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England Civil Registration: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Durham Millburngate Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|220x200px]]Civil registration is the government recording of births, marriages, and deaths. Civil registration records are excellent sources of names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. Because they are indexed and cover most of the population, English civil registration records are important sources for genealogical research. Learn more about using these records for family history from the [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Familyhistoryandresearch/DG_175464 Directgov website]. <br> | |||
== General Historical Background == | == General Historical Background == | ||
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Because the marriage information found in the civil certificates of marriage, are an exact replica of the church registers of marriage, the records of the churches represent an original copy of each marriage certificate sent to the General Register Office. | Because the marriage information found in the civil certificates of marriage, are an exact replica of the church registers of marriage, the records of the churches represent an original copy of each marriage certificate sent to the General Register Office. | ||
FamilySearch has microfilmed or scanned millions of the 1837-1900 marriage records. To view these for the time period (usually pre-1900) and parish/chapel, search the Family History Library Catalog (online) under the name of the parish; click on Church Records to obtain the microfilm number for ordering to a [https://www.familysearch.org/locations FamilySearch Center] near you. | FamilySearch has microfilmed or scanned millions of the 1837-1900 marriage records. To view these for the time period (usually pre-1900) and parish/chapel, search the Family History Library Catalog (online) under the name of the parish; click on Church Records to obtain the microfilm number for ordering to a [https://www.familysearch.org/locations FamilySearch Center] near you. | ||
==== Divorces ==== | ==== Divorces ==== | ||
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The Family History Library has: | The Family History Library has: | ||
*FamilySearch.org has {{FHL|1110522|title-id|disp=indexes to the Divorce Decrees and Matrimonial causes, 1858-1958}} - on microfilm; order these at a [https://www.familysearch.org/locations FamilySearch Center ]near you. | *FamilySearch.org has {{FHL|1110522|title-id|disp=indexes to the Divorce Decrees and Matrimonial causes, 1858-1958}} - on microfilm; order these at a [https://www.familysearch.org/locations FamilySearch Center ]near you. | ||
*{{FHL|695681|title-id|disp=Index to divorces (as listed in Palmer's Indexes to "The Times" newspaper, London) 1788-1910}}. | *{{FHL|695681|title-id|disp=Index to divorces (as listed in Palmer's Indexes to "The Times" newspaper, London) 1788-1910}}. | ||
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A death certificate usually gives the death date and death place, the full name of the decedent, their sex and age, their occupation (with children usually a parent is named here), the cause of death and the name, residence and relationship of the informant to the decedent. Also included is the date that the event was registered and the name of the registrar.<br> | A death certificate usually gives the death date and death place, the full name of the decedent, their sex and age, their occupation (with children usually a parent is named here), the cause of death and the name, residence and relationship of the informant to the decedent. Also included is the date that the event was registered and the name of the registrar.<br> | ||
On certificates for adults, the names of parents are never given. In considering whether to order a death certificate, remember that the information on the certificate may be limited or inaccurate because it is based on the <u>informant’s</u> knowledge. It can be helpful for those looking for clues about persons born or married before July 1837. | On certificates for adults, the names of parents are never given. In considering whether to order a death certificate, remember that the information on the certificate may be limited or inaccurate because it is based on the <u>informant’s</u> knowledge. It can be helpful for those looking for clues about persons born or married before July 1837. | ||
== Merchant Shipping Act == | == Merchant Shipping Act == | ||
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Certificates from the General Register Office are less expensive if you supply index reference numbers. | Certificates from the General Register Office are less expensive if you supply index reference numbers. | ||
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== Indexes to Civil Registration Records == | == Indexes to Civil Registration Records == | ||
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'''Find a marriage record in FreeBMD, but don’t know which parish it was in?''' An article, “Get more out of FreeBMD,” in the October, 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine UK discusses how you could use FreeBMD to find the parish where a marriage took place. This article was followed up in the December, 2010 issue with another article on the subject, “Parish Match” by Sophie Pigott. Roughly the steps, as listed in these articles, include the following: | '''Find a marriage record in FreeBMD, but don’t know which parish it was in?''' An article, “Get more out of FreeBMD,” in the October, 2010 issue of Family Tree Magazine UK discusses how you could use FreeBMD to find the parish where a marriage took place. This article was followed up in the December, 2010 issue with another article on the subject, “Parish Match” by Sophie Pigott. Roughly the steps, as listed in these articles, include the following: | ||
<br> 1. Search in www.freebmd.org.uk for the district, volume and page number of the marriage entry.<br> 2. Go back to the Home Page. Select the Information Link in the middle of the Home Page (it is red and has a box around it).<br> 3. Scroll down to the Statistics section and click on the Districts link.<br> 4. Scroll down to the Page Ranges section, then click on the second ‘here’ link, “Index by District.”<br> 5. Using the entry for your marriage in FreeBMD, find and select your district.<br> 6. Scroll down to the marriages and use the year and quarter to identify the page numbers.<br> 7. Determine if the page number listed falls at the beginning, middle or end of the pages by:<br> a. Finding a list of parishes in the district that existed at the time of the marriage.<br> b. Alphabetize the list. (You can use maps.familysearch.org to generate a list of all parishes in a county in 1851. Beyond that they suggest you Google ‘old parishes in …’)<br> c. Calculate from the list how many parishes were in the district. Then figure out from step 6 how many pages were used during that quarter. You should get a feel for whether the marriage was in the beginning, middle or ending parishes of the list.<br> 8. Choose a parish near the middle of the list and go to the parish registers to find the numbers of the first and last marriages in that quarter. That will give you context for where your marriage might land.<br> 9. Calculate whether your number is before or after those of the parish you chose. You should be able to spot check the marriage pages and quickly work your way to the one you need.<br> | <br> 1. Search in www.freebmd.org.uk for the district, volume and page number of the marriage entry.<br> 2. Go back to the Home Page. Select the Information Link in the middle of the Home Page (it is red and has a box around it).<br> 3. Scroll down to the Statistics section and click on the Districts link.<br> 4. Scroll down to the Page Ranges section, then click on the second ‘here’ link, “Index by District.”<br> 5. Using the entry for your marriage in FreeBMD, find and select your district.<br> 6. Scroll down to the marriages and use the year and quarter to identify the page numbers.<br> 7. Determine if the page number listed falls at the beginning, middle or end of the pages by:<br> a. Finding a list of parishes in the district that existed at the time of the marriage.<br> b. Alphabetize the list. (You can use maps.familysearch.org to generate a list of all parishes in a county in 1851. Beyond that they suggest you Google ‘old parishes in …’)<br> c. Calculate from the list how many parishes were in the district. Then figure out from step 6 how many pages were used during that quarter. You should get a feel for whether the marriage was in the beginning, middle or ending parishes of the list.<br> 8. Choose a parish near the middle of the list and go to the parish registers to find the numbers of the first and last marriages in that quarter. That will give you context for where your marriage might land.<br> 9. Calculate whether your number is before or after those of the parish you chose. You should be able to spot check the marriage pages and quickly work your way to the one you need.<br> | ||
This is really an exciting strategy that will save hours of searching through parish registers to find where a marriage was solemnized. | This is really an exciting strategy that will save hours of searching through parish registers to find where a marriage was solemnized. | ||
For more detailed information see the above issues of Family Tree Magazine.<br> | For more detailed information see the above issues of Family Tree Magazine.<br> | ||
=== Online Index to England and Wales Civil Registration === | === Online Index to England and Wales Civil Registration === | ||
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4. [http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Ancestry.co.uk], a paid subscription site, has all the civil registration indexes available online from 1837 to 2010. This site is available for free in the Family History Library and Regional Centers; also available at many public libraries, university/college and many family history society search rooms. | 4. [http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Ancestry.co.uk], a paid subscription site, has all the civil registration indexes available online from 1837 to 2010. This site is available for free in the Family History Library and Regional Centers; also available at many public libraries, university/college and many family history society search rooms. | ||
5. [http://worldvitalrecords.com WorldVitalRecords.com], a paid subscription site, has all of these indexes available online also. This site is available for free in the Family History Library and Family History Centers. [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_births Births: 1837-1983]; [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_marriages Marriages: 1837-1983]; [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_deaths Deaths: 1837-1983]. | 5. [http://worldvitalrecords.com WorldVitalRecords.com], a paid subscription site, has all of these indexes available online also. This site is available for free in the Family History Library and Family History Centers. [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_births Births: 1837-1983]; [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_marriages Marriages: 1837-1983]; [http://www.worldvitalrecords.com/indexinfo.aspx?ix=ukbmd1983_deaths Deaths: 1837-1983]. | ||
== Registration Districts == | == Registration Districts == | ||
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#Click one of the following titles: | #Click one of the following titles: | ||
##{{FHL|47767|title-id|disp=''Index to the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales, 1837-1980''. This set is on microfilm}}. | ##{{FHL|47767|title-id|disp=''Index to the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales, 1837-1980''. This set is on microfilm}}. | ||
##{{FHL|744657|title-id|disp=''Index to the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales, 1837-1983''. This set is on microfiche.}} | ##{{FHL|744657|title-id|disp=''Index to the civil registration of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales, 1837-1983''. This set is on microfiche.}} | ||
#Click View Film Notes to see the film and fiche numbers. | #Click View Film Notes to see the film and fiche numbers. | ||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
==== Superintendent Registrars ==== | ==== Superintendent Registrars ==== | ||