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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: steven781 on Friday 23 September 16 19:45 BST (UK)

Title: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: steven781 on Friday 23 September 16 19:45 BST (UK)
I am trying to narrow down my search for a Samuel Perry in the birth index approx 1854-58. I am confused as to why in Dec 1857 there are four entries with the same name and same location. Does anybody have a possible explanation as to why this would be?

On closer inspection it appears it is two entries but each is duplicated.

Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: giggsycat on Friday 23 September 16 20:00 BST (UK)
Hi Steven

I guess you mean these ones?

Births Dec 1857
Perry    Samuel        Hemel Hempstead    3a   294    
Perry    Samuel        Hemel Hempstead    8a   294    
Perry    Samuel        Hemel Hempstead    3a   294    
Perry    Samuel        Hemel Hempstead    8a   294

On the second and fourth entry Hemel Hempstead is in italics. If you click on one of them it will give you this page and information:

The volume 8a is not valid for district Hemel Hempstead in the year 1857 and therefore there may be an error in the GRO index or in the transcription. Please see here for information about volumes associated with particular districts. The expected volume is 3a.

So it appears that there were two different Samuel Perry's registered.

Regards
Giggsy
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: steven781 on Friday 23 September 16 20:05 BST (UK)
Wow that was a super efficient response! Thank you Gigsy
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: Andrew Tarr on Sunday 25 September 16 09:24 BST (UK)
Quote from: steven781 on Friday 23 September 16 19:45 BST (UK)
I am trying to narrow down my search for a Samuel Perry in the birth index approx 1854-58. I am confused as to why in Dec 1857 there are four entries with the same name and same location. Does anybody have a possible explanation as to why this would be?

On closer inspection it appears it is two entries but each is duplicated.

If you find this entry on FreeBMD and examine the original copy, you will find two adjacent entries in district 3a.  The 8a entries will be a misreading of the handwriting.  So unless a duplicate entry was made in 1857/8 - quite possible while doing a boring job - it seems that there were two identical births.  Though that does look improbable, Perry is not that common.
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: carol8353 on Sunday 25 September 16 09:32 BST (UK)
Free Reg has the following baptism...

Samuel son of John (labourer) & Elizabeth Perry bapt 11 Jul 1858
St John the Evangelist Boxmoor Hertfordshire
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: steven781 on Sunday 25 September 16 17:18 BST (UK)
Thank you Andrew and Carol. By checking the census I have discovered there were in actual fact two Samuel Perrys living in this area, neither of which are the one that I am looking for. Back to the drawing board...

Steve
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: Andrew Tarr on Tuesday 27 September 16 09:27 BST (UK)
Quote from: steven781 on Sunday 25 September 16 17:18 BST (UK)
Thank you Andrew and Carol. By checking the census I have discovered there were in actual fact two Samuel Perrys living in this area, neither of which are the one that I am looking for. Back to the drawing board...

Steve - do allow for the possibility that the same Samuel Perry was recorded in two places ...  :)
Title: Re: Duplicated Birth Index
Post by: Geoff-E on Tuesday 27 September 16 16:51 BST (UK)
Quote from: Andrew Tarr on Tuesday 27 September 16 09:27 BST (UK)
Steve - do allow for the possibility that the same Samuel Perry was recorded in two places ...  :)

They have different parents. :)