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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: helenna on Sunday 13 July 08 15:32 BST (UK)

Title: birth certificates
Post by: helenna on Sunday 13 July 08 15:32 BST (UK)
Could someone tell me if  a birth certificate  had to be shown when getting married in the 19th century.??????????????????

Many thanks
Helenna
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: aghadowey on Sunday 13 July 08 15:35 BST (UK)
Might depend on the country but I doubt it. Many people would not have had birth certificates and maybe not even known their birthdate.
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 13 July 08 15:49 BST (UK)
No, no proof of age or identity was required, unless the person appeared to be under age. The whole purpose of Banns in Church, and the Marriage Book in the Register Office was to give time for any objections to the marriage to be raised.

Stan
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: helenna on Sunday 13 July 08 15:54 BST (UK)
HI,
Many thanks for replying to my query. I asked because I am unable to trace a birth certificate for my Grand father and did wonder if it was a necessity then.
Helenna
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: stanmapstone on Sunday 13 July 08 15:56 BST (UK)
Do you mean you cannot find a Birth Registration for him  in the GRO Indexes?

Stan
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: helenna on Tuesday 15 July 08 14:35 BST (UK)
Hi Stan,

Thanks for replying. Thats  right no  record of birth anywhere.  Many people have tried and are still trying. So frustrating.

Regards Helenna
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: nanny jan on Tuesday 15 July 08 14:43 BST (UK)
Hi,

Could your grandfather have been born in Scotland?  Would need to search a different index.


Nanny Jan
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: stanmapstone on Tuesday 15 July 08 15:00 BST (UK)
Quote from: helenna on Tuesday 15 July 08 14:35 BST (UK)
Hi Stan,

Thanks for replying. Thats  right no  record of birth anywhere.  Many people have tried and are still trying. So frustrating.

Regards Helenna

By the end of the 1870s birth registration was probably 100%, especially after the passage of the 1874 Births and Deaths Registration Act (37 & 38 Vict., c.88), which introduced fines on parents for non-registration.

Stan
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: helenna on Friday 18 July 08 14:23 BST (UK)
Hi Stan,

Many thanks for further information re Birth Certificates.

Regards
Helenna
Title: Re: birth certificates
Post by: helenna on Friday 18 July 08 14:26 BST (UK)
Hi Nanny Jan,

My grandfather states on all documents he was born 1839 Bridge nr Canterbury. Thanks for your interest.

Regards
Helenna