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

Death Certs 1800's

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Maureen

Maureen Report 11 Mar 2011 12:43

Can anyone tell me if there is useful information to trace ancestors on Death Certs when no other Cert is available. I am thinking of those who were born & married before 1837 & so the only cert available is the Death one.

Many Thanks

Maureen

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 11 Mar 2011 12:50

Take a look at this site - It tells you all you need to know about certificates

http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/indexbd.htm

Maureen

Maureen Report 11 Mar 2011 13:23

Thank you will take a look,

Maureen

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it

Shirley~I,m getting the hang of it Report 11 Mar 2011 13:28

Well it will give the age at death .as known by the informant, so you can calculate an approximate birth year.

Researching:
Surname Fahse. Germany. Essex .South East London My avatar is one of our wedding photos of 1957

Gwyn in Kent

Gwyn in Kent Report 11 Mar 2011 13:56

It's worth checking for a 2nd marriage after 1837.
I was able to track an ancestor this way.

Gwyn

Chris in Sussex

Chris in Sussex Report 11 Mar 2011 14:11

The informant can be useful.

It may be a family member so you can confirm you have the right certifcate.

If the informant is female it may be a married daughter or a son in law so it gives you another avenue for research.

Chris

Researching:
Avatar...My darling Dad. 1931-2019 'Take nothing on its looks, take everything on evidence. There is no better rule' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 'A brickwall is a problem that you haven't solved yet' Dave Annal http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/brick-walls-and-lost-ancestors/

Chris in Sussex

Chris in Sussex Report 11 Mar 2011 14:18

Where they died may also lead you to other records.
For example, if they died in the workhouse there may be workhouse records.

I certainly have tried to get death certs for all my direct lines where they died after 1837.

And sometimes if you get the 'wrong' one it can be useful.

I got a 'wrong' one for a death in 1842 and it turned out that the informant was the man I was looking for! He was registering the death of a Grandson who was born and died betwen censuses so I had those details plus the boy' father's details and I knew the Grandfather was still alive.

The next certificate was the correct one!

Chris

Researching:
Avatar...My darling Dad. 1931-2019 'Take nothing on its looks, take everything on evidence. There is no better rule' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. 'A brickwall is a problem that you haven't solved yet' Dave Annal http://media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/brick-walls-and-lost-ancestors/

Maureen

Maureen Report 11 Mar 2011 15:02

Thanks everyone, all been very helpful.

Maureen

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 11 Mar 2011 18:05

Graveyards are a fantastic resource. I've turned up loads of rellies buried with a known rellie, that I never knew about, some taking me back 3 generations.

Maureen

Maureen Report 11 Mar 2011 21:30

Thanks Madmeg, I hadn't thought of that.

Maureen

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 12 Mar 2011 23:37

Well, I took my spade, but they wouldn't let me use it!

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 18 Mar 2011 22:18

The National Burial Index might be useful too. I have the next to latest edition if anyone wants a look up. Not a fantastic resource but you never know.

Local offices are best, local council for municipal graveyards. My two local ones are JUST FANTASTIC, others are less helpful and charge.

Meg