Genealogy Chat

I know these are often considered to be the least helpful of certs, especially as the information on them is necessarily reliant on someone else. But here are examples of how death certs have helped me:

1. I had a gt grandfather called Thomas Matthews, but although I had a birthdate in the family bible, I didn't have any names for his parents or a place of birth. I knew he married in London in 1865 and when I finally found his marriage cert, his father's name was Emmets. I found a death cert for an Emmets Matthews in 1875 [the only one!] and got it. It told me Emmets died in Whichford, Warwickshire and that the informant was his widow Eliza. I then was able to find Emmets and Eliza on censuses, working back to 1851 when Thomas was living with them. Armed with a birthplace I was able to get his birth cert.

2. Thomas's in-laws, my gt X 2 grandparents, William & Susan Moore, had several daughters. Looking for Moore marriages is difficult as there are so many and of course the girls all have common first names. BUT I had an informant for William's death cert, a Sarah Loker - could this be a married daughter? Yes, found her after she disappears from census on the next census with her husband. Susan's death cert even more useful, as the informant is described as 'daughter' - able to find her and husband and family on all censuses from then on, plus baptisms of their children etc. Trouble is, as wise folk say, you don't know what will be on a cert until you see it. Some death certs I have tell you nothing apart from 'this person died'!!!

Gillian Result!!! nell

Yes, I agree. What I like about death certs is that you get them without really expecting anything (other than proof and cause of death of course). Extra info is always a bonus. I had a g-g-g aunt, born 1823 in Manchester, who disappears off the censuses after her parents' death in the 1850s. However, I had a 'family rumour' of a married name for her, but still could not find her on the censuses. Did she die young? Did she emigrate? Eventually I found a death in 1885 for a lady, right (married) name, right age. Sent for cert more in hope than in confidence. When it came, informant was her sister-in-law - my g-g grandmother. So now I know it is the right cert, I know she married and her husband's name and occupation, I know she was still in Manchester, and I know her husband died before her. Cause of death also gives me an inkling of why there were no children. And, as an extra bonus, I also have an address for my g-g grandparents in 1885. Not a bad £7 worth Even so, I still have not found her and husband on any census - although I think I may have her alone in 1881. Still have not found marriage. Must try harder! Tina

Yes, very true. I had the burial date of my 2 x great grandmother from the parish register. I also had seen her gravestone. I just wanted the cert to 'make up the set', put it off for ages, seemed like a waste of money. When I looked at the indexes I couldnt find her. I found someone of the right name and age, but not where I expected to find them. I sent for the cert anyway, expecting it to be the wrong one. It wasnt. She died in Hospital. The nearest hospital was in the next registration district. Better still, the informant was a brother in law I had never heard of. I knew it was the correct lady as it said widow of and usual address. On checking out this brother in law on the census, I found he was the eldest of a complete new family belong to 2 x great grandad's father (a third marriage I knew nothing about). Further research found not only the new brother in law but numerous siblings, but father in law as well. My 3 x great grandad who I lost track of years before and didnt have a clue where to look for him. He moved miles away from his origins. From that I found 3 x great grandads burial and his death cert too. Margaret

Margaret That's what I call a result! Makes up for all the certs you send for hoping they will give some leads and finding that they just raise a whole lot of new questions!

Hi Nell Yes it is ins't it. The thing is I very nearly didn't send for the death cert as I already had her death from the gravestone and burial register. I put it off for ages, more pressing things to spend my money on. Margaret