South Benfleet Essex Family History Guide

South Benfleet is an Ancient Parish in the county of Essex

Alternative names: South Bemfleet

Parish church: St Mary the Virgin

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1573
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: 1639; 1800

Nonconformists include:

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

BENFLEET (South), a parish in Rochford district, Essex; on the coast, including part of Canvey island, and on the London and Southend railway, at Benfleet station, 4 miles SSW of Rayleigh. It has a post-office under Chelmsford.

Acres, 3,361; of which 305 are water. Real property, £3,756. Pop., 573. Houses, 125. The property is much subdivided. A strong castle was built here by the famous Danish pirate, Hastings; and taken and destroyed by Alfred the Great. The waters on the coast were celebrated for oysters.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £285. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The church is a fine structure of the time of Henry VII.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Parish Records

FamilySearch

England, Essex, South Benfleet – Census ( 1 )
Census returns for South Benfleet, 1841-1891
Author: Great Britain. Census Office

England, Essex, South Benfleet – Church records ( 5 )
Bishop’s transcripts for Canvey-Island, 1813-1867
Author: Church of England. Chapelry of Canvey-Island (Essex)

Bishop’s transcripts for South Benfleet, 1639-1640
Author: Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

Bishop’s transcripts for South Benfleet, 1800-1868
Author: Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

Churchwardens and overseers records, 1679-1928
Author: South Benfleet (Essex); Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

Parish registers for South Benfleet, 1573-1852
Author: Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

England, Essex, South Benfleet – History ( 1 )
Bygone Benfleet
Author: Chisman, Norman M.

England, Essex, South Benfleet – Occupations ( 1 )
Churchwardens and overseers records, 1679-1928
Author: South Benfleet (Essex); Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

England, Essex, South Benfleet – Poorhouses, poor law, etc. ( 1 )
Churchwardens and overseers records, 1679-1928
Author: South Benfleet (Essex); Church of England. Parish Church of South Benfleet (Essex)

Administration

  • County: Essex
  • Civil Registration District: Rochford
  • Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Essex
  • Diocese: Pre-1846 – London, Post-1845 – Rochester
  • Rural Deanery: Pre-1845 – Barstable, Post-1844 – Rochford
  • Poor Law Union: Billericay
  • Hundred: Barstable
  • Province: Canterbury