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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: helenna on Sunday 13 July 08 15:32 BST (UK)
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Could someone tell me if a birth certificate had to be shown when getting married in the 19th century.??????????????????
Many thanks
Helenna
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Might depend on the country but I doubt it. Many people would not have had birth certificates and maybe not even known their birthdate.
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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
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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
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Do you mean you cannot find a Birth Registration for him in the GRO Indexes?
Stan
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Hi Stan,
Thanks for replying. Thats right no record of birth anywhere. Many people have tried and are still trying. So frustrating.
Regards Helenna
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Hi,
Could your grandfather have been born in Scotland? Would need to search a different index.
Nanny Jan
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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
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Hi Stan,
Many thanks for further information re Birth Certificates.
Regards
Helenna
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Hi Nanny Jan,
My grandfather states on all documents he was born 1839 Bridge nr Canterbury. Thanks for your interest.
Regards
Helenna