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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: joelhall on Thursday 26 August 10 17:55 BST (UK)

Title: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: joelhall on Thursday 26 August 10 17:55 BST (UK)

How common was it for the time of birth to recorded on birth certificates in the early years of BMd certificates?

I ask because I have a birth certificate for my g-g-grandad's brother and box 1 reads:

Twenty fifth of May 1840 3:30 am at Runcorn.

Is it significant for the time of birth to be recorded, as I have not seen this before on any old birth certificates.

Thanks in advance,

Joel

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: dawnsh on Thursday 26 August 10 17:56 BST (UK)

Hi Joel

It usually indicates a multiple birth ie twins, triplets

Dawn

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: nigelp on Thursday 26 August 10 18:09 BST (UK)

Hi Joel,

As Dawn mentions, the entry of a time usually indicates multiple births and which was necessary to identify the elder / eldest child for inheritance purposes.

However, in the 1840s there were a small number of Registrars recording times for all births.

Nigel

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: joelhall on Thursday 26 August 10 18:24 BST (UK)

Ah right thanks.  Just that it didn't appear on any others and I can't find a related birth in the same quarter or area.

Once again, thanks folks ;)

Joel

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: toni* on Thursday 26 August 10 18:49 BST (UK)

i think the time is recorded anyway on scottish birth certs.

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: cuthie on Thursday 26 August 10 19:40 BST (UK)

I was born in Scotland and the time of my birth is recorded.  Cuthie

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: coombs on Thursday 26 August 10 20:10 BST (UK)

I have an ancestor born 26 April 1842 iN Foulness, Essex. The birth cert says 9am. I have not found any evidence he was a twin.

Title: Re: Birth certificate confusion - time of birth
Post by: mshrmh on Friday 27 August 10 11:34 BST (UK)

Joel - as others have posted time usually indicates a multiple birth, but this was early in civil registration & registrars weren't consistent. Barbara Dixon's guide has another example:
http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm#COL1