Genealogy Chat

Hi Johnathon, I've just sent you a pm. Wanted to know if they'd started charging, but it looks like they haven't done yet. Glad you managed to get some information before they decide they can make money out of us, lol. UPDATE - Thanks, Johnathon. I got your message in reply to mine. Kath. x

Hi Kath I've been on the phone & got 3 burials, my 4 x great grandparents in 1876 & 1879. Also got their son who died in 1901. She gave my their last addresses & ages. Pleased I spotted this thread & thanks for the details. Cheers Johnathon

Thanks Kath I'll give them a ring & see what they say. Johnathon

Hi Johnathon, I hope that doesn't mean they have realised that this can be a money spinner for them!! The phone number of the cemetery office is:- 01429 274517 I don't know the lady's name but I think she is the only female who works there. Hope this helps. Kath. x

All these replies are very interesting...you learn something every day.......who said the tips board was losing it's way !! Thanks everyone Jean

If you are using a local RO, then ASK for a scan or a photocopy, I always do and have only been refused twice - because the register is too fragile. On the subject of local ROs, I was talking to a friend who is a retired Registrar. He keeps in touch with his old colleagues and told me that the Staff have had their hours cut because they have so little to do and there is talk of redundancies. So - use your local RO and save someone's job!!! OC

If the event of which yo're after a cert is a marriage, and it took place in a Church, and you can find out which one, you can sometimes get a copy of eth Register page, without it being certified, for the cost of a photocopy (plus possible research time, if you don't get it yourself, plus P&P). That really is an original entry - no intervening transcriptions at all - so you do get to see yhe signatures (or Xs) of the different parties. Christine

Hi Carol, No, there isn't a charge for the burial information. (Mind you, I keep recommending the place to people, so I suppose if they start getting loads of enquiries, they might start charging, but at the moment it's free). You give them a surname, and they print out each one of that name with details of date of burial, which cemetery, plot and grave numbers, and if you're lucky, an address at time of death. Jean, Yes, the GRO photocopies are scans of the original transcription that was sent to the GRO, so they are all in one person's writing. However you do sometimes get scans of the original entry (with proper signatures of your ancestors) from local register offices, not not many offices supply these. Kath. x

Sorry Kathleen, the certs I got from GRO are scanned. What I meant was they are all in the same handwriting. I would like to see the original writing of the different people like the witnesses etc. but I suppose I'm asking too much. Jean

Hi Jean, The lady at Stranton Grange Cemetery can give you details of burials at any of the cemeteries in the town. She is in the process of transcribing them all. You just need to give her a surname and she can give you a list of any burials for that name in any of the local cemeteries (even the ones that are long since closed). I've never had anything other than scanned certificates from the GRO. Kath. x

No I don't suppose they do Helen, I'll make it easier for GRO by not using them. Thanks for that Kathleen, I'll write that name down for future reference. It would be nicer to have a scanned copy but the certs I have had from GRO are also written out. Jean

Hartlepool is always quick. The only thing is that I like photocopy certificates and Hartlepool are usually hand written or typed. If you need any burial details, the lady at Stranton Grange Cemetery office in Hartlepool is very good as well. Kath. x

On the other hand, I don't suppose Hartlepool has to deal with the volume of demand that the GRO does...

I telephoned Hartlepool, Co Durham at around 2.30pm yesterday (10th) to order a birth certificate and it arrived this morning (11th). How quick is that.....no more GRO for me!! Jean