (Now includes list Masters from 1625-1869 and additional references to school from Municipal Records of Dorchester)
5th - Will of Joan [Joanna] GOULD Widow (1630) of Dorchester (with background notes and links to information about the Gould Family)

September 2018 (57 records added this month)

25th - Update to St Peters Burials 1611-1700  (12 burials added to listing of pre 1653 burials known to have taken place there from Wills etc - now 977 records)
24th - Update to Index of Dorchester Wills (1413-1700) (4 new wills indexed, many more now linked to burials and listing beneficiaries - now totals 432 Wills)
22nd - Will of John GOULD the Elder (1630) Merchant of Dorchester (Kindly transcribed by Kim Parker OPC)
21st - Update to Fordington St George Baptisms 1824-1836 (8 Missing records for 1835 now added to the file making a total of 913)
21st - Update to Fordington Poor Law and Apprenticeship Records (settlement examination for John Hyde added with link to his marriage)
21st - Update to Fordington People in historical documents & Newspapers 1614-2007 (25 records added now 457 Records)
20th - Dorchester Bastardy Orders (1 record added - now 5 in total, these are all that I have located so far)
7th - Update to Extracts from Dorset Quarter Sessions 1625-1638 Records (3 records added now totals 77)
6th - Will of William LAWRENCE (d.1646) Yeoman of Fordington (Kindly transcribed by Kim Parker OPC)
5th - Will of John LAWRENCE (d.1641) Yeoman of Fordington
5th - Update to Poor Law Removal Orders (new removal order added for Grace DEERE widow and her children from St Peters Dorchester to Mudford in Somerset in 1722)

August 2018 (2,113 records added this month)

26th - Fordington 1891 Census Enumeration District 9 (only) See transcription for streets etc - 1,502 Records)
9th - Fordington 1891 Census Enumeration District 7 (only) See transcription for streets etc - 611 Records)

July 2018 (21 records added this month)

9th - Update to Biography of Richard BUSHROD [1575 –1628] Merchant Adventurer of Dorchester (Revision of John Bushrod [1612-1683/4] the elder and descendants, more cross references to other documents and lot of additional information eg to Robert Bushrod (1580-1609) and descendants and new Section 12)
1st - Update to Dorchester Strays File (1597-1914) (13 entries added now totals 834 entries)
Dorchester People in Historical documents (1559-1699) (8 new records added for the Bushrod Family - now totals 552 records)

June 2018 (absent abroad)

May 2018 (1470 records added this month)

15th - Commonwealth War Graves identified at Dorchester Cemetery (CWGC) - (48 records)
6th - Fordington 1881 Census Enumeration District "The Barracks" - Both the New Depot barracks and the old Royal Horse Artillery Barracks situated in West Fordington - 549 Records)
2nd   Update to - Life, Trial, & Execution of Elizabeth Martha BROWN (Nee CLARKE) (1811-1856) - (announcement Dorset Echo her body is to be exhumed )
1st - Research document into the DART/DARK Families of Fordington, Dorchester and Stinsford - (further research notes added on families of other Wm and Mary Dart Families from Steeple, Tyneham, East Lulworth and Wareham)
1st - Fordington 1881 Census Enumeration District 10b (only) See transcription for streets etc - 873 Records)

April 2018 (1,350 records added this month)

26th - Fordington 1881 Census Enumeration District 10a (only) See transcription for streets etc - 345 Records)
25th - Fordington 1881 Census Enumeration District 9a & 9b (only) See transcription for streets etc - 1,002 Records)
22nd - Update to Dorchester Church Officials File (from 1068) (3 entries added inc Rev Henry Puget Raikes Chaplain of Dorchester Gaol - now totals 340 entries)

March 2018 (266 records added this month)

30th - Update to History of Christchurch West Fordington (Account of the life of Rev Leonard BALDWYN (1857-1935) BA - served as curate of Christchurch from 1889-1894 added)
30th - Update to Fordington St George Burials 1866-1890 (259 Burials added from 1887-1890 - new total 1560 records)
23rd - Update to the History of The Baptist Church in Dorchester & Fordington (1645-2017) - ( Marriage of Isaiah John Poole 1887 added to the Dorford Chapel Registers with photograph )
15th - Update to Fordington Church Officials File (from 1222) (5 entries added now totals 200 entries)

February 2018 (187 records added this month)

25th - Militia List 1815 for Dorchester (13 Records) and Fordington (3 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
21st - Militia List 1779-1790 (Part only) for Dorchester (26 Records) and St Georges Fordington (5 )
20th - Research document into the DART/DARK Families of Fordington, Dorchester and Stinsford (now located enrolment record into Dorset Regt Militia for Wm Dart/Dark (1765-1820)
18th - Militia List 1770-1775 (Part only) for Dorchester (29 Records) and St Georges Fordington (6 )
6th - Fire of Dorchester - 4th March 1757(Kings Arms Inn)
4th - Militia List 1769 (Part only) for Dorchester (11 Records) and St Georges Fordington (1 )
3rd - Militia List 1778 for Dorchester (16 Records) and St Georges Fordington (9 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
1st - Militia List 1777 for Dorchester (38 Records) and St Georges Fordington (11 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
1st - Militia List 1776 part for Dorchester (13 Records) and St Georges Fordington (6 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)

January 2018 (174 records added this month)

29th - Poor Law Removal Orders (two new removal orders added)
28th - Militia List 1768 for Dorchester (48 Records) and St Georges Fordington (10 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
26th - Update to The Life of Fortunatus FORDINGTON (b.1746) Transported to America for 7 years in 1773. (Further information added about his time serving in the Dorset Militia)
25th - Militia List 1767 for Dorchester (26 Records) and St Georges Fordington (8 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
24th - Update to the Militia List 1766 for Dorchester and St Georges Parish in Fordington (Further information added about the parish of origin of substitutes and ref to whether a signature or mark on oath file)
23rd - Militia List 1765 for Dorchester (24 Records) and St Georges Fordington (7 Records - but these records also include names for many other surrounding parishes in the Dorchester sub division)
18th - Update to the Militia List 1764 for Dorchester and St Georges Parish in Fordington (Further information added about the parish of origin of substitutes and ref to whether a signature or mark on oath file)
18th - Update to the Militia List 1763 for Dorchester and St Georges Parish in Fordington (Further information added about the parish of origin of substitutes and ref to whether a signature or mark on oath file)
16th - The CHURCHILL Family of Colliton House, Dorchester and Muston Manor, Piddlehinton, Dorset - (59 Records with genealogical notes on family relationships)
16th - The roots web address for update files has now been updated enabling access to the files listed below


NOTICE:-
11th January 2018- Apologies for the absence of the site since the 20th December because of problems with Roots web. We have now returned hosting of the site to OPC. There may still be broken links to other sites and if you come across any I would be grateful if you can let me know at the email address given on the the main Dorchester/Fordington front page and I will try to repair them. The update listing shown below all still have the old address to roots web which I will endeavour to correct over the coming weeks but the files themselves are now available from the main Dorchester/Fordington front page.


Dorchester/Fordington Page      OPC Page