Certificates, Types and Obtaining

The indexes to these records may be found in microform at many libraries and record offices and purchased either directly or via a record agent. There are also some reasonably comprehensive online indexes being developed. The indexes are divided into 'quarters' within each year, and then subdivided alphabetically by surname and forename(s). Don't forget to search before and after a reputed event, as dates given could be incorrect, births may occur before a marriage, but 'hushed up', and children may have been registered late and their birth dates 'adjusted' to avoid a fine. Record the full reference and details from the index. If identified from the indexes and ordered certificates themselves should contain the following information:- [unless quite recent, in which case there is additional information]

Birth's

 
  • Date and (sub)district of registration
  • The date & place of birth (& time if multiple birth or sometimes on an early certificate )
  • The name of the child
  • The sex of the child
  • The name of the father & his occupation
  • The forename of the mother and any previous surname(s)
  • The details of the informant
  • Date of registration
  • Registrar
  • Additional information post registration

From September 1911 the maiden name of the mother was included on the quarterly returns for births and this is especially useful when searching for a child with a more popular surname. Do take care however that you do not eliminate a possibility by virtue of a surname unless you know that the mother was still alive at that date. Remarriages may occur within quite a seemingly disrespectfully close time span on occasions out of the need for a new mother for existing children.

Marriage's

 
  • Date and (sub)district of registration
  • The date & place of marriage
  • Names of parties marrying
  • Their ages (sometimes given as 'ofa' Of Full Age i.e. over 21)
  • Condition i.e. Spinster, Bachelor, Widow etc.
  • Their places of residence
  • Their occupations
  • Fathers of the couple
  • Their fathers occupation if alive, or noted if deceased or unknown
  • Type of marriage ceremony conducted
  • Witnesses signatures or marks
  • Officiating party

Death's

 
  • Date and (sub)district of registration
  • Date of death
  • Forename(s) and Surname of deceased
  • Sex of deceased
  • Presumed age at death
  • Occupation
  • Cause of death
  • Details of informant
  • When registered
  • Registrar

It is worth noting that after 1875 a death certificate was required before burial could take place, and so the recording of a death record was less likely to be omitted after this date. If you have an indication of a date of death, again a death entry can be useful to establish age at death and thereby approximate year of birth. A premature death of a young mother can also give rise to the possibility of remarriage too. Whether you are searching for a probable Birth, Marriage or Death entry, with the existing system the only way to obtain the full details of the event is to order a certified copy of the entry. [a certificate]. At the time of writing this legislation is under revue, but may take years to change. From the index note down the names, reference numbers, year & quarter of the event and any further information given.

You then have 5 main options:-

 
  • Order the certificate by mail from the GRO
  • Go to the relevant local office and order personally
  • Order by mail from the local office
  • Order the certificate personally by visiting GRO in London
  • Order the certificate via a Record Agent.

The mail order address for certificates is General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8 2JD. Application forms are available from this address too as ordering by post requires different forms and may take several weeks (and sometimes months!) to appear, and is considerably more expensive. It is also more expensive if you do not have the reference number from the indexes and request a search. Over half the fee is retained if your request is unsuccessful.

Details of the Local Office (i.e. a birth in Portsmouth could be ordered from the Register Office in Portsmouth) can be found by telephoning the required office and asking for their specific requirements to order. Note however, that the reference number from the St. Catherine's Indexes is of no use to Local Offices. They will also prefer to be advised of a specific parish as many cities can have 50-100+ locations for marriages in particular.

The Family Records Centre, (ground floor,) is the best location to order GRO certificates in person. This can be found at 1 Myddleton Street, London EC1R 1UW [Tel: 0171 233 9233]. To order a birth certificate a red form (CAS 51) is required, for a marriage a green form (CAS 53) and for a death a grey form (CAS 52). Certificates should be produced within 3 working days and may be collected or mailed to you.

For a Record Agent you can contact The Association of Genealogists & Records Agents or a County Record Office to see if they will supply a listing of Researchers and/or Record Agents, look in genealogical publications at the small ads.