The first volume of the Parish Registers of Shipbourne here printed has been for many years missing from the parish chest, but its presence there is recorded in the Parish Register Abstract of 1831, and the date at which it begins is given correctly. The original is a small parchment volume of 86 folios, contained in eight sections, with a uniform page 7 by 5 inches; from the first section three folios are missing, and the Register probably began originally in 1558; one folio is also missing from the last section, but was probably removed before being used ; the first 37 folios for the period 1560—1600 are evidently a transcript from an earlier original. An opportunity occurred a short time ago of my acquiring this valuable record, which has now been restored to the custody of the Vicar.
