Genealogy Chat

If you order both from the GRO and give mother's name as a checking point, you will be charged £7 for the correct one and £3 for the wrong one. If you order from the local RO, you may not be charged at all for the wrong one. But remember GRO reference numbers are utterly useless to local Register Offices. OC

I need to get my grandads birth certificate as I do not know his real fathers name and his mother re-married and he took on his name. I only have his mothers name. I need Thomas Williams, born abt 1875 Ruthin, Wales - mother Mary Jane Williams. there are 2 Thomas williams references for 11b 371 and 11b 337. Is there anyway I can narrow it down? or do I have to order both certificates? Many thanks

If you are ordering throught the GRO then you can order both but put the mothers name in the reference checking options. This way you will only be charged £3 for the certificate that does not have Mary as the mother name.

Could you not look for a marriage certificate for him instead? That will give his father and the brides father. Or have you got that already and he has step dad on it??

well I am abit confused here... His name is Thomas Devins BUT he was originally born Thomas Williams. I only know his mothers name was mary jane williams who was living with a Peter Devins on the uk census. So am not sure whether Williams was her previous marriage name or her maiden name? how can I find out? maybe im not seeing the wood for the trees here!!

I do have his marriage certificate, but he has put the name down of his Step Father. thanks, I will the mothers name down as a reference.

So i thought if I order Thomas Williams birth cert it will give me both his real parents names - is that right?

Thomas birth certificate will show his mothers maiden name, and name and surname of father (if it was given)

Sorry - when you say his mother remarried? Do you mean the father died? The mother should have remarried in her married name.

yes i know, I thought that would narrow it down as to whether williams is her maiden name or married name?

Well her marriage certificate should do that - who did she marry and when/where? On a marriage cert a widowed woman would appear with her married name and her status shown as widow. What is the earliest census you find her on? And where is she and who with?

sori heather for the delay in replying, was on my way home. Right: Ive got Mary Jane Williams first found on 1881 where she is co-habiting with Peter Devins (devnis mispelt) and Thomas is with her as Thomas Williams. By the 1991 census she is has taken the DEVIN name and Thomas now says Devin too. although I cannot find a marriage between Peter Devin & Mary Jane. So in order to trace her and the family back I think I need to get Thomas birth cert to find out his dads name (if put on) and her name as it was then, this will also tell me if she was a single mum called williams or whether she married a williams? and as you can imagine trying to find a Williams marriage in Wales is really hard there are so many of them!!! if you can shed some light on my dilema it would be most appreciated.