Genealogy Chat

Has anyone else found that some births don't seem to have been recorded, particularly the late 1860's? I wonder if it was common then? I have one pair of brothers about whom I know virtually everything almost down to their shoe sizes but absolutely no mention of them on 1837online or Bmd. I am totally mystified.

Hi Helen Although it was supposed to be compulsary to register bmd's at that time not everybody did. They made it a fineable offence from about 1874 I think, which obviously encouraged most people to do it! If you can get to look at the parish registers or bishops transcripts you may find that the births have been recorded there. Jeanette

FreeBMD is not complete. There are undoubtedly some births which weren't registered, but also there were a few that never got to the GRO. You may find them in the relevant local register office. Helen

Thanks for your help, Helen and Jeanette. I'll keep plodding away!

As said, it was not compulsory until 1874. At least if the person can be found on a census then at least you have an approximate date of birth. Joy

Hi Joy, yes, you're right. But I am desperate for the birth record because I need to know the mother's name. This particular ancestor has turned up in Kent, Hamoshire, London and Derby so has rather caught my imagination. And if my suspicions about his identity are right, his granny was from Scotland!

Ive got 4 siblings b 1878,1881,1883 and 1886 that I cant nfind in any birth records. Also looked at parish records. Strange!!!

Just a thought Helen, but I assume that you have tried various spellings? We all know about mistransciption. When I first started this hobby I looked for months on 1837 for my Grandmothers birth until someone mentioned looking at different spellings and lo and behold there she was in the year I had suspected all along but spelt incorrectly. Cheers - Chris

Yes Helen. I cannot find any trace of my Great grans brother's birth in Lancashire in 1865, although I have found his death 2 years later. It is frustrating as My great great grandfather had a wife, then left her for another woman, not sure when, so I cannot find who the child's mother was, wife or mistress.

Sheila have you ordered his death certificate? On all my death certs for small children they are listed as "Joe Bloggs, infant child of Joe John and Mary Ann Bloggs". You may be abe to find the mother of your boy this way Zoe

You are not alone. I have several rellies whose births do not appear in the registers at FRC.

Hallo Helen Can you find the mother's name another way - if you have the father, who did he marry? Have you found no baptisms either? H.