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Good morning

I will be out for most of today, so no response does not mean I am ignoring anyone.

Carole

Goodnight one and all.

I am going to have an early night.

Carry on chatting on this thread if you wish.

I hope no one has been upset by anything contained here? If they have, I apologise for bringing the subject up but there were things I needed to know.

I have learned a lot, and so it seems have others amongst you? Thank you everyone.

Carole

I had decided to add my "brother" who died shortly after his birth and was never, as I understood noted as a child born to my Mother. They, at the hospital took him away stating that he was "deformed and would not have survived anyway".......My mother never saw,or even touched him and never knew what they had done with him....in later years she told me many times that she had never been given the chance to grieve or finalise this sad event.....She had a name chosen and many years later my brother who came next after him called his son by this name
"Nigel". I too feel my mother's pain and acknowledge that "Nigel" was born and lived and breathed even if only for a few minutes........
Thanks to all of you for this discussion, hope you find what is needed.
Slvwww

Johnathon

At this moment in time, I'm not sure exactly which area: but I have been assured, on this thread, that the GRO will be able to issue a stillbirth certificate for me, on the sketchy information I have stated that I have ... for a small search fee.
Once I have the certificate, I assume, amongst other things, it will tell me where the event took place with the exact date?
If it does; and if I may, .. I will get back to you then, re. burials.
Thanks
Carole

Thanks Johnathon

Is the COE burial register different from the National Burial Index and where does one find it?
I assume that a cemetery register is specific to each individual cemetery? Do they all keep them? I also assume this refers to a cemetery as opposed to a church Graveyard?

Carole

Rachael

Maybe the information - burial and place of - will be on this special certificate that I am hoping to locate?

I think 1938, 1939 or 1940 is rather too long ago for me to contact the bereavement services. Although the fact that your uncle was buried in 1945 is cheering; not so long after 1940? Thanks for that snippet.

My parents were CofE and quite religous. I can remember kneeling to say my prayers every night when I was tiny.

We shall see??

Carole

Kath

Well no, don't worry I'm not upset!! It's not very nice I know ... but I think 'disposal' is what one probably believes used to happen quite a lot?
I know that nowadays, one gets footprints and photos and allsorts. I don't know if this helps all bereaved parents, but I'm sure it is a comfort to many.
But I think the view 50/60 years ago was usually very different and mothers were encouraged not to dwell on it: but to put it behind them, as if it had never happened.
I think that was what my mother was trying to do: so it was not talked about.
Never mind. To know that his existence is noted somewhere is good.
Carole

Carole,

I don't think all stillborn babies were buried, but it depends on the the year really.

My sister started midwifery training in the late 1950's and she used to say that they gave stillborn babies to the local undertaker for burial, but she also said that older midwives used to tell her that in earlier times some were "disposed of". Hope this isn't too upsetting to hear, and I don't know for certain that it's true - just what my sister was told at the time.

Kath. x

Was it standard practise to bury ALL stillborn babies and are their burials always recorded, even if they 'shared' a coffin. It's strange! I had never thought of him being buried somewhere. Even after all these years it makes him seem more real! To find out where will be my next quest.
Does anybody know what information is included on the certificate that one gets? Does it look like an ordinary birth, or death, certificate?
Carole

That is useful to know Rachael
I felt it was a bit hopeless
Carole

Kay

It is very possible that the baby was put into a coffin with someone else who was probably a stranger. This was standard practice. My husband's baby brother died after 12 hours and he was buried in the coffin of a 2 year old girl being buried at the time.

We found his burial details from the county records office.

Kath. x

Hi Kathleen,My mum is still alive at 82 in oct.We have had a chat this afternoon,as this has never been a taboo subject in our family.She told me that she gave birth downstairs,and the midwife called my father who took the baby upstairs.She never saw her.The undertakers came straight away.She does not know where she is buried,and has always believed that she was put in with somebody else.(we know which church).The undertakers are close to me,so I will pop in on monday to see what records they keep.Just got to work the year out now.
Kay

To be classed as a stillbirth the gestation has to be 24 weeks. I think it used to be 28 weeks.

Kath. x

Kay,

If your parents are still alive then only they can apply for your sister's certiificate if she was stillborn.

Kath. x

Thanks for raising this subject Carole - my grandmother apparantly miscarried twins and had always assumed I would never be able to find anything out about them but your thread has made me wonder now whether her pregnancy might have been advanced enough for them to be considered still births too. Think I might get the GRO to look too ..........

Thanks Carole for bringing this subject up on a thread.I was thinking of discussing with my mum about this.Although I can remember my sister being born,Im having difficulty remembering year.She has always had a name within the family,so there might be a cert that I can get for her.
Kay

You will have to wait a bit longer.
After a very lengthy wait, on the phone, the person at the GRO. who took my call, couldn't tell me the sort of information I might need to supply but the application form, which is being sent to me, will make this clear. I do know that I need my parents dates of death. I also learned that there is NO sort of index that I can use to narrow down my options, so I hope that they (the GRO) can marry father's names; mother's maiden name; a very approximate date and location,.... and possibly a Christian name if it had been thought of at the time. ... I have my doubts with so little to go on but I may find myself very pleasantly surprised? If they do manage it, it is good value for £7.00 !!
Will let you know exactly what the application form requires when it arrives.
Carole

Thanks for your efforts everyone.

I'm going to phone the GRO!!

If they can tell me exactly how to go about it, I will add the information here, so you can spread the word should you see a similar enquiry in the future. ... Watch this space ... or not?
Carole

Carole,
I stand corrected, siblings can apply for certs, there is no index available that I am aware of, you have to know the dates to apply from what I believe.

Thanks for that Jacqueline
But will the scanty information I have be sufficient?
Don't I need to find an index and try to narrow it down a bit?
Carole