Genealogy Chat

Bella No sure if my grandfather's siblings had to produce their birth certs when they got married in the UK. I think one showed their baptism cert (the parish priest provided a copy when they requested one) and I have a copy of it. I'll double check what the others did. Karen

Thats very interesting Karen. I got a birth certificate for my mother who was born in Waterford which gives her birth date which is 1 month later than it actually is. I understand that for the reasons you give, this was quite common. My father came to England aged 16/17, he married here, I thought that he would've had to show a birth certificate?

Bella Donna My grandfather was born in Limerick in 1919 and was one of 9. Of the 9 only 5 actually have birth certficates. I have also tried contacting Dublin and also used a professional researcher and both confirmed there are no records even though I know their exact dates of birth, mother's maiden name and the address of the place they were born. The researcher advised that this was not surprising for a couple of reasons. Most of my grandfather's siblings were born at home being delivered by someone in the street who had 'experience', this made it easier for events to go unrecorded. Also there were a number of stillbirths/ deaths in the first few weeks within the family. As it cost to record births some families would make sure the children would survive before registering the event however by the time they remembered they would have incurred a fine and therefore did not bother. My grandfather does not actually need a birth cert. He does not have a passport and to open a bank account he only needed somebody to vouch that he was who he said he was (this was some time ago). He got a driving license at a time when birth certs did not have to be provided and the parish priest knew the family so he did not have to prove anything when he got married. All in all he's not bothered about it - the only one who is bothered is me as it doesn't help the research! Karen

Thank you MM, I will try that.

Nudge

I sent an e mail to the registration office in Dublin and I went in person to a registration office in Cork City. It's a mystery!

Where did you apply?

My late father was born in Cork City on 29th March 1924. After he died, I applied for a birth Certificate giving all the necessary details and was told that they do not have any record of him!. Does anybody have any advice on how I should pursue this. Many Thanks.