Genealogy Chat

What year did birth certificates come into force? I have traced a branch of my family tree to a George Whitehead who was bron around 1836 and died in 1891, I can find his death certificate, but not his birth or marriage certificates. I though that maybe certain certificates became commonplace later on.

Civil registration began 1st July 1837. Before that date, you need to look in parish registers for baptisms, marriages and burials. nell

Paul Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates came into force in July 1837. However, it was not compulsary to register any of these events until 1875. Joy

Ok heres another silly question, where can I find the Parish Records to search for this. Also being born in 1836 you would have expected him to marry in maybe 1856 onwards. He is shown on a census with a Margaret Whitehead who was born 1834ish, but this fails to help me.

Hi bear in mind that indexes like FreeBMD and Familysearch.org are not 100% complete, and also it seems some certificates never got to London. Try the local registry offices. And keep trying with freeBMD - they are adding stuff all the time

Joy (above) is right about registration not being compulsory until 1875, but that is only for births and deaths. Marriages are not registered by the individuals concerned and so all marriages should have a certificate after 1837. Having said that, not EVERY marriage made it through the admin process correctly and so there are a few marriages that don't appear in the GRO indexes!! Merry

Surname , First name(s) , , District , Vol , Page Marriages Dec 1856 Barrick, Elizabeth, , Richmond Yk, 9d, 995, Brown, Michael, , Richmond Yk, 9d, 995, Walker, Margaret, , Richmond Yk, 9d, 995, Whitehouse, George, , Richmond Yk, 9d, 995, Found these on Free bmd Had you looked there? Kat ps you didn't say which area they were from this is all thwere are on freebmd between 1850 and 63 If you are back this far in your tree you must have looked for other BMD and got the certificates to prove your line?

Merry Mis-read my book. Better get my glasses on. Joy

They are from the Northumberland / Durham area

On the 1871 census they are listed as living in Seaton Delaval.

Yeah that is the 2 entries I have, though I have his year of birth at approx 1836

What options do I have? This is quite a stumbling block when put together with the fact that I don't yet know his wifes maiden name

Ok so if I order George Wilson Whiteheads birth certificate that should fill in that gap? I have managed to find his actual marriage certificate but I can find a reference for his birth certificate.

Found this birth for their son: Births Sep 1877 WHITEHEAD George Wilson Tynemouth 10b 170 And then there is this Margaret who fits from the 1861 census: Margaret Wilson abt 1833 Rothbury, Northumberland, England Servant St Andrew Northumberland 50p says they married in 1865!! (but if it was my rellie I would be buying the birth cert to check this out!) Merry

Thanks a lot meryy, I have just ordered George Wilson Whiteheads birth certificate. Just having a search through to see if theres anymore I can send for at the same time.

A few of the paths of enquiry could be solved with my next batch of certificates. My first sticking point is a entry I have for Ambrose Edmund Alexander - I have ordered his birth certificate which says he was born in 1915, and his Father is John Thomas Alexander. The only John Thomas Alexander I can find is Morpeth 10b 351. Do you think this could be the right one?

if you have ordered the birth cert but haven't got it yet, I'd wait and see....I assume you have the dad's name from a marriage cert?? It may not be exactly the same as on the birth cert!! When you have the birth cert and then the parents marriage cert you will be in a much better position to see ''what happened next'' (backwards, I mean!!) Merry

The Morpeth Index is for the birth

Soory my earlier post should have been clearer, I already have the birth certificate

I don't understand why you say you can only find one John Thomas Alexander???? There seem to be quite a few. Anyway, just take it one step at a time. Get the birth cert for his son, get the marriage cert for JTA and his wife. Find the right people on the census with the right parents. THEN look for the birth reg of dad! Merry