RECORDS which shed a light on the lives and deaths of our ancestors - some of them world-renowned - are now available online.

Almost 400 years of Worcestershire records including baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths and burials have been published online. 

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Records may even show family links to famous names from the past, including one of the founders of Worcestershire Sauce.

Worcester News: LINKS: People may find links to one of the founder's of Lea & PerrinsLINKS: People may find links to one of the founder's of Lea & Perrins

Over 2.8 million records from Worcestershire are now online at Ancestry after they were published on July 7.

The collection helps bring family stories to life and allows people across Worcestershire - and further afield - to discover more about their ancestry.

The collection includes John Wheeley Lea, one half of the world-renowned Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce.

More records are expected to be added to the collection in the near future, providing further family history details for local residents.

Working with the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service and exclusive to Ancestry, this is the first time the Worcestershire Bishop Transcript records have been made available online.

The collection holds detailed information about the ancestors of many Worcestershire families including baptism, marriage and burial records spanning 1538 to 1935.

Featured in the records is the death record (1874) of prominent Worcestershire resident John Wheeley Lea (1791-1874).

John, who was a pharmacist and sauce manufacturer, partnered with William Henry Perrins in 1823, opening a drug store in Worcester and in 1837 they began selling the now world-famous Lea & Perrins brand of Worcestershire sauce.

“The Worcestershire transcripts written by church officials mark important milestones in people’s lives making them an excellent resource for tracing family roots,’’ said Kristian Lafferty, Content Acquisition Manager at Ancestry.

"We look forward to working with the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service in growing this collection even further helping make it the most comprehensive set of records for the region to date.’’

Worcester News: INTEREST: The Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Adrian Gregson, is also a custodian of Worcester's rich historyINTEREST: The Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Adrian Gregson, is also a custodian of Worcester's rich history

Adrian Gregson, County and Diocesan Archivist at the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service said: “We're thrilled to be working with Ancestry to make this important, historic collection available online and fully searchable.

"The Worcestershire Bishop's Transcripts will allow Worcestershire locals, as well as those with ties to the region, to delve into the significant moments of their ancestors' lives.”

As part of the collaboration with Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, the collection will grow and be added to in the future. This includes the addition of the Worcestershire Parish Records which are expected next year and feature Shakespeare’s marriage bond.

To learn more about your family history and discover the stories of your ancestors, visit ancestry.co.uk