Genealogy Chat

How many certificates have you bought only to find it/they were the wrong one(s) I think I have found two great uncles on 1837 Online but am not keen on sending for their birth certificates without first confirming their parents names (I know who they should be). Any ideas please on how I can confirm their parentage first. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Hi Linda If you are ordering online from the GRO site, you can specify a reference check. At the bottom of the form, before you click "submit", there is a button for "Reference check". Click this, and you can then specify info that should be on the cert. If any of your specified checks don't match the certificate details then they won't send the cert and will refund you part of the fee (£4 I think). Be warned though, if any of your specified details don't match, you won't get the cert, so only specify info that you're absolutely sure about. Richard

Depends when we are talking about .Can you find them on census or Igi? Kim

Many thanks for responding. One of them - Frank - was born in 1887 and died in 1887. The other one is shown on the 1891 Census as aged 2 and I have a birth in 1889, but there are other Raymond born in the same area at the same time. See what I mean. I shall have a look at the IGI - forgot about that one.

The IGI may not have them as its rather late on in the 19th century, so you might need to see the original registers at the record office. Personally I think it would be simpler to just ask the GRO to use parents' names as a checking point. nell

You might find the local Register Office more helpful. Many will search over a limited range and some are putting some of their BMD files online at UKBMD. I usually specify who I want with as much information as possible. Then send a cheque marked "NOT TO EXCEED TWENTY ONE POUNDS" (obviously depending on how many certificates I am aske for. They can then take as much as they need but don't normally charge a search fee. Martin

Much better to contact the appropriate register office, they return your check without charge, and the service is pretty good. Last week Bristol sent me the correct birth certificate even though I was out one year with my dates. This was because I was able to give them parents details however. I ordered 4 certificates and all were sent within two days. Much quicker than GRO, though I have had to use them sometimes if certificates are unavailable or had been destroyed during the war. The only register office I have had trouble with is Chelsea when I had a 5 week wait. Marion

I used Antony Lambert to trace a relative. Could have been any one of five (it was none of them). I only paid a nominal amount for each - he can apparently get enough info to weed out the chaff. He provided an amazing service and is exceedingly quick. Don,t have his Email address to hand, but have a Google on Antonylambert certificates. You won,t be disappointed. Good hunting.

Many thanks for responding everyone. Think I shall have a trip down to Sunderland to the local Register Office. Happy hunting.

If Sunderland comes up County Durham then you can search many of their indexes online and order online. Always worth checking UKBMD now as many Register Offices have good websites. http[[://]www[.]ukbmd[.]org[.]uk[/] Martin