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Civil registration of 1837
In 1837 Civil Registration was introduced requiring that every
birth, marriage and death had to be formally registered. Churches
continues to keep registers of baptisms, marriages and funerals
but the offical responsibility now lay in the hands of the civil
administration. Certificates were issued and national registers
were compiled complete with quarterly name indexes.
Civil Registration : Certificates for Births, Marriages and
Deaths : what information you will see on the certificates
Birth Certificates:
> The Registration District
>Year
> Birth in the Sub District of xx in the County of xx
> When and where born
> Name, if any
> Sex
>Name and surname of father
> Name, surname and maiden name of mother (including any previous
married names. 'late' denotes a previous married name and 'formerly'
denotes the maiden name.
> Occupation of father
> Signature, description and residence of the informant
> When registered
> Signature of registrar
>Name entered after registration
notes:
> From 1911 the mother's maiden name was included in the index.
> The absence of a father's name usually indicates that the
child was illegitimate.
> If a time of birth is noted (on English and Welsh certificates)
it usually indicates a multiple birth. On Scottish certificates
it is usual.
Marriage Certificates :
> The year
> Where solemnnised
> Town and County
> Date of marriage
> Name and Surname (of Bride and Groom)
> Age (of Bride and Groom)
> Condition (Bachelor, spinster or widow)
> Rank or Profession
> Residence at time of marriage (of both Bride and Groom).
> Father's name and surname (of both Bride and Groom).
> Rank or Profession of father (of both Bride and Groom).
> Married in the (church name).
> Church denomination
> by banns, licence or certificate
> Signature or mark of both Bride and Groom
> Signature or mark of 2 witnesses
notes:
> If a father is dead 'deceased' might be included with his
name, but not always.
> 'Full Age' normally means over 21 years.
> The ommission of a father's name usually indicates illegitimacy.
> The witnesses might be family, friends or strangers.
Death Certificates:
> Registration District
> Year
> Sub District where death occurred
> County
> When and where died.
> Name and surname
> Sex
> Age
> Occupation
> Cause of Death
> Signature, description and residence of informant.
> Date registered
> Signature of registrar
notes:
> The age is not necessarily precise as even family members
might not know the exact age of the deceased.
> Cause of death was often imprecise reflecting medical knowledge
of the time.
> Later death certificates had to show the name of the medical
practioner who certified the death.
> If a coroner's inquest was held, for whatever reason, then
this will also be recorded on the certficate.
All Certificates:
> As no proof was asked for, for any statement, it might be
assumed that some were not completely accurate or truthful.
Finding Certificates:
> Certificates can be located by looking in the relevant index,
under the surname and forename. The entry will then provide you
with a registration district, volume and page. These can then
be used to order a certificate either from the appropriate Local
Register Office or from the General Register Office at Southport
either on-line or by post). At the time of writing the charge
is £7 per certificate.
> For various reason a certificate might not appear in the
index in the correct place. It might be that there has been a
simple transcription error. A birth might not have actually been
registered - this wasn't uncommon when civil registration was
first introduced.
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