Monumental Inscriptions
Monumental Inscriptions are transcriptions taken from gravestones, tombs, plaques and war memorials and they provide useful information for family history research. Examples can be found later on this page.
Records have been compiled by the Somerset and Dorset FHS and donated by other people over many years, but at present there is no overall index of individuals.
There are approximately 400 parishes and/or graveyards in Dorset and most of these have been transcribed to date and are held by the Society. They include inscriptions from Cemeteries, Church interiors, Churchyards and War Memorials in Church of England Parishes as well as from Methodist, Wesleyan and non conformist Chapels.
From these sources there is a total of over 75,000 individual records containing useful genealogical information such as dates of birth and death, and family relationships, occupations, war service and place names.
Many parishes have a location plan so that individual gravestones can be found on site.
SEARCHES
Searches can be carried out for one name entries in specific parishes and it is possible to search up to six parishes per request. It is necessary to provide the Surname (with similar spellings) and the Parish/es where the search is required.
If the exact place is unknown, a surname search can be carried out first, to locate the parishes for the one name request.
Sometimes no transcriptions are found. This does not necessarily mean that the ancestor searched for was not buried in the churchyard concerned, only that no tombstone or plaque exists today.
In addition, for confirmation of the date of death in Dorset, it would be worth while considering consulting the Burials Index .
A list of Parishes transcribed to date: FREE on receipt of a large stamped & self addressed envelope.
A Surname search for the whole of Dorset : £1.00 Members £2.00 Non-members.
Searches for one name entries in specific Parishes: £1.00 Members £2.00 Non-members. Please supply Surname with various spellings, (Up to 6 Parishes per request)
All enquiries and requests should be sent to the Society Headquarters at Sherborne
All postal enquiries and requests should be accompanied by a large envelope, self addressed and stamped for return, or additional payment.
Payments for searches and lists should be made by cheque made payable to S&DFHS, in pounds Sterling.
Membership number must be quoted with all requests or the non-member charge will apply.
An example of an MI from St Andrews Church, Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset :-
No. 252 Tall Headstone, curved top, surface flaking away (in a holly tree)
The family grave of Joseph Young
Sacred to the memory of Jamima wife of the above who died Sept. 20th. 1861 aged 34 years.
Also Sarah Augusta daughter of the above who died Jany. 6th. 1862 aged 7 mths.
Also Sarah Sophia daughter of the above Joseph Young and Sarah his second wife who died June 2nd. 1875 aged 9 years.
Also Sarah second wife of the above Joseph Young and daughter of Sophia and George Ivory of St. Gaddlesden Herts; who died Nov. 4th. 1881 aged 51 years.
Also to the memory of Joseph Young who died Augst. 19th. 188? aged 68 years.
(Verse below, damaged unreadable)
From this transcription the birth dates of most of the individuals can be calculated and a further line of research leads from Joseph's second wife to the Ivory family of Hertfordshire.
An example from Holy Trinity Church, Stourpaine, Dorset :-
No. 195. Headstone
In memory of Henry Barratt died August 1834 aged 77 years
Melyer his wife died Dec. 1816 aged 66 years
John Barratt their son died July 1862 aged 74 years
Mary his wife died January 1 1834 aged 49 years
Mary Martha their daughter died February 2 1879 aged 59 years
Sarah relict of John Barratt died January 14 1887 aged 76 years
Also of Isabella Louisa infant child of John and Sarah Barratt
This monument gives details of the Barratt family and it shows that John Barratt married Sarah after the death of his first wife Mary.
The Monumental Inscriptions for Dorset can now also be searched online at www.origins.net which have been provided by the Society and for which the SDFHS get part of the fee which you have to pay to use that site. However free access to "Origins" can be gained by visiting the Centre at Sherborne.
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS FOR DORSET PARISHES are listed below. Click here to download a list of the SOMERSET PARISHES.
ABBOTTSBURY
AFFPUDDLE
ALDERHOLT
ALLINGTON (BRIDPORT)
ALMER
ALTON PANCRAS
ASHMORE
ASKERSWELL
ATHELHAMPTON
BATCOMBE
BEAMINSTER, HOLY TRINITY
BEAMINSTER, KNOWLE FARM
BEAMINSTER, ST MARY
BEER HACKET
BELCHALWELL
BERE REGIS
BETTISCOMBE
BINCOMBE
BISHOPS CAUNDLE
BLACKDOWN
BLANDFORD FORUM
BLANDFORD URC
BLANDFORD PARISH CHURCH
BLANDFORD, SCHOOL CLOSE
BLANDFORD, ST MARY
BLOXWORTH
BOURNEMOUTH, ST PETER
BOURTON
BRADFORD ABBAS
BRADFORD PEVERELL
BRADPOLE
BRIDPORT ST MARY
BRIDPORT CEMETERY
BRIDPORT QUAKER
BRIDPORT R.C.
BRIDPORT UNITARIAN
BROADMAYNE
BROADOAK CHAPEL
BROADSTONE
BROADWAY
BROADWINDSOR
BROADWINDSOR VENN CHAPEL
BROWNSEA ISLAND
BRYANSTON
BUCKHORN WESTON
BUCKLAND NEWTON
BUCKLAND NEWTON, BAPTIST
BUCKLAND RIPERS
BURLESTON
BURSTOCK
BURTON BRADSTOCK CEMETERY
CANFORD, BURIAL GROUND
CANFORD MAGNA
CANN
CASTLETON
CATHERSTON LEWESTON
CATTISTOCK
CAUNDLE MARSH
CERNE ABBAS
CHALBURY
CHALDON HERRING
CHARLTON MARSHALL
CHARMINSTER
CHARMINSTER CEMETERY
CHARMINSTER URC
CHARMOUTH
CHARMOUTH CEMETERY
CHEDDINGTON
CHELBOROUGH EAST
CHELBOROUGH WEST
CHEDDINGTON
CHESELBOURNE
CHETNOLE
CHETTLE
CHICKERELL
CHIDEOCK
CHILCOMBE
CHILD OKEFORD
CHILFROME
CHRISTCHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL
CHRISTCHURCH, DRAPER
CHRISTCHURCH PRIORY
CHURCH KNOWLE
COLEHILL, WAR MEMORIAL
COMPTON ABBAS
COMPTON VALLENCE
COOMBE KEYNES
CORFE CASTLE, CEMETERYY
CORFE CASTLE, CHURCH
CORFE MULLEN
CORSCOMBE ST MARY
CRANBORNE
DEWLISH
DORCHESTER ALL SAINTS
DORCHESTER HOLY TRINITY
DORCHESTER ST. PETER
DOTTERY
DRIMPTON
DURWESTON
EAST BURTON
EAST LULWORTH
EAST ORCHARD
EAST STOKE
EAST STOKE RUINS
EAST STOUR
EDMONDSHAM
EVERSHOT
EYPE
FARNHAM
FIFEHEAD MAGDELENE
FIFEHEAD NEVILLE
FISHPONDS
FLEET
FOLKE
FONTMELL MAGNA
FORDINGTON
FORDINGTON WEST
FORTUNESWELL
FRAMPTON
FROME, ST QUINTON
FROME, VAUCHURCH
GILLINGHAM CEMETERY
GILLINGHAM ST MARY
GOATHILL
GODMANSTONE
GUSSAGE ALL SAINTS
GUSSAGE ST MICHAEL
HALSTOCK
HAMMOON
HAMPRESTON
HAMWORTHY, POOLE
HAMWORTHY, United R.
HAYDON
HAZELBURY BRYAN
HERMITAGE
HERRISON CHAPEL
HILFIELD
HILTON
HINTON MARTELL
HINTON PARVA
HINTON ST MARY
HOLDENHURST
HOLNEST
HOLT
HOLWELL
HOLWORTH
HOOKE
HORTON
IBBERTON
IWERNE COURTNEY
IWERNE MINSTER
IWERNE MINSTER CHAPEL
KIMMERIDGE
KINGS STAG
KINGSTON CORFE CASTLE
KINGTON MAGNA
KINSON BOURNEMOUTH
LANGTON HERRING
LANGTON LONG
LANGTON MATRAVERS
LEIGH
LEWSTON CHAPEL
LILLINGTON
LITTLE BREDY
LITTON CHENEY
LODERS
LONG BREDY
LONG CRICHEL
LONGBURTON
LONGBURTON CHAPEL
LONGBURTON METHODIST
LONGFLEET POOLE
LONGHAM UNITED REF
LYDLINCH
LYME REGIS
LYME REGIS R.C.
LYTCHETT HEATH
LYTCHETT MATRAVERS
LYTCHETT MINSTER
MAIDEN NEWTON CEMETERY
MAIDEN NEWTON CHURCH
MANSTON
MAPPERTON
MAPPOWDER
MARGARET MARSH
MARNHULL
MARNHULL R.C.
MARSHWOOD
MELBURY ABBAS
MELBURY BUBB
MELBURY OSMOND
MELCOMBE HORSEY
MILBORNE ST ANDREW
MILTON ABBAS
MILTON ON STOUR
MINTERN MAGNA
MONKTON WYLD
MOORDOWN, BOURNEMOUTH.
MORDEN
MORETON
MOSTERTON
MOTCOMBE
MOTCOMBE, METHODIST
NETHER CERNE
NETHER COMPTON
NETHER COMPTON CHAP
NETHERBURY
NORTH POORTON
NORTH WOOTTON
OBORNE
OKEFORD FITZPAINE
OSMINGTON
OVER COMPTON
OWERMOIGNE
PARKSTONE ST CLEMENTS
PARKSTONE ST PETER
PENTRIDGE
PIDDLEHINTON
PIDDLETRENTHIDE
PILSDON
PIMPERNE
PLUSH
POKESDOWN CONGREGATIOAL
POKESDOWN ST JAMES
POOLE, QUAKER BURIAL
POOLE, SKINNER STREET
POOLE, ST JAMES
PORTESHAM
PORTLAND BRACKENBURY
PORTLAND FERRY BRIDGE
PORTLAND NAVAL & MILITARY
PORTLAND ST ANDREW
PORTLAND ST GEORGE
PORTLAND STRANGERS
PORTLAND UNDERHILL
POWERSTOCK
POXWELL
POYNTINGTON
PRESTON
PUDDLETOWN
PUDDLETOWN INDEPENDANT
PULHAM
PUNCKNOWLE
PUNCKNOWLE CEMETERY
PURSE CAUNDLE
RADIPOLE
RAMPISHAM
RIPLEY (HANTS)
RYME INTRINSECA
SANFORD ORCAS
SEABOROUGH
SHAFTESBURY, ENMORE GREEN
SHAFTESBURY HOLY TRINITY
SHAFTESBURY ST JAMES
SHAFTESBURY ST PETER
SHAFTESBURY UNITED REFORMED
SHAPWICK
SHERBORNE ABBEY
SHERBORNE CEMETERY
SHERBORNE UNION CHAPEL
SHERBORNE WAR MEM
SHERBORNE WESLYAN
SHILLINGSTONE
SHIPTON GORGE
SILTON
SIXPENNY HANDLEY
SOPLEY
SOUTH PERROT
SPETISBURY
STALBRIDGE
STALBRIDGE U.R.C.
STAPEHILL R.C.
STEEPLE
STINSFORD
STOCK GAYLAND
STOCKWOOD
STOKE ABBOTT
STOKE WAKE
STOUR PROVOST
STOUR ROW
STOURPAINE
STOURTON CAUNDLE
STRATTON
STUDLAND
STURMINSTER MARSHALL
STURMINSTER NEWTON
STURMINSTER NEWTON CEMETERY
SUTTON WALDRON
SWANAGE, BURIAL GROUND
SWANAGE, ST MARY
SWANAGE, WAR MEMORIAL
SWYRE
SYDLING ST NICHOLAS
SYMONDSBURY
TARRANT CRAWFORD
TARRANT GUNVILLE
TARRANT HINTON
TARRANT KEYNSTON
TARRANT LAUNCESTON
TARRANT MONKTON
TARRANT RAWSTON
TARRANT RUSHTON
THORNCOMBE
THORNFORD
THROOP UNITED REFORMED
TINCLETON
TODBER
TOLLER FRATRUM
TOLLER PORCORUM
TOLLER WHELME
TOLPUDDLE
TOLPUDDLE METHODIST
TRENT
TURNERSPUDDLE
TURNWORTH
TYNEHAM
UPCERNE
UPWEY
UPWEY UNITED REFORM
VERWOOD
WAMBROOK
WAREHAM HOLY TRINITY
WAREHAM LADY ST MARGARET
WAREHAM, ST. MARTIN
WARMWELL
WEST CHELBOROUGH
WEST COMPTON
WEST KNIGHTON
WEST LULWORTH
WEST MILTON
WEST MOORS
WEST ORCHARD
WEST PARLEY
WEST PARLEY MEMORIAL HALL
WEST STAFFORD
WEST STAFFORD, BURIAL
WEST STOUR
WEYMOUTH, HOLY TRINITY
WEYMOUTH, HOPE REF.
WEYMOUTH, METHODIST
WEYMOUTH, QUAKER BUR.
WEYMOUTH, ST ALDHELM
WEYMOUTH, ST JOHN
WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM
WHITCOMBE
WIMBORNE MINSTER
WIMBORNE, ST G. ALL HAl.
WIMBORNE, ST G. BURIAL
WIMBORNE, ST GILES
WIMBORNE, UNITED REFORMED
WINFRITH NEWBURGH
WINTERBORNE ABBAS
WINTERBORNE ANDERSON
WINTERBORNE CAME
WINTERBORNE CLENSTON
WINTERBORNE HOUGHTON
WINTERBORNE KINGSTON
WINTERBORNE MONKTON
WINTERBORNE ST MARTIN
WINTERBORNE STEEPLETON
WINTERBORNE STICKLAND
WINTERBORNE TOMSON
WINTERBORNE WHITCHURCH
WINTERBORNE ZELSTON
WITCHAMPTON
WITCHAMPTON, METHODIST
WOODLANDS
WOODSFORD
WOOL
WOOLLAND
WOOTON GLANVILLE
WOOTTON FITZPAINE
WOOTTON FITZPAINE METHODIST
WORTH MATRAVERS
WRAXALL
WYKE REGIS
WYKE REGIS, ALL STAINTS
WYKE REGIS, METHODIST
WYNFORD EAGLE
WYRE REGIS, BURIAL GROUND
YETMINSTER