Resources for FRESHWATER Parish

Returning to Yarmouth we proceed from thence to Freshwater, a pleasant ride, of about two miles and a half.  The church formerly belonged to the priory at Carisbrooke, and was given by William Fitz-Osborne, with five others, to the Abbey of Lyra, in Normandy.  It is now in the presentation of St. John’s College, Cambridge, and is reckoned the most valuable living in the island.  The church is dedicated to All Saints.  Near the church is the Red Lion Inn, a small, but comfortable, house, kept by Mr. Robert Corney.  Freshwater parish was the birth-place of the celebrated Dr. Hooke, M.D., in the year 1635.  Proceeding over the Downs, and passing Farringford Hill, the seat of John Hambrough, Esq., we arrive at Alum Bay. ^[1]W.C.F.G. Sheridan, A Topographical and Historical Guide to the Isle of Wight (printed for M.A. Leigh, c 1833), 126.

All Saints’ Church in Freshwater is a Grade II listed building and is one of the oldest churches on the Isle of Wight.  Parts of the building date back before the Doomsday survey in 1086.  The nave arcades of the church are from the late 12^th century, the windows from the 13^th century and the tower is from the 15^th century.  It was built from Isle of Wight stone and has a tiled roof.  The lych gate is a recent addition.

Virtually an island itself, Freshwater was historically a mainly agricultural area with clusters of settled regions including Afton, Easton, Norton, Middleton and Weston.  It is all but separated from the main island by Freshwater Gate and the river Yar.  Norton was also the home to some fishermen, as was Freshwater Gate and Brambles Chine.  Some residents earned income by digging pipe clay for the manufacture of tobacco pipes in London but the majority farmed the land and listed their occupations as farmers, husbandmen or yeomen and raised primarily wheat, barley and oats.

Isle of Wight Record Office

Parish Registers

* Registers available on Family History Library Films

Estate Records

The records of the following estates have been deposited with the Isle of Wight Record Office and may include such documents as deeds, accounts, correspondence, maps and surveys.

Hamond-Graeme                             Bembridge, Freshwater (Norton), Yaverland *

Holmes / Heytesbury                   Calbourne (Westover), Freshwater, Yarmouth

Ward                                                    Cowes, Northwood, Freshwater, Kingston

* Collection available on Family History Library Films

School Records

Freshwater C.E. School – Log books 1903 – 1945

Family History Library Films

Parish Registers

FHL BRITISH Film [1470877] Freshwater.  Item 6:  Baptisms, burials and marriages, 1576-1653.  Item 7:  Baptisms, 1653-1675; marriages, 1678-1675, 1752; burials, 1653-1675, 1691-1708. Item 8: Baptisms and burials, 1678-1780; marriages, 1678-1753. Item 9: Baptisms 1781-1812, 1827; burials, 1781-1812.  Items 10 – 19: Baptisms, 1813-1908. Marriages, 1754-1915. Banns, 1754-1816, 1865-1907. Burials, 1813-1914.

Bishops Transcripts

FHL BRITISH Film [1596475] Freshwater.  Item 2:  Baptisms and burials, 1780-1872;  marriages, 1780-1837.

Miscellaneous Parish Records

FHL BRITISH Film [1471164] Freshwater. items 5 – 7:  Rate book 1837-1854 Vestry minutes 1895-1920 Poor law papers 1767-1823 Tithes/rents 1662-1901 Papers re. church property 1699-1915 Church fabric (subscriptions) N.D. Charities/trusts 1764-1890 Financial ledgers 1665-1903 Miscellaneous records 1720-1889 Personal papers 1600-1897 Freshwater school 1776-1849 Deeds (St. Andrews church) 1875-1910 .

FHL BRITISH Film [1471164] Freshwater. Items 9 – 20:  Rate book 1837-1854 Vestry minutes 1895-1920 Poor law papers 1767-1823 Tithes/rents 1662-1901 Papers re. church property 1699-1915 Church fabric (subscriptions) N.D. Charities/trusts 1764-1890 Financial ledgers 1665-1903 Miscellaneous records 1720-1889 Personal papers 1600-1897 Freshwater school 1776-1849 Deeds (St. Andrews church) 1875-1910.

Transcripts of Bishops Transcripts

FHL BRITISH Film [1278724] Freshwater.  Item 18:  1780 – 1812.

Land tax assessments for Freshwater

FHL BRITISH Film [1597131] Freshwater.  Item 2:  1800-1831.

Register of Persons entitled to vote – Freshwater

FHL BRITISH Film [1471134] Freshwater.  item 2, 4 – 6:  1840, 1847 – 1849, 1853.

Hamond-Graeme papers : a catalogue of holdings

FHL BRITISH Film [1470907] Hamond-Graeme papers.  These are the deeds of the Hamond-Graeme family of Freshwater and includes titles and deeds from 1612 – 1921 including many area surnames.