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Belgium Research Tips and Strategies (view source)
Revision as of 15:11, 10 June 2020
, 10 June 2020→Research for the 19th century
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The civil register contains three types of records: birth-, marriage- and death certificates. To find your ancestors who are born in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century, it might suffice to use the birth certificates. However, you will need all three to go back further. | The civil register contains three types of records: birth-, marriage- and death certificates. To find your ancestors who are born in the late 19<sup>th</sup> century, it might suffice to use the birth certificates. However, you will need all three to go back further. | ||
<big> Birth certificates </big> <br> | |||
The birth certificate contains the name of the child, but also contains information about the parents, such as the name and age. | The birth certificate contains the name of the child, but also contains information about the parents, such as the name and age. | ||
If you are lucky it also contains the town of origin, which makes it possible to find their birth certificate. The older records might not contain the town of origin or even the age. To find their birth certificate, you might have to look at either their death certificate or marriage certificate. | If you are lucky it also contains the town of origin, which makes it possible to find their birth certificate. The older records might not contain the town of origin or even the age. To find their birth certificate, you might have to look at either their death certificate or marriage certificate. | ||
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To find the birth certificate of a migrant from Belgium, it is important to find the town of origin. Consider the article [[Belgium Finding Town of Origin|Finding Towns of Origin]]. | To find the birth certificate of a migrant from Belgium, it is important to find the town of origin. Consider the article [[Belgium Finding Town of Origin|Finding Towns of Origin]]. | ||
<big> Marriage certificates </big> <br> | |||
The marriage certificate contains information about the bride and groom, their name, age and town of origin. It also contains information about the parents. Most importantly, it either gives their residence or locates their death. | The marriage certificate contains information about the bride and groom, their name, age and town of origin. It also contains information about the parents. Most importantly, it either gives their residence or locates their death. | ||
Tip: If a parent is still alive, they are likely to die in the following decade. Hence, you can often use this information to find the death certificate. | Tip: If a parent is still alive, they are likely to die in the following decade. Hence, you can often use this information to find the death certificate. | ||
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Tip: Couples often married in the town where the wife was living. If you know where she was born, check there. | Tip: Couples often married in the town where the wife was living. If you know where she was born, check there. | ||
<big> Death certificates </big> <br> | |||
The death certificate contains the age, town of origin and the name of the deceased. It also gives the name of the parents and spouse. | The death certificate contains the age, town of origin and the name of the deceased. It also gives the name of the parents and spouse. | ||
This information makes it possible to find the birth certificate. | This information makes it possible to find the birth certificate. | ||
Tip: First, see if you can easily find the marriage certificate. Then, take the last place of residence and go through the index table of that village to search for the death certificate. Finding the birth certificate of siblings can help date the marriage and death dates of the parents. | Tip: First, see if you can easily find the marriage certificate. Then, take the last place of residence and go through the index table of that village to search for the death certificate. Finding the birth certificate of siblings can help date the marriage and death dates of the parents. | ||
== Research for the 17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> century == | == Research for the 17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> century == | ||