Thousands of out-of-print, out of copyright books from research libraries worldwide have been scanned and made available online for free. Find links below to books at archive.org, The Hathi Trust, Google Books, the Suffolk Records Society, and British History Online. While the focus is on books about Essex and Suffolk, books for nearby counties have been included too.
- Visitations
- Marriage licence allegations and bonds
- Memorials and church monuments
- Manors
- Families
- Parish registers
- Wills
- Hearth tax (Suffolk only)
- Local histories
- Elsewhere
Visitations
Essex
- The Visitations of Essex, part 1: 1552, 1558, 1570, 1612, 1634, ed: Walter C Metcalfe, 1879 (Harleian Society Publications, vol 13, archive.org)
- The Visitations of Essex, part 2: additional pedigrees and index to both parts, ed: Walter C Metcalfe (Harleian Society Publications, vol 14, archive.org)
- Parts 1 and 2 (above) bound together (archive.org)
- A Visitation of Essex: 1665-1668, ed: J J Howard, 1888 (archive.org)
Suffolk
- The Visitations of Suffolk: 1561, 1577, 1612 & additional pedigrees, by Walter C Metcalfe, 1882 (archive.org)
- The Visitation of Suffolk, 1561, was published in two volumes by the Harleian Society in the early 1980s. It’s not online as it’s still in copyright, but you can find copies in research libraries, and you can search its contents at the Hathi Trust.
- Visitation of Suffolk 1664-1668 – not available online
Cambridgeshire
- The Visitation of Cambridge 1575 and 1619 (archive.org)
- The Cambridgeshire Visitation, 1619 (archive.org)
Hertfordshire
Kent
- The Visitations of Kent, 1530-1, 1574, 1592 – not available online
- The Visitation of Kent, 1619-1621 (archive.org)
Lincolnshire
- Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol 1, A-F (archive.org)
- Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol 2, G-O (archive.org)
- Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol 3, P-Z (archive.org)
- Lincolnshire Pedigrees vol 4 (archive.org)
London
- The Visitation of London in the year 1568, and since augmented with both descents and arms (archive.org)
- The Visitation of London 1633, 1634 and 1635, vol 1, A-H (archive.org)
- The Visitation of London 1633, 1634 and 1635, vol 2, I-Z (archive.org)
Norfolk
General
- A Genealogical & Heraldic History of the Extinct and Dormant Baronetcies of England, by John Burke and John Bernard Burke, 1838 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, vol 1, 1837 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, vol 2, 1835 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, vol 3, 1838 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, by John Burke, vol 4, 1838 (archive.org)
- A General and Heraldic Dictionary of Peerages of England, Ireland and Scotland, Extinct, Dormant and in Abeyance, by John Burke, 1831 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical & Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, by John Burke, 1846 (archive.org)
- A Genealogical & Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, by John Burke, 1869, 31st ed (archive.org)
- A Genealogical & Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage, by Sir Bernard Burke and Ashworth P Burke 1914, 76th ed (archive.org)
Marriage licence allegations and bonds
Note that the Essex Record Office have indexed their marriage licences by name and year on Essex Archives Online.
Allegations for marriage licences in the archdeaconry of Sudbury, in the county of Suffolk (1918-1921)
- Part 1: 1684-1754 (Harleian Society, vol 69, archive.org)
- Part 2: 1755-1781, with index to parts 1 and 2 (Harleian Society, vol 70, archive.org)
- Part 3: 1782-1814 (Harleian Society, vol 71, archive.org)
- Part 4: 1815-1839, with index to parts 1 and 2: (Harleian Society, vol 72, archive.org)
Archdeaconry of Suffolk
Marriage Licences from the Official Notebooks of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk, Deposited at the Ipswich Probate Court, 1613-1674 (Printed at the private press of Frederick Arthur Crisp, 1903, archive.org)
Bishop of London & Archbishop of Canterbury
People from Essex and Suffolk might appear in these:
- London Marriage Licences, 1521-1869, edited by Joseph Foster, 1887 (archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Bishop of London, part 1: 1520-1610 (Harleian Society, vol 25, 1887, archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Bishop of London, part 2: 1611-1828 (Harleian Society, vol 26, 1887, archive.org)
- Allegations of Marriage Licences issued by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury at London, 1543-1869 (Harleian Society, vol 24, 1886, archive.org) [see also vols 33 & 34 for omitted entries]
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1660-1668 (Harleian Society, vol 33, archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1669-1679 (Harleian Society, vol 34, archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury , 1679-1687 (Harleian Society, vol 30, 1890, archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1687-1694 (Harleian Society, vol 31, 1890, archive.org)
- Allegations for Marriage Licences issued by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, 1558-1679 (Harleian Society, vol 23, 1866, archive.org)
Memorials and church monuments
Essex
An Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Essex, 1916-1923
- Volume 1, North West (British History Online)
- Volume 2, Central and South West (British History Online)
- Volume 3, North East (British History Online)
- Volume 4, South East (British History Online)
- Combined index (British History Online)
Suffolk
- Memorial inscriptions in Suffolk churches: The East Anglian
- The History and Antiquities of the County of Suffolk: Volume 1, by Alfred Suckling, 1843 (British History Online)
Engravings of Sepulchral Brasses in Norfolk and Suffolk, tending to illustrate the the Ecclesiastical, Military and Civil Costume, as well as to preserve memorials of ancient families in that county, by John Sell Cotman esq et al, 2nd edition, 1839
Norfolk
The Church Heraldry of Norfolk, a description of all coats of arms on brasses, monuments, slabs, hatchments, &c., now to be found in the county. Illustrated. With references to Blomefield’s History of Norfolk and Burke’s Armory. Together with notes from the inscriptions attached by Rev Edmund Farrer
Manors
Essex
Feet of fines: see Mediaeval Genealogy
- The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, vol 1, by Rev Philip Morant, 1768: half-hundreds of Becontree and Waltham, liberty of Havering, hundreds of Chafford, Ongar, Barstable, Rochford, Dengey, [Dengie], Thurstable, Winstree and Tendring (archive.org)
- The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, vol 2, by Rev Philip Morant (not available online. See Abebooks or Amazon, where you can buy a reprint)
Suffolk
Feet of fines: see Mediaeval Genealogy
Suffolk Manorial Families, being the County Visitations and Other Pedigrees, by Joseph James Muskett [incs transcriptions of many wills, PCC, SRO, etc.]
- Vol 1: Winthrops of Groton and allied families inc: Ponder, Sharpe, Mildmay, Alabaster, Vesey, Risbey, Still, Browne, Fones, Gostlin, Downing, Hilles, Munning, Forth, Crymble, Bode, Powell, Clopton, Tyndal, Rainsborough, Reade, Cullum, Boldero, Garneys, Elmy, Grigg, Goodwin, Taylor, Hammond, Gurdon, Sexton, Burrough, Appleton, Doggett, Drury, Langham, Arnold (see index for all names) 1894 (archive.org) [See Evidences of the Winthrops of Groton at archive.org as well]
- Vol 2: Hovell, Smith alias Hovell, Folkes, Morden, Whiting, Bright, Barrett, Partridge, L’Estrange, Suckling, May, Fulmerston, Heyward, Bolton, Carey, Kempe, Barrow, Jermyn, Garneys, Keble, Pretyman, Beaumont, Stubbing, Collett, Muskett, (see index for all names) 1908 (archive.org)
- Vol 3, parts 1 & 2 bound together: Reeve, Wentworth, Andrews, Fairclough, Mann (no name index) 1910 (archive.org)
The Manors of Suffolk by W A Copinger
- Vol 1: Hundreds of Babergh and Blackbourn, 1905 (archive.org)
- Vol 2: Hundreds of Blything, Bosmere and Claydon, 1908 (archive.org)
- Vol 3: Hundreds of Carlford, Colneis, Cosford and Hartismere, 1909 (archive.org)
- Vol 4: Hundreds of Hoxne, Lackford and Loes, 1909 (archive.org)
- Vol 5: Hundreds of Lothingland, Mutford, Plomesgate and Risbridge, 1909 (archive.org)
- Vol 6: Hundreds of Samford, Stow and Thedwastry [Thedwastre], 1910 (archive.org)
- Vol 7: Hundreds of Thingoe, Thredling, Wangford and Wilford, 1911 (archive.org)
Norfolk
An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk : containing a description of the towns, villages, and hamlets, with the foundations of monasteries, churches, chapels, chantries, and other religious buildings
- Vol 1: Diss. Giltcross. Shropham (archive.org)
- vol 2: Thetford. Grimeshou. Wayland. Forehoe (archive.org)
- vol 3: History of Norwich (part 1) (not available)
- Vol 4: History of Norwich (part 2) (archive.org)
- Vol 5: Humble-yard. Depewade. Earsham. Henstede (archive.org)
- Vol 6: South Greenhow. South Erpingham (not available)
- Vol 7: Gallow and Brothercross. Blofield. Clackclose (archive.org)
- Vol 8: Clavering. North Erpingham. Eynford. Freebridge (archive.org)
- Vol 9: Freebridge (concl. from vol 8). North Greenhow. Happing. Holt. Launditch (archive.org)
- Vol 10: Launditch (concl. from vol 9). Loddon. Mitford. Smethdon. Taverham (archive.org)
- Vol 11: Tunstede. Walsham. West and East Flegg. Great Yarmouth. Indexes (archive.org)
Families
These books will contain information on the family themselves as well as interconnecting families. Some will contain images eg of heraldry, houses, portraits etc etc.
Buckenham, Bokenham and variations
- Notes and extracts from numerous authorities respecting the family of Bukenham or Bokenham, of Norfolk and Suffolk, from A.D. 1066 to A.D. 1883, and the places of that designation in the first named county, pt. 1, by Henry Maudslay, published 1884. (Google Books)
Cutler
- A Cutler Memorial and Genealogical History, by Nahum S Cutler, 1889 (archive.org) [Contains information on Suffolk Cutlers]
Gawdy
- Report on the manuscripts of the family of Gawdy, formerly of Norfolk, published by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1885 (archive.org)
Gosnold of Otley
- Gosnold and Bacon. The Ancestry of Bartholomew Gosnold. A Collection, by J Henry Lea, 1904 (archive.org)
- Pedigree of the Gosnold Family, by George Clarke (archive.org)
- There is another book on the Gosnolds, which includes transcriptions of their wills etc, but it appears to no longer be available online.
Parish registers
Essex
- Bocking: The First Register of St Mary’s Church, Bocking, Essex, England: baptisms 1561-1605, marriages 1593-1639, burials 1558-1628 (archive.org)
- Toppesfield: The Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials at St Margaret’s, Toppesfield (bound with “A Sketch of…” (archive.org)
Suffolk
- Bramfield: The Registers of the parish of Bramfield, ed: Thomas S Hill, 1894: 1539-1596 and 1693-1839 (archive.org)
- Brundish: The Parish Registers of Brundish, Suffolk: baptisms and burials 1562-1785, marriages 1563-1749 (archive.org and Google Books)
- Carlton: The Parishes Registers of Carlton, Suffolk: 1538-1886 (Google Books)
- Culpho: The Parish Registers of Culpho, Suffolk: baptisms 1721-1883, marriages 1760-1821, 1841-1882, burials 1813-1886, Anabaptist births 1785-96 (Google Books)
- Ellough: The Parish Registers of Ellough, Suffolk: baptisms & burials 1540-1812, marriages 1545-1754 (Google Books)
- Great Whelnetham Parish Registers, 1561-1850. Suffolk Green Books, vol 15, 1910 (archive.org)
- Frostenden: The Parish Registers of Frostenden, Suffolk: baptisms & burials 1538-1791, marriages 1538-1754 (Google Books)
- Horringer Parish Registers, 1558-1860 (archive.org)
- Ickworth Parish Registers, 1560-1890 (archive.org)
- Ipswich, St Nicholas: The Registers of St Nicholas, Ipswich, trans Rev Edward Cookson, 1897: baptisms 1539-1709, marriages 1539-1710, burials 1551-1710 (archive.org)
- Ingham: The Parish Register of Ingham, Suffolk, trans. William Brigg, 1909: baptisms 1538-1804, marriages 1539-1787, burials 1538-1811 (archive.org)
- Kelsale: The Parish Registers of Kelsale, Suffolk: marriages 1538-1886, baptisms and burials 1538-1812 (Google Books)
- Little Whelnetham Parish Registers, 1557-1850. Suffolk Green Books, vol 15, 1910 (archive.org)
- Pakenham: The Parish Registers of Pakenham, Suffolk: 1563-1766 (Google Books)
- Rushbrook Parish Registers: 1567-1850 (archive.org)
- Shotley Parish Registers, 1571-1850 (website)
- Thorington: The Registers of the Parish of Thorington, Suffolk: 1561-1884: incs memorial inscriptions and Bence family info (Google Books)
- West Stow and Wordwell: 1550s-1850 “with sundry notes” (archive.org)
Wills
- Wills of the Archdeaconry of Sudbury, 1431-1474, part II: 1461-1474, edited by Peter Northeast and Heather Falvey, 2010, published by the Suffolk Records Society. The book contains an index of testators, but for indices of beneficiaries, placenames, occupations etc, see the companion volume to parts I and II, available from the SRS.
- Wills of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk, 1620-1624, edited by Marion E Allen, 1989, published by the Suffolk Records Society.
See more printed books of wills – most aren’t available online, but hardcopies can be purchased.
Hearth tax
Local histories
The East Anglian; Or, Notes and Queries on Subjects Connected With the Counties of Suffolk, Cambridge, Essex and Norfolk 1858-1910
Essex
- A sketch of Toppesfield parish by G F Dow, 1900 (archive.org)
- Repertorium Ecclesiastical Parochial Londinense, vol II (covering parishes in Essex, used as a source by Morant), by Richard Newcourt, 1710 (Google Books)
The Essex Review: an illustrated quarterly record of everything of permanent interest in the county
- The Essex Review, vol VI, 1897 (archive.org)
- The Essex Review, vol IX, 1900 (archive.org)
- The Essex Review, vol XVI, 1907 (archive.org)
Victoria County History: A History of the County of Essex
- Vol 1 – not available
- Vol 2 – religious houses (British History Online
- Vol 3 – not available
- Vol 4 – Ongar Hundred (British History Online)
- Vol 5 – growth since 1850, and parishes now in London (British History Online)
- Vol 6 – parishes now in London (British History Online)
- Vol 7 – parishes now in London (British History Online)
- Vol 8 – Chafford and Harlow Hundreds (British History Online)
- Vol 9 – the Borough of Colchester, from the Iron Age to 1900 (British History Online)
- Vol 10 – Lexden Hundred (part of) (British History Online)
Suffolk
- The Placenames of Suffolk by Rev Walter W Skeat, 1913
- Evidences of the Winthrops of Groton, by Joseph James Muskett and Robert Charles Winthrop, 1894-6 [appears to be similar to vol 1 of Muskett’s Suffolk Manorial Families] (archive.org)
- The Oakes Diaries: business, politics, and the family in Bury St Edmunds, 1778-1827, vol 1, 1778-1800, edited by Jane Fiske, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 1990
- The Oakes Diaries: business, politics, and the family in Bury St Edmunds, 1778-1827, vol 2, 1801-1827, edited by Jane Fiske, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 1991
- The Bailiffs’ Minute Book of Dunwich, 1404-1430, edited by Mark Bailey, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 1992
- Rookwood Family Papers. 1606-1761, edited by Francis Young, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 2016
- Letters from Redgrave Hall: The Bacon Family, 1340-1744, edited by Diarmaid MacCulloch, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 2007
- Two East Anglian Diaries: Isaac Archer and William Coe, 1641-1729, edited by Matthew Storey, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 1994
- Savage Fortune: an aristocratic family in the early seventeenth century, edited by Lyn Boothman and Sir Richard Hyde Parker, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 2006
- A Frenchman’s Year in Suffolk: French impressions of Suffolk life in 1784, translated and edited by Norman Scarfe, published by the Suffolk Records Society, 1988
- Victoria County History: A History of the County of Suffolk, vol 2: religious houses (British History Online)
See also the SRS’s digital series.
Elsewhere
All the Harleian Society Publications, with links to free, online scans where available. Includes many London parish registers as well as nearly all the county visitations. Also includes a list of later publications which are still in copyright and not available as free scans, but should be sourceable from research libraries (ask about inter-library loans at your local library).
Created: 3 January 2021
Updated: 6 January 2021, to include parish registers and Suffolk Records Society content.
Updated: 26 January 2021, to include British History Online content
Updated: 16 April 2021, to include Visitations for counties outside Essex and Suffolk, and books on Norfolk manors.