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Hi There, My great grandmother, Elsie May Smith was born in June 1903 in Pershore, Worcestershire. Her parents was Samuel Smith and Margaret (Bluck). There is also a Elsie Mabel Smith registered in Kings Norton, Worcestershire in June 1903. I have ordered both certificates and they are both exactly the same person. Please can anyone explain why this should happen? Thanks Richard

Are both births registered by the same person? Are they registered on the same day? It could be that the place they lived bordered two districts.Or that two people did it not knowing it had already been done?

Hi Richard I remember your search for her birth, I dont know why she was registered twice but have you thought of contacting the relevant records offices and asking if they can shed any light as to why she was registered in both places. Georgina.

Pershore is in Worcestshire & Kings Norton is in Warwickshire. are both certs saying she was born at the same address? and who was the informant on each cert. Shirley

Thanks for your help, Alexandra and Georgina. Kind regards Rich

Hi, Both certificates give the father as Samuel Smith b Oldbury, Worcestershire and Margaret (Bluck) born Kings Norton, Worcestershire. They both give his occupation as railway shunter regards Rich

Hi Shirley, Kings Norton was part of Worcestershire, according to the 1901 census, Thanks Richard

Also if one is called Elsie Mabel and one Elsie Mary - could it be that one was wrong and they didn't want to call her Mabel and went with Mary instead? Plus if they are different names registered in different counties - are you sure they are the same person? It might help to post the details?

Ok - and what date were they both registered on and who was the informant on both certs?

Hi There, The Pershore one is registered on April 30 1903 and the one at Kings Norton is registerd on May 5 1903, The informant is hard to read but they both look different.

It looks like one was registered by Samuel and the other by Margaret.

Thanks, Could it have anything to do with Samuel's job as a railway shunter?

Richard if I remember correctly the family moved to Pershre around the time of her birth (or am I confusing you with someone else?) It looks like she could have been born in Kings Norton and was registered by her mother, maybe her father was already working in Pershore and registered her there not knowing her mother was goung to do it? Georgina.

the maiden name of the mother should tell if they are one of the same,,

I think that if each parent registered her in a different district at different times and noting the different middle name - I would imagine the one with the middle name of Mary - which I believe from your first post - was the name she stuck with - was the birth that was registered by the mother - and the one with Mabel was registered by the father - who probably didn't realise his wife had already done it - or had registered it wrong and his wife got in a mood and stomped down to the nearest registry office and did it properly! Lol!