England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
York St Sampson

The Parish

The parish of St Sampson York lies almost centrally within the city of York, it stands to the south of cathedral covering an area surrounding the city's Church Street. York is an ancient city probably predating Roman times, albeit they made it their base in the north (Eboracum) which enabled it to become one of the most notable cities of England and one the largest in the north prior to the Industrial Revolution. York is located at the crossing of the Ouse where the A64 (Leeds to Scarborough road) meets the A19 (Selby to Thirsk) and marks also the meeting point of many significant Roman routes too. York's long history is too complex to document here and others have made a better job than I would do so you are recommended to research widely. Briefly York became capital of the north of England, a major market centre for the produce of Yorkshire and a principal administrative centre both religious and secular. Today York has been somewhat overshadowed by Yorkshire's industrial towns but remains a vibrant commercial centre and a notable visitor attraction for its preserved history. Medieval York was divided into 23 tiny parishes and St Sampson was the 10th largest in terms of population, it would have supported close to 1,000 parishioners. The parish covered an area of no more than a few blocks either side of the Church Street with the Shambles Market taking up most of the southern portion of the parish. The Ouse drains through the city and reaches the North Sea through the Humber Estuary. St Sampson parish is sited at around 12 metres above sea level with most of the medieval centre lying at or below 10 metres. In Domesday times York was a major centre and taxed on a value of 103 geld units, the city was held chiefly by the King, himself, with small portions held by the Archbishop of York and one Richard son of Herfast. St Sampson's parish was not specifically separately assessed.

The Church