Genealogy Chat

Would anyone have any idea why a child who was supposed to be born in march 1937 was not registered until 1943?

Perhaps because of the war, or maybe they were registered in the mother's maiden name if she wasn't married at the time and then re-registered with a new surname after the mother married.

Kath. x

she would have been registered at the time of birth .maybe the mum wasnt married and then she did marry and the child was re -registered in her fathers name

She was married when the child was born in 1937.

Seems unlikely that it was anything to do with the war - that didn't start till 1939. Although births have by law to be registered wthin 6 weeks late registrations do occur occasionally. After 6 weeks, though, it has to be done through a superintendent registrar and if it's more than 12 months (not sure on the exact period, I'll have to check) the authority of the Registrar General has to be obtained.
I suppose it could be something to do with the war if the parents had somehow managed to forget about registration without the authorities being aware, and then during the war they needed a ration card or something that they had to produce a birth certificate for. But it sounds a bit odd.

is there an entry in both years.
have you got the 1943 cert to see if anything unusual on it . it may have some sort of declaration referring to a late registration

Hey, I've been doing some more digging and have found out that the mother, Maud had a bigamous marriage in may 1938. This did go to court in the July after and she was sentenced in September - I don't think she went to prison.
Her first husband died in 1942. Then it appears she registers the birth, 6 years late in 1943.
Carol

There is two entries - one typed in 1943 and one wrote in the bottom of 1937.
There is no reason.
Carol

You may find that there is another entry, either in the mother's maiden name, the name of the father, the name of her bigamous husband, or the name of her first husband. I would do some more digging. If you want to pm the name and date I'll have a look for you.

Kath. x

Hi Kath,
I'm just a beginner at all this and just seem to be going round in circles!
My mum, Margaret Rose Brown was born 5.3.1937 in London. Her mother's maiden name was Walkey. Beatrice Maud Walkey married John Brown 18th March 1923 in North Peckham, London. She also went on to marry Alfred Briggs on 8th May 1938 while still married to Brown. This went to court, She went back to John Brown until he died on 30th March 1942. Then in February 1943 my mums birth was registered.

Carol

The hand written entry in 1937 has 'see m/43' after it.

Which means 'see corresponding entry in the index in March 1943'.

So there has been a late registration or an amendment or addition to the information for the registration and the only way you will find out what that is will be by buying the certificate.

Chris

There's no other GRO index 1937 birth of Margaret with mum's MS=Walkey. There's only the see M 43 xref under Brown, so it looks like a late rego.

Thanks for everybody's help.
Carol