Genealogy Chat

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I'm trying to find the birth of my great grandmother, Hannah Armishaw. She was born in Drayton, Staffs. I have her on the 1891 census aged 3 and the 1901 aged 13. From this I'm thinking she was born in 1887 or 1888. However I've just looking through both years and all quarters on 1837 online and can't find her? I can't find her on freebmd either. May her birth not have been registered? Any advice or help would be hugely welcomed. Thanks, Helen

Hi Helen The reason for missing births is that maybe she was registered under her mothers maiden name as that has happened to a few of my ancestors. You could also try spelling variants like Armeshaw, Ameshaw etc. Even though birth registration began in 1837 it was made compulsory in 1874, so I would imagine her birth would of been registered. Ben

Helen sorry this is the nearest i could find. Armishaw, Elizabeth Hannah Record Type: Births Quarter: June Year: 1877 District: Cannock County: Staffordshire Volume: 6b Page: 548 linda

The birth located is 10 years out for her census age. If she was born 1877, she'd be on the 1881 census and, as far as I can see, she isn't listed. Could this be her spelt wrong??? Armishaw Hannie March Qtr 1887 Cannock 6b 499 Lou

Helen ( sorry everyone if you have heard this before) but lots of records that are missing on GRO/ 1837 can be found on the local district records. The biggest mistake people new to genealogy make is to assume GRO/1837 is complete, it isn't by a long way!! Also you can find baptisms where registrations dont exist as people thought that counted. Even after 1875 there will be births not registered at all. Bob

Thanks for the replies. Lou - that could be a possibilty and looks most likely at the moment. I've never heard of Drayton before though, I wonder if that's near Cannock? My head feels like it's about to explode!!

Bob, Sorry only just noticed your reply. Could you explain how I go about finding her birth please? Sorry if I sound dumb, I've never not being able to find a birth before! Many Thanks

Hi there, Market Drayton is very near Cannock, Staffordshire so it is very possible that Hannah was born there. Michelle

Armishaws in Staffs (looking at FreeBMD images) 1887 Mar qtr (1887b1-10) Annie Walsall 6b 638? Annie Cannock 6b 499? 1887 Jun quarter (1887b2-012 Annie Maria Burton 6b 371 Harriet Ann Cannock 6b 524? 1888 Mar qtr (1888b1-10) James Cyrill Lichfield 6b 467? The trouble is that there don't seem to be any places just called Drayton: Drayton Bassett or Market Drayton but not just Drayton. Incidentally - "Hannah" and "Ann" are closely related names. Christine

Or perhaps Harriet Ann got her name abbreviated to H.Ann and re-written Hannah? Christine

Thanks to Michelle and Linda for your input. I've a feeling the one Lou has found could be her, but it's whether to go for the certificate or not?!! My head's really suffering with this now so I'm off to enjoy a baileys and forget about it for tonight!

Helen If you have her on the census, you must have her with her parents??? You can order the cert from the GRO and ask them to check that the parents names match before they issue it. If it isn't her, you've lost £3 but better that than paying £7 for a cert that isn't yours Lou

Lou, Yes I do know her parents names, so I'll do that. I didn't realise you could ask them to check against the parents names. Many Thanks Helen

Helen You just order the cert in the same way but click on the button that says Reference Checking. You can then insert the info you have to be cross checked against whats on the cert. Easey peasy! lou

My grt grandfather was not registered. my grandmother remembers that his parents didn't bother.They thought they could register him when the next child was born and this was in 1887. So he never had a birth certificate even though his parents registered his sister born later... Kim