Genealogy Chat

Hi Carol, did you have avy luck with GRO ref ---Lucy

Hello, Lucy Do you really mean "jotting down" as in "pen(cil) and paper"? I suggest, if so, that you can shortcut the process by: i] copying & pasting the text into (say) a Word doc. (You can always save space by saving-as in rich text format "rtf".) This means you have a copy of the name of the person who supplied the info - useful if ever you need to contact them later, or if there's any problem with the reliability of their data: you know what else may be suspect. ii] copying & pasting the web-addresses (URLs) straight into your browser, going to the address and then saving the bookmark. And, as for helping... I'm sure we've all been on the receiving end of help and enjoy the buzz of passing on info to help others along the way. Christine

Christine, been busy jotting down the info that you gave me,I spend a lot of time on the computer trying to keep an active brain!I am learning as I go along and amazed how much help you all are willing to give.Many thanks --Lucy

And if you're trying to find where a place is, it's worth using something like http://www.*multimap.*com/ (remove asterisks). I use it both to find out where my ancestors were (or whether a possible name is likely to be part of my family tree) and for finding out how to get to somewhere I haven't been before. It also has a significant amout of info about places other than UK. You can aso use the OS website; http://www.*ordnancesurvey.*co.*uk/oswebsite/getamap/ That's particularly useful, in this context, for its links to a historical maps website. You find the place "now" on their Get-a-map, and then click on the historical maps link to get a map of the same area in the nineteenth century. That can be very revealing. Christine

Another source for the BMD certs is the local register office(s). A number of them have online searchable info (see http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/). They only give the year but other info can be more specific (e.g. place of marriage). The GRO info is made up of quarterly transcriptions of the local info, so there has always been a chance of error at that point - i.e. you increase your chance of accurate info by getting the cert from the local office. If you use these local websites, then you get the local ref for the cert and that is usually set up as a link to a partially-completed application form for the cert you want. You then print it off, complete it and send off for your cert (with the £7) - I've found it to be at least as quick as the GRO online ordering system, and it's easier to add corroborative info to make sure you get the right cert. Christine

Hi GEoff. thanks for reply,I had not heard of Atcham and was not sure if the counties were the same now.I will take up Carols offer and then send for the cert,which will then lead me on and on,the family are not interested. Regards Lucy

Hi Jonathon, many thanks for info,I thought that I most probably needed more than date ,have given the info. to Carol.I cannot get to London now [immobility prevents travelling] Regards Lucy

Hi Carol Thank you for reply and offer, their names were Thomas Bowen and Ann Howell[s] on 08/08/1864 at Pontesbury,Shropshire[Atcham Reg. Dist.Much appreciation Lucy

Pontesbury is in Shropshire and is in the Atcham Registration District.

Lucy For your information (as you will use these alot), Carol is referring to the GRO reference number which gives the year, quarter (Mar, Jun, Sept, Dec), registration district, volume number and page number. They need this info to locate the record. Carol' s doing this one for you but for future certificates, a good start is the FreeBMD site which will probably have it (although incomplete at the moment - so don't despair if you don't find it). Alternatively there is the 1837 site, but you need to buy credits. If you live in London there is the Family records Centre, near Angel whose chronologically ordered books you can search for free. Jonathan

To order online you need the reference. Give me the name and date and I will have a look for you

I have the marriage date for my maternal Gt.grand parents,is that enough to order the certificate on line?Lucy