Welsh Chancery Records were until lately kept distinct from the various series in England.
Reference should be made to those of the Deputy-Keeper’s Reports (these can be consulted in most good libraries) which concern Wales. According to what district is required, they will give particulars as to what documents should be searched and where to find them. There are, for instance, Welsh Pedigrees and genealogical manuscripts deposited in various libraries.
The Provinces.—The pedigree-hunter who is located in any country part of England will almost certainly have to pay a visit to the metropolis, either in person or by proxy, to ensure a successful search. Still, while he is at home, some most important records may be close beside him.
As has already been mentioned, Wills, which are not stored at Somerset House, are kept in numerous depositories all over the land, principally in the Episcopal Courts.
The country searcher may find that his Diocesan Registry, which perhaps is close at hand, is just the place where he hopes to discover the most promising wills.
Then as to Parochial Registers, he may find he is in a better position to come across those he wants (should they date before 1837) than if he were in London.
Register Bills, transcripts of parochial registers, should be sent annually to the Bishop’s Registries, and may be found there.
However, there is no law enforcing this, so the duty is regarded, more or less, as a voluntary one.
Consequently the searcher will probably have to visit the various parishes or write to the vicars, and much may be discovered in this way.
In 1538, a decree was issued by Henry VIII.’s minister, Cromwell, enacting that parish registers should be regularly kept. This order, if carried out as it was intended, would have filled with joy the heart of many a genealogist; but, alas, in early days especially, the rule was often more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Still, the pedigree-hunter should discover much valuable information at the parish registries.