Precentorship of York

Scope and Content

The records are divided as follows:

  • Parish Register Transcripts [Pec.Dig.Prec/PRT]. 1600-1812, with many gaps in the sequence. 8 boxes.
  • Appointment of Thomas Squire as registrar of the jurisdiction [Pec.Dig.Prec/1]. 1634. 1 item.
  • Penances [Pec.Dig.Prec/2]. 1707-1743. 1 bundle.
  • Abstracts of Leases and other business of Dr John Gibson, precentor of York (1574-1613) [Pec.Dig.Prec/3]. 1566-1598. 1 volume.

Administrative / Biographical History

The precentor's peculiar jurisdiction extended over Great and Little Driffield, Little Ouseburn and part of Haxby. The prebend of Driffield was annexed to the precentorship by Archbishop Rotherham in 1484.

Other Finding Aids

A summary list of the Parish Register Transcripts is available at the Borthwick Institute, and an online guide to all records can be found at www.york.ac.uk/inst/bihr/Guidesandfindingaids.htm.