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Research in Other Countries => Other Countries => Topic started by: angelasindyreid on Tuesday 01 December 09 10:05 GMT (UK)
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Hi there everyone,
I am a bit stuck and need some guidance.
I have got a copy of my g grandfathers 2 marriage certificates and his Royal Navy service record no, 218085. Now I have found out that he was born in Rangoon India on 18th October 1884, this where I am stuck I don't know where to go to track down his birth certificate. Can anyone help with places to search? please
I also don't know any history of this time to try to understand why he was born in India. I have also tried searching find my path and ancestry but can not find any crossing for him, but he was in Enlgland in 1901 in Devon.
I only know his fathers name was William and he was in the army and was deceased by 1921. If anyone could help in anyway it would be very much appreciated.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this
Angela Reid
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If his father was in the Military, his birth may be recorded on the Overseas Index and then you can send for the birth certificate. These can be searched on a pay per view site. Can you give a name?
Tressle
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Hi there
My g grandfather is Robert Mitchell his birth as stated on serevice record is 18 october 1884 rangoon india and his father is called William Mitchell
opps I forgot that earlier
Thank you very much,
angela
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Hi Angela
I have had a quick look but I cannot see anything on the indexes that I have access to. You could contact the India Office.
Do you know his father's regiment, that could be another possible line of enquiry.
I have not checked the Index under any surname variations so I will post back if no one else has found anything.
Tressle
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Rangoon is of course in Burma, not India, but did fall under the purview of the India Office.
The army birth indexes show a Robert Mitchell registered 1885 (page 839) in Thayetmo which is in northern Burma.
The 1901 census reference is a bit puzzling - the only candidate I can see in Devon is a boy soldier born in Calcutta.
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hi there
that could be him as the only information i have is what is written on his service record, his service number is the corect one as it is written on his wedding certificate.
where can you look up the arm birth records? does it say his fathers naem ? as i know this was williwm and he was in the army.
thank you for thaking the time
angela
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The army birth returns index is viewable on both FindMyPast and TheGenealogist database services. So are the regimental returns but that birth doesn't seem to be listed there which is a pity.
The curious thing is that the page images on those two database services appear to be from different sources. One says 1883, the other looks more like 1885.
The best thing might be to apply for an overseas birth certificate on the basis that you don't know the GRO reference but quoting the birth date and birthplace and the father's name and the father's occupation - "army service" or something like that if you don't know the unit.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp
Or perhaps try another tack - do you know if Robert had any brothers or sisters? Is there anything useful in the navy records (next of kin address?) ? When /where did he join the navy ? Can you find him in the 1911 census?
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as yet i cant find him in the 1911 census but i do have his marriage certificate from november 1911 he is listed as able seaman, hms fisgard portsmouth,
angela
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Hi Angela
I don't think we are allowed to do look ups on the 1911 but keep looking because he is there.
Tressle
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Can you tell us what search terms you used to find him in 1911, Tressle?
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Hi Shaun J
If you put in Robert Mitchell born 1884 + / - 2 and nothing else. It does not give too many results. One stands out as being in Hampshire, Portsmouth (no birth information given on transcript). H M S Fisgard was a shore base used to train naval articifers. So I went for that one first and you can see the rest.
Tressle.
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The IGI (http://www.familysearch.org/) has Robert Mitchell, son of William and Agnes, baptised in Thayetmyo 22 Dec 1883, but as the date you have is quite specific as being Oct 1884 and also in Rangoon, you will need to check this out.
The place to start is at the British Library: send an email asking for the baptism record to apac-enquiries@bl.uk. Tell them you have two possibilities for the date and they will send you both records (if there are indeed two). They are very helpful and will normally reply within a couple of working days. Beware that asking for a birth certificate is quite different, and all you get for your money is the exact same information but with an official stamp.
good luck,
Mark
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Thanks to everyone who has taken this time to read through this dead end. I have now emailed both the British Library and the Rangoon embassy - long shot but nothing will be lost if no reply - I don't know if the date is the correct one as it is on his service record and he could have less than honest with the truth, other than this I have the age he was on his wedding certificate so still checking all ideas supplied. Once again thanks for everything.
angela