Genealogy Chat

My grandmother insists that her twin was alive for a short time after birth but all i can find of him is a death reference, does this mean that he was actually stillborn?

Thankyou for that info. I can see i have a lot to learn....

I think Tracey is talking about stillbirth, but you are talking about a child that lived for a short while. Any child that lived SHOULD have a birth and death cert. I have found one from the 1860's where the birth and death are in separate registration districts - possibly the child was premature and born at parents house a few miles away, then was taken home where she died. Death was recorded at home registration district. However if you think that it may have been a stillbirth, have a look at my thread, also on the tips board, 'stillbirth, some answers'. Maz. XX

It's true that the baby should have a birth cert even if it only took one breath BUT that would have entailed the cost of two certificates. Maybe the parents decided to claim it had been stillborn. Or maybe your grandmother was mistaken, as she's highly unlikely to remember her birth.

Thanks for the info Maz. My grandmother was born in 1922 so that could possibly explain why no birth cert. she was registered in Islington and her twins death was in Edmonton (which was where they lived), think I am going to have to send for yet another cert to settle it, hopefully it will say what happened.

I did find a case where the birth was registered the quarter after the death! Presumably someone had pointed out. maybe at the funeral or when trying to claim funeral expenses from the insurance, that both were needed. Stan

Thanks for that Stan, I have just checked births for next quarter and found that the person I thought was my grandmothers twin wasn't! Right time, right district, wrong mothers maiden name. So it looks like he was never registered. Will take Maz's advice to try to find out about him.