Extracted From:
  A LAW DICTIONARY ..., SIXTH EDITION, 1856
  by John Bouvier, CHILDS & PETERSON, PHILADELPHIA

REGISTER, evidence. A book containing a record of facts as they occur, kept by
public authority; a register of births, marriages and burials. 
   Although not originally intended for the purposes of evidence, public
registers are in general admissible to prove the facts to which they relate. 
   In Pennsylvania, the registry of births, &c. made by any religious society in
the state, is evidence by act of assembly, but it must be proved as at common
law.... A copy of the register of births and deaths of the Society of Friends in
England, proved before the lord mayor of London by an ex parte affidavit, was
allowed to be given in evidence to prove the death of a person... and a copy of
a parish register in Barbadoes, certified to be a true copy by the rector,
proved by the oath of a witness, taken before the deputy secretary of the island
and notary public, under his hand and seal was held admissible to prove
pedigree; the handwriting and office of the secretary being proved....
   In North Carolina, a parish register of births, marriages and deaths, kept
pursuant to the statute of that state, is evidence of pedigree....
   In Connecticut, a parish register has been received in evidence....

REGISTER, common law. The certificate of registry granted to the person or
persons entitled thereto, by the collector of the district, comprehending the
port to which any ship or vessel shall belong; more properly, the registry
itself. For the form, requisites, &c. of certificate of registry....

REGISTER or REGISTRAR. An officer authorized by law to keep a record called a
register or registry; as the register for the probate of wills. 

REGISTER FOR THE PROBATE OF WILLS. An officer in Pennsylvania, who has generally
the same powers that judges of probates and surrogates have in other states, and
the ordinary has in England, in admitting the wills of deceased persons to
probate. 

REGISTER OF WRITS. This is a book preserved in the English court of chancery, in
which were entered, from time to time, all forms of writs once issued. 
   It was first printed and published in the reign of Henry VIII. This book is
still in authority, as containing, in general, an accurate transcript of the
forms of all writs as then framed, and as they ought still to be framed in
modern practice. 
   It seems, however, that a variation from the register is not conclusive
against the propriety of a form, if other sufficient authority can be adduced to
prove its correctness....

REGISTRARIUS. An ancient name given to a notary. In England this name is
confined to designate the officer of some court, the records or archives of
which are in his custody. 

REGISTRUM BREVIUM. The name of an ancient book which was a collection of
writs....

REGISTRY. A book authorized by law, in which writings are registered or
recorded. Vide To Record; Register.


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