Dorset Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:29, 8 January 2016

The mandatory civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths in Dorset was introduced on 1 July 1837 and it was throughout England. The registration districts were organised based on poor law unions. Records are held in the Dorset Record Office.

Civil Registration Districts in Dorset[edit | edit source]

Beaminster - included Somerset parishes
- Misterton not transferred to Dorset
- Seaborough transferred to Dorset from 1895
Blandford
Bridport
Cerne
Dorchester
Poole
Shaftesbury
Sherborne - included Somerset parishes that were later transferred to Dorset
- Goathill transferred to Dorset in 1895
- Holwell transferred to Dorset in 1844
- Marston Magna not transferred to Dorset
- Poyntington transferred to Dorset in 1895
- Sandford Orcas transferred to Dorset in 1895
- Trent transferred to Dorset in 1895
Sturminster
Wareham
Weymouth
Wimborne

In 1837 some Dorset parishes were included in registration districts organised in neighbouring counties

Axminster - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Devon
- Axminster part of Dorset until 1844
- Chardstock part of Dorset until 1896
- Charmouth not transferred to Devon
- Dalwood part of Dorset until 1844
- Hawkchurch part of Dorset until 1896
- Lyme Regis not transferred to Devon
- Stockland part of Dorset until 1844
- Thorncombe transferred to Dorset in 1844
Chard - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to Somerset
- Wambrook transferred to Somerset in 1895
Mere - included Dorset parishes
- Bourton
- Silton
Wincanton - included Dorset parishes
- Buckhorn Weston
- Kington Magna

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-{{Dorset-sidebar}}{{breadcrumb
+''[[England Genealogy|England]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Dorset, England Genealogy|Dorset]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Dorset_Civil_Registration|Civil Registration]]''
-| link1=[[England Genealogy|England]]
-| link2=[[Dorset, England Genealogy|Dorset]]
-| link3=
-| link4=
-| link5=[[Dorset_Civil_Registration|Civil Registration]]
-}}
-==Online Resources==
+The mandatory '''civil registration''' of [[births]], [[marriages]], and [[deaths]] in Dorset was introduced on 1 July 1837 and it was throughout [[England Civil Registration|England]]. The registration districts were organised based on [[Dorset Poor Law Unions|poor law unions]]. Records are held in the [[Dorset Record Office]].
-*[http://www.ukbmdsearch.org.uk/ UKBMD Search]
-*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DOR GENUKI: Dorset]
-==Introduction==
+=== Civil Registration Districts in Dorset ===
-Civil registration, the government recording of births, marriages, and deaths, was instituted on 1 July 1837 in England. The act required for births to be reported within 42 days of the event and deaths within 5 days. Marriages had to be recorded in a civil register immediately after the ceremony. Copies of birth, marriage, and death registrations were sent by the district registrar to the Office for National Statistics each quarter. Because of this, civil registration is found by year, quarter, and registration district.
+* [[Beaminster Registration District, Dorset|Beaminster]] - included [[Somerset Genealogy|Somerset]] parishes
-Although civil registration was required by law from its institution in 1837, compliance was far from universal during the first few years. Compliance became better by 1850, roughly 90% of the events were registered, and was basically universal beginning in 1874, when penalties for non-compliance were instituted. The registration of marriages and deaths were better reported than births until the 1850s.
-When civil registration began, each county was divided into a number of [https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/DOR.html registration districts], each containing several parishes. These districts were reorganized in 1935, meaning many of the historical districts created in 1837 no longer exist. Birth, marriage, and death certificates can be obtained from district registrars in the county or the General Register Office. Church marriage records after 1837 are identical to the civil marriage certificates. [https://www.familysearch.org/mapp/ England Jurisdictions 1851 Map] provides an interactive view of England’s civil registration districts and the parishes they cover.
-Civil registration records are excellent sources for names, dates, relationships, and places of births, marriages, and deaths. See [[England Civil Registration]] for more information.
-==Civil Registration Districts==
-Sometimes research might be required to determine where a town or parish was in a former registration district, or even its current district. For a list of the historic and current registration districts and their parishes, in Dorset, see [https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/DOR.html UKBMD: Registration Districts in Dorset].
-* Beaminster - included [[Somerset, England Genealogy|Somerset]] parishes
 ** [[Misterton, Somerset|Misterton]] not transferred to Dorset
 ** [[Seaborough, Dorset|Seaborough]] transferred to Dorset from 1895
-*Blandford
+* [[Blandford Registration District, Dorset|Blandford]]
-*Bridport
+* [[Bridport Registration District, Dorset|Bridport]]
-*Cerne
+* [[Cerne Registration District, Dorset|Cerne]]
-*Dorchester
+* [[Dorchester Registration District, Dorset|Dorchester]]
-*Poole
+* [[Poole Registration District, Dorset|Poole]]
-*Shaftesbury
+* [[Shaftesbury Registration District, Dorset|Shaftesbury]]
-*Sherborne - included Somerset parishes that were later transferred to [[Dorset, England Genealogy|Dorset]]
+* [[Sherborne Registration District, Dorset|Sherborne]] - included Somerset parishes that were later transferred to [[Dorset Genealogy|Dorset]]
 ** [[Goathill, Dorset|Goathill]] transferred to Dorset in 1895
 ** [[Holwell, Dorset|Holwell]] transferred to Dorset in 1844
@@ Line 39: / Line 20: @@
 ** [[Sandford Orcas, Dorset|Sandford Orcas]] transferred to Dorset in 1895
 ** [[Trent, Dorset|Trent]] transferred to Dorset in 1895
-*Sturminster
+* [[Sturminster Registration District, Dorset|Sturminster]]
-*Wareham
+* [[Wareham Registration District, Dorset|Wareham]]
-*Weymouth
+* [[Weymouth Registration District, Dorset|Weymouth]]
-*Wimborne
+* [[Wimborne Registration District, Dorset|Wimborne]]
 In 1837 some Dorset parishes were included in registration districts organised in neighbouring counties
-*Axminster - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to [[Devon, England Genealogy|Devon]]
+* [[Axminster Registration District, Devon|Axminster]] - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to [[Devon Genealogy|Devon]]
 ** [[Axminster, Dorset|Axminster]] part of Dorset until 1844
 ** [[Chardstock, Dorset|Chardstock]] part of Dorset until 1896
@@ Line 54: / Line 35: @@
 ** [[Stockland, Dorset|Stockland]] part of Dorset until 1844
 ** [[Thorncombe, Dorset|Thorncombe]] transferred to Dorset in 1844
-*Chard - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to [[Somerset, England Genealogy|Somerset]]
+* [[Chard Registration District, Somerset|Chard]] - included Dorset parishes that were later transferred to [[Somerset Genealogy|Somerset]]
 ** [[Wambrook, Dorset|Wambrook]] transferred to Somerset in 1895
-*Mere - included Dorset parishes
+* [[Mere Registration District, Wiltshire|Mere]] - included Dorset parishes
 ** [[Bourton, Dorset|Bourton]]
 ** [[Silton, Dorset|Silton]]
-*Wincanton - included Dorset parishes
+* [[Wincanton Registration District, Somerset|Wincanton]] - included Dorset parishes
 ** [[Buckhorn Weston, Dorset|Buckhorn Weston]]
 ** [[Kington Magna, Dorset|Kington Magna]]
-==Accessing the Records==
+{{Place|Dorset|Civil Registration}}
-===Civil Registration Indexes===
-Indexes to civil registration are available on many websites. However, while these websites have the indexes, the original certificates cannot be ordered from here. The main websites are:
-*[https://www.familysearch.org/ Familysearch.org]
-*[https://www.freebmd.org.uk/ Freebmd.org.uk]
-*[https://www.findmypast.com/ Findmypast.com] ($)
-*[https://www.ancestry.com/ Ancestry.com] ($)
-Other sites in which civil registration in Dorset can be found:
-These indexes only give a limited amount of information on birth, marriage, and death certificates. For births, the child’s name and the registration year, quarter, and district are listed. For marriages, the bride or groom’s name, the names of other people on the same page (does not specify the spouse), and the registration year, quarter, and district are listed. For deaths, the deceased’s name and the registration year, quarter, and district are listed. All three indexes also include the volume and page number the record can be found, which information can then be used to order a copy of the original certificate.
-The [https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ General Register Office] (GRO), where the original certificates are kept, also has indexes for births and deaths. These indexes provide more information than any other index; the information listed includes the mother’s maiden name on birth certificates and the age at death on death certificates. This information can be very valuable in identifying the correct certificate. The website requires a login, but it is free to register and search. Copies of the original certificates can also be ordered from this website for a fee.
-===Ordering Certificates Online===
-The [https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ General Register Office] holds a central copy of all birth, marriage, and death registrations in England. These certificates can be ordered from their [https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ website] (a login is required but it is free to register and search). To order, the person’s name and surname; the registration year, quarter, and district name; and the volume and page number must be known. To find these, use the civil registration indexes (discussed above). Because the district registrars sent copies of their certificates to the GRO, the certificate received in the mail or by pdf is a photocopy of the copy, not the original. Although accuracy is very high, there were occasional errors made while copying certificates.
------
-'''In some cases research can be more efficient working with the smaller, more specific records collections of county/district registry offices.'''<br>
-===Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole===
-*[https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Births-Ceremonies-and-Deaths/Certificates/Certificates.aspx How to get copies of birth, death, civil partnership or marriage certificates]<br>
-<br>
-{|
-|-
-| style="padding-right:100px"|
-'''Bournemouth and Christchurch Register Office'''<br>
-Town Hall<br>
-Bourne Avenue<br>
-Bournemouth BH2 6DY, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01202 123 777<br>
-Email: registrars.mailbox@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
-|
-'''Poole Register Office'''<br>
-The Guildhall<br>
-Market Street<br>
-Poole BH15 1NF, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01202 123 232<br>
-Email: poole.births@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
-|}
-===Dorset===
-*[https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages/certificates-and-records/birth-death-marriage-and-civil-partnership-certificates Apply for copies of birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates]<br>
-<br>
-'''Dorset Registration Service'''<br>
-Dorset History Centre<br>
-Bridport Road<br>
-Dorchester<br>
-Dorset DT1 1RP, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01305 225153<br>
-Email: registrars@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
-[[Category:Dorset, England]]
-===Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole===
+[[Category:Dorset|Civil Registration]]
-*[https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Births-Ceremonies-and-Deaths/Certificates/Certificates.aspx How to get copies of birth, death, civil partnership or marriage certificates]<br>
-<br>
-{|
-|-
-| style="padding-right:100px"|
-'''Bournemouth and Christchurch Register Office'''<br>
-Town Hall<br>
-Bourne Avenue<br>
-Bournemouth BH2 6DY, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01202 123 777<br>
-Email: registrars.mailbox@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
-|
-'''Poole Register Office'''<br>
-The Guildhall<br>
-Market Street<br>
-Poole BH15 1NF, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01202 123 232<br>
-Email: poole.births@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
-|}
-===Dorset===
-*[https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages/certificates-and-records/birth-death-marriage-and-civil-partnership-certificates Apply for copies of birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates]<br>
-<br>
-'''Dorset Registration Service'''<br>
-Dorset History Centre<br>
-Bridport Road<br>
-Dorchester<br>
-Dorset DT1 1RP, UK<br>
-Telephone: 01305 225153<br>
-Email: registrars@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
-[[Category:Dorset, England]]