Genealogy Chat

A relation of mine has just received a birth certificate for her grandfather. In the place for name of father is the name George and this has been crossed out. Do you think the family has done this or the registrar, and if the registrar why? Any ideas? Thank you. Sue

Hi Sue I also have an ancestors birth certificate with the same thing on. He was illigitimate (spelling) and they had puts his fathers name down and then crossed it out. Even then I don't think they were allowed to put the father's name down if he wasn't there to agree to it. I may well be corrected on that!! Tammy :~)

If the Registrar has altered it, there should be a little number beside the marking, indicating the same number logged in the Registrar's own book of corrections. George may well have been the father and the mother have stated his name, but unless he was present at the Registration ( unless they were married) his name could not be recorded as the baby's father and so it was crossed through. Gwyn

Tammy and Gwyn thanks for your replies. I have e-mailed my relative to see if the alteration was initialled or numbered. Sue

The entry was initialled by the Registar, does this mean that the alteration was made at a later date, or did he write George then realise they weren't married? Sue

It sounds as if he wrote the name and immediately crossed it through,when he realised the error. Certificates can be ammended by the Registrar at a later date, in special circumstances. These will be mentioned in the far right column and will be dated and signed. Gwyn

Thanks Gwyn

Makes no difference to this particular query as it indeed sounds like a 'numbered error' but there was a difference in the early years of registration pre 1875 when some Registrars entered Fathers name even if not present and not married.

Gwyn you mention the Registrars book of corrections, can these be viewed? say in Parish records. Sue