Genealogy Chat

if I ordered a death cert how would I know its the right one.. I know it sounds stupid but would it have his wifes name on it as well?

I'm looking for Henry John Chapman dob 1869 born in London married to Sarah Berwick I know it after 1913 as he had a son born then
thanks

For reference is this the birth you refer to?

Births Mar 1913 Chapman Frederick Berwick W.Ham 4a 74

If the son got married, it might say deceased on the marriage certificate to help you narrow down the possible years of death

There is this one but the age (64) doesn't add up. However, the information given for the death certficate is only as good as the informant actually knows, for example my nan's death age is wrong by a year or two. Hope that makes sense

Deaths Sep 1919
Chapman Henry J 64 W.Ham 4a 40

Thanks Selena yep you have the right son

If you are very lucky it 'might ' say husband or widower of ... this is NOT guaranteed!

You may be lucky with the informant, may be a relative about whom you know.

The address of the death may help, if it coincides with what you have already researched.

Later death certs give date of birth too.

Your question is not stupid .... :) Assumption is stupid ;)

oh thanks Bridget I think I'l order what Selina found thanks for your help it is appreciated
Julie

I would say that his death cert is highly unlikely to name his wife, unless she was also the informant. Generally (but not always) a married woman's death cert will have "wife of..." or "widow of...", but rarely have I seen the equivalent on male death certs, at least not pre-1969 ones.

As for the 1919 death cert (age 64) well there are several Henry J Chapman's born in 1854/1855 according to FreeBMD so I think that this cert is more likely to be one of those than your man. An error in age at death of 14 years seems unlikely (but not impossible, I know). Given that it's such a common name I would be inclined to look right through the index and make a note of all the possibles from 1913 to say 1960 (when he would be aged ~90). You will probably end up with several possibilities, in which case it will be a bit hit and miss until you get the right cert (hopefully his wife or child was the informant, or maybe the address or occupation will inform you that you have the right one).

Richard

Hi Cassidy
yer I got 1901 info but that was hard work as well as Henry was down as John so he had dropped the Henry , do you think he could have done that on his death cert

He would have been named as whatever name he was known by - so if he was known as John then the person registering the death might well have registered him as John.

Jill

Well thats just great you'v cheered me up no end Jill.. lol

Sorry Julie ... I didn't mean to dampen your spirits - honestly!!

Jill