Genealogy Chat

I couldn't really see the point in them when I started out......Birth Certificates for getting the mothers maiden name.......Marriage Certs for cross checking the fathers name on the Birth Certificates.....all this to help you go backwards.....with certainty.....However I now think of all these people as real and when I came across a gg grandfather who died aged thirty leaving three young children I wanted to know why.....I have also come to realise that the informant could be an important lead..... Fuzzy

I haven't ordered any death certificates yet as like you I couldn't see how they would help. You've made a really good point about the informants, I shall have to include one in my next couple. I try to stick to just ordering 2 certificates at a time. Don't want to push my luck.

Hi Sue, Know what you mean about pushing your luck, I rush down before anyone and hide them until everyone has gone to school/work......not that I have become devious since doing this!! One informant led me to over twenty new names on the tree!! fuzzy x

That was a good find! Hope I have the same luck. I've sent you a pm Fuzzy, don't know whether you have seen it yet.

nothing yet sue, will keep a look out, am off computer now to cook tea.....so unreasonable this family of mine.....they want feeding you know, whilst I am on the tips board!! Fuzzy x

When my ancestor died his daughter was the informant - and it gave me for the first time her married surname which I was then able to use to trace her whole line of descent to a living descendant. So there!

Good one Paul, amazing the info you can get from these certs Fuzzy

Like you I gave a low priority to death certs,but after I had a small windfall at birthday last week,decided to tidy up the paternal line. Got 4 certs yesterday from the local office,3 of which confirmed stuff I already knew,but the one for my GGGrandfather has as cause of death'he died from the effects of injuries accidentally received' Inquest held 5th March 1894. At 78 you would assume he died of natural causes,never assume anything in this game!! Regards Tony

Tony, That is interesting stuff, I wonder if you could find out more re the inquest, surely he wasn't working at 78? if so gosh how tough life was back then! Fuzzy

Yes,I went haring across to town this morning to check the local papers for the inquest.Closed until 1st August!!!! They are moving local history dept to the civic centre,it's bad enough up here,the Northumberland RO closed last year and will not re-open until 2007.AAAHHH.

Good luck Tony, sure the wait will be worth it Fuzzy x

I've traced several women through them being on informant's column with their married names. Also got a death cert for a gt gt gt grandfather who died aged 79 - not of old age, but by trying to commit suicide through cutting his throat with a razor. He lived for 20 days. His eldest son had killed a woman through cutting her throat with a razor, and spent the rest of his life in Broadmoor. I could easily have assumed that the father had died of old age, but glad I spent £7.

99% of the time when I order a marriage or birth cert I already know what will be on it, but death certs are an unknown quantity and that's why I like them the best (along with having a morbid personality too!)......................Oh........I think I will have to order some more now!!! Merry

Nell what a great story, I live for the day I find out something like that, Merry my list of death certs ordered from the GRO is getting longer by the day.....lets not call it a morbid personality, but an inquiring mind..... fuzzy x

Oh my God snowdrops, Definately will continue with the death certs now!! Fuzzy x

Helen, it may be wise for you to encourage the male members of your family to grow beards! ;-) Snowdrops, did the neighbour play his Marylin Manson CD's too loudly? ;-))))