The first Chelsea Parish Register Book is a small folio, vellum, a great part of which is beautifully written. It commences with the year 1559, and appears to be accurately kept, except that it is imperfect during the Interregnum; and there are some omissions in the burials between 1564 and 1591, and between 1644 and 1652, the year in which it ends. In the first leaf there is this memorandum: “A Booke begun in the House of God for Regestringe of all Christenings, Marages, and Burialls within the Parishe of Chelsey, provided for that purpose by J. Tomkins and Thomas Saunders, Church Wardens, the 19 daye of Feburarie 1559, and new in the time and yeare of Richard Warde, Parson of Chelsey, 11 March, 1599.” * * * * * The following are a few selected from the Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials:— BAPTISMS. 1559. William Hitchcock was baptized the 19th day of Februarie. (This is the first registered.) 1576. Gabriel, the son of Thomas Browne, Parson, 3rd April. 1593. Elizabeth, filia Johis. Stanhope, armi. and Margaritæ uxoris ejus, 14th August (afterwards married to Sir Lionel Talmash.) 1594. Margaret Stanley, 17th April. 1595. Carolus filius Johs. Stanhope, armi. April 27. (afterwards second Lord Stanhope.) 1597. Charles, a boy, by estimacon x or xii yeares old, brought by Sir Walter Rawlie from Guiana, Feb. 13. 1599. William, the sonne of Sir Arthur Gorge, Kt., 31st May. 1600. Timoleon, sonne of Sir Arthur Gorge, and Lady Elizabeth, his wife, baptized primo Octobris. 1612. Frances, the daughter of Sir Walter Alston, Knight, 26th April. 1613. Fielde, a poor man child, found in the east field of Chelsey, 13th October. 1639. Chelsey, a child born in the west fields, was baptized Feb. 1. The remaining baptismal entries, and some of those omitted, include the sons or daughters of the Earl of Nottingham, Lord Cranfield, Earl of Lincolne, Sir John Danvers, Sir G. Wentworth, Lord Commissioner Whitelocke, Charles Cheyne, Esq., Charles Stanley, Esq., Sir Henry Herbert, Earl of Lindsey, &c. MARRIAGES. 1559. W. Harris and Eliz. Buger. (This is the first marriage registered.) 1560. In this year there were four marriages, and a very few afterwards until 1600. 1582. T. Mansell, esquier, son and heir to Sir Edward Mansell, and Mary Mordant, daughter of Lord Mordant, July 30. 1589 Johannes Stanhope, armiger, et Margaritta Mackwilliams, alias Cheecke, 6 die Maii. (He was created a Baron in 1606.) 1607. Richard Warde, Parson, and Elizabeth Fisher, Jan. 29. 1648. Sir John Danvers and Mrs. Grace Hewet, Jan. 6.