Genealogy Chat

You can order a marriage certificate knowing just one person's name, I have done it before and as long as the name isn't too common (John Smith) there should be few problems.

APPARENTLY, as have read previously here some GRO records were not complete, ie when they were originally set up some records were lost. But the record would or should still be held at thelocal Registry office as these have a different recording system and set up.... Kim

Names were sometimes missed or mistranscribed on the original GRO indexes, equally FREEBMD is not yet complete so may have transcribed some of the surnames for that page but not yet all. The important thing if ordering certificates when you've only found one name is to make sure you do give the name together with year, quarter, district, volume and page number as found in the index but don't give extra info, even if you think you know it, as if the details you give are different from the register entry they probably won't send the certificate and you'll lose some of your money. Judith

Martin, As far as I am aware 1837online is complete as these are copies taken from actual records kept at FHS in central london I know as I've visited there and are scanned in versions of the actual books however some pages are damaged and it depends if registrar actually took down correct information too! zoë

Zoe, I have checked through 1837online from 1860-1880 for the particular persons name and records of a marriage, and didn't find anything. Thats why I was wondering that if maybe 1837 was not 100% complete (like freebmd) then I might go ahead and order the certificate based on the fact that only one of the partners from the marriage is registered on there.

Martin, It is likely that FreeBMD is still completing the transcription for that pg, as it is not complete. Every record is entered twice to make sure correct so sometimes get same name twice depending on how transcribed for example I found same vol, pg etc for Sarah Sarbutt and Sarah Larbutt this is obviously the same person but mistransribed but one of the transcribers. You know when the information has been done twice as it is in bold print when its only in normal print it is yet to be double checked. If you want to check orginial records need to use 1837online website which is pay per view. Freebmd is transcribing these records to access them freely but is not complete and is regularly updated it was only done last week so unlikely to be updated for another few weeks. But remember to check after it has been updated as records may show next time! Hope that makes sense. zoë

Hi I recently sent away for a marriage certificate with only one name listed on freeBMD...didnt get it though they refunded the money saying 'incomplete' Maybe the records were to badly damaged. Sheila

Hi, I am trying to trace a marriage. On FreeBMD for a specific vol/page number there are normally 4 names, 2 men and 2 women. If there happens to be a name missing from the 4 does anyone know if this means that I won't find that specific name in 1837online ? Or is it just that freebmd is incomplete ? Regards Martin