Genealogy Chat

Tonight, whilst showing how easy it is to find info about our family tree online I was using the full marriage index to find my mum and dad's wedding. I entered my mum's maiden name, the year and the quarter and nothing came up! On entering my dad's details with the same year and quarter it came up with my mum's maiden name being Caro when it is actually Varo! Is there any way of getting the mistake sorted out?

There is a facility on GRO website, from what I can remember, to notify them. Keep meaning to advise about my grandfather whose name was Frowen but is listed as Trowen Simone x

I know there is something about they have to index it as it is on the cert so have you checked that this is correct first?

I am aware of my own maiden name being mis-recorded plus two other errors in the GRO index. When I contacted them about it, this was the reply: <<< In order for us to investigate any mistakes in our records you would need to make an application or provide a copy certificate and we would then investigate the matter further. Public Relations Unit The General Register Office P O Box 2 SOUTHPORT Merseyside PR8 2JD England This is the only way that a correction to the indexes could be made. If we find an error in our Indexes, we have a rolling programme for updating the original paper ledgers held at the Family Records Centre in London. Unfortunately due to the logistics of such an exercise, it would be impossible to update all the copies of our indexes, of which there are over 200 in circulation around the world. Microfiche holders are aware of the existence of errors as in the conditions of sale it states that ONS does not in any way warrant the accuracy or completeness of the data supplied. Yours sincerely Diane Wilson Public Relations Unit. >>> Christine

As other people have said, FreeBMD can't correct mistakes which appear in the original GRO index, but it will correct its own transcription mistakes - I've had 3/4 corrected. Click on the pair of spectacles alongside the original entry to look at the image. If you're sure the error's a mistranscription, click where it says 'If you have a correction to this entry, please click here'. Fill in the details of the correction on the page that comes up. If it won't take your correction, it's because you haven't noticed a tiny check box about halfway down the page, where it says 'Please confirm that the correction you are about to submit complies with these points, and that you have viewed a copy of the index to confirm the validity of the change you are requesting'.

I'll give it a go anyway, just imagining how frustrating it will be for a future geneologist when they can't find the record because of the mistake!