The most important genealogical sources for the families of Orvin are the registers of baptisms, weddings and burials written by the preachers of the parish over the centuries. The first parishes register starts in 1671. The baptisms are listed that way almost without interruption until 1875. The weddings were registered from 1732 on and are listed until 1875 but there's a gap between 1739 and 1775. The registers of the burials begin in 1775 only. It has to be noticed that the period of the revolution is difficult to explore because the change of the political administration. All these registers are kept in the

Since a short while it is possible to order CDs containing all registers of the Bernese parishes. Visit this link:

The CDs of the French speaking parishes of the canton can also be consulted in the office of "Mémoire d'ici" in St-Imier :

Attention should also be paid to the "Archives de l'Ancien Evêché de Bâle" (Archives of the Old Diocese of Basel). These archives own notary’s acts and records of cases concerning the village of Orvin and the Old Diocese of Basel. It was in these archives that I found the minutes concerning Marguerite Leschot-Grosjean:

From 1823 until today we can also work with the files of the old village's community (Bourgeoisie). These registers can be found in the office of the old village's community (Commune Bourgeoise) in Orvin.