Genealogy Chat

I have a Benjamin Knowles Scard, born 1897 in Adlington Lancashire. I have him in the 1901 Census, i know a lot about him really. His mothers maiden name was Knowles, Hense the middle name! However when searching this Scard Name on Lancashire BMD i came up with a John Knowles Scard born Adlington 1897 with the same reference number as Benjamin. He is not with my family in 1901 and i cannot find any death record of this child or indead him living with someone else! Could he have been a Twin perhaps a still born or died soon after birth. Does anyone know the protocol of what happened back then to the body of a small baby, did they register its death if still born? Its not in the family grave either where as a sister who died 2 years previous is! What do the peeps on here think. Scard is a very unusal name, coupled with Knowles!!!

If the birth has been registered then any subsequent death should be as well. Have you checked the full death indexes and not just FreeBMD or LancashireBMD?

Sam x

Yes i have looked on Ancestry as well.

Probably way off here but could he have been resistered as John Knowles? There is a death for John Knowles aged 0 but in Lancaster. Not very good with geography

Marcelle

Odd that the John birth is not on the GRO index. I think there is a seperate index for still births. Maybe Benjamin's cert would give some clue.

Have you looked at the image? There is only the entry for Benjamin.This suggests Lancs bmd have made a mistake,.

Lancaster is quite away away, and was even further in 1897 (no cars) so i would not think that was so, unless this is where the records for still birth deaths was recorded. How helpfull are people in the place you buy certificates? I could try and contact them and ask if they would look pre purchase? I have looked at the image given on Ancestry and saw just 1 name, but thought that perhaps if he was a still birth then that was why, or indeed as you say a mistake. But if anyone in the mean time has any ideas then please post them

Jackiex

I looked at Benjamin on the index on FindMyPast and it has a letter "a" beside it.

I've just found one in my family like that, and was advised that the original record has been amended.

Maybe he was re-registered under John - maybe that was his Baptism name?

MaryMc

There are no other births on the same page as Benjamin's. I think I agree with Mary that Benjamin and John are the same person.

Why not try contacting the Registry Office that holds the original cert? This is the address:

Superintendent Registrar, Lancashire Registration District, Certificate Services, Quayside Court, Chain Caul Way, Preston, PR2 2ZP

Benjamin died in WW1: (if it's your Benjamin!)

Name: SCARD, BENJAMIN
Initials: B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Age: 18
Date of Death: 04/03/1916
Service No: 19184
Additional information: Son of John V. and Ann Scard, of 1, Howarth Square, Astley Bridge, Bolton.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 35.
Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

MaryMc

There's a picture of the memorial here:

http://www.cwgc.org/search/certificate.aspx?casualty=921495

MaryMc

On Lancashire OPC only Benjamin is noted

Marcelle

Baptisms: 9 May 1897 Christ Church, Adlington, Lancashire, England
Benjamin Knowles Scard - Child of John Scard & Ann
Born: 31 Mar 1897
Abode: Church St Adlington
Occupation: Carter
Baptised by: J P Wilson
Register: Baptisms, Page 99, Entry 786
Source: LDS Film 1526077

I wonder if there was some confusion when his birth was registered and his father's name (John) was entered as his and this was later amended.

Hi Jaqueline,

This site is very informative about registration. Look at the section on births and you'll find out about the law on twins, stillbirths etc.
I think some of your other respondents are correct and that the transcription is a mistake, but this site may be useful for future reference!
CC

http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm#TOP