Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Advice on Unknown deaths & ordering certs

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 31 Jul 2009 05:26

Thanks Margaret,

I wouldn't expect them to give the info for free over the phone lol I just thought I may be able to check with them before sending the cheque that they would search for the most appropriate death, however, you seem to have answered that question ;) Thank you.

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 31 Jul 2009 02:29

Joy is right - try the local register office. Some are better than others. I try to complete a form if there is one online, otherwise just write with the details, enclose a cheque for £7 and an sae. They will usually search for the most appropriate death and either send it, or ring you up to check you want it. What they WILL NOT do is give you all the information on it over the phone for free.

So, if you want the cert of Fred Bloggs, last known address 32 High Street, Leeds, died 1874, born 1844, was a lead miner, wife Mary Bloggs (in case she was the informant), they might find a death that exactly fits, or they might say the one they have found wasn't born 1844, or wasn't a lead miner - but you might still want it to have the certificate. They shouldn't be daft and send you one of a baby or an old man.

If they can't find anything reasonable they will either return your cheque or rip it up.
Margaret

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 30 Jul 2009 19:43

sorry I've just realised you've nudged a few threads. will read them first :)

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 30 Jul 2009 19:20

Thanks Joy :-) I had wondered about that. Do you ring them up/write to explain your dilemma?

Joy

Joy Report 30 Jul 2009 19:13


In those cases, I usually apply to the register office rather than the GRO.

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 30 Jul 2009 18:44

nudge

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2**

~~~Secret Red ^^ Squirrel~~~ **007 1/2** Report 30 Jul 2009 13:02

I've been blessed with common surnames in my family tree and sometimes even common forenames as well. :)

As a result there are a few branches of my family tree where I haven't been able to find when someone died and the circumstances.

Can any one offer any advice?

I know you can contact the GRO with the BMD reference and buy a cert for £7 but is there anyway & anywhere where they will find the death cert for you if there are a number of possibles? It's also hard when they don't put the age at death on some of the bmd indexes(sp?)

Many thanks

PS I may not be able to reply straight away so thank you in advance.