RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: StevieB on Saturday 24 September 22 01:16 BST (UK)
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Hi All,
I am near completing the research into the life of my 2x Great Grandmother, Ameilia Ann Mitchell (nee Scoffield).
I have recently received a copy of her birth certificate (attached).
The certificate states her place of birth was I.A.M. at Buckland, Parish of Portsea.
I am aware of Buckland as an area within Portsmouth, however I cannot identify the abbreviation I.A.M.
I am wondering if this is a generic abbreviation that others may of come across or one that was specific to the area at the time i.e. the name of a local building?
I did note that the birth was registered in the Portsmouth Island Union, which I assume is the workhouse. I was wondering if after the birth the family moved into the workhouse, it is slightly confusing although my lack of knowledge may be the problem.
Any thoughts on the I.A.M. abbreviation or general observations will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Steve
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Is it the time 1am?
Union was just a word used for a district and did not mean workhouse.
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Hi Comberton,
Thank you for your suggestion, it is a possibility although I have never seen a time of birth stated on a birth certificate before.
In addition, I am unsure if there would be a full stop after the figure "1"
It will be interesting to gather others thoughts on this.
Best regards,
Steve
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Yes, it is the time of birth. 1 am.
I have seen numerous birth certificates with time of birth recorded.
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The time of birth was always recorded in the case of twins. Franinoz
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Yes, it is the time of birth. 1 am.
I have seen numerous birth certificates with time of birth recorded.
I agree with it being the time.
I've never seen a birth without the time recorded (to date), however, I don't have many English birth certs.
Annie
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This may be of interest...
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ruq/
Annie
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I agree this is likely to be the time of birth.
I see that the date is 1839, very early period of civil registration. I have a birth certificate issued in the same RD for a birth in November 1838. It too has the time of birth on it " ¼ Past 2. P.M. " and the signature of the registrar is the same, William Hatch. This birth was not for a twin.
I have read that there was initially much confusion about what details should be recorded on certificates. Another birth certificate issued in 1839 where the mother was not afforded her married name led my father to believe that the child in question was illegitimate. The parents in this case were definitely married, but the marriage took place before 1 July 1837 when civil registration began.
This link may be helpful - a wonderful website now only available via the Wayback Machine.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150303001756/http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm
Nell
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Hi All,
I want to thank everyone for their helpful comments, as always they are much appreciated.
I am always amazed by the excellent response of the RootsChat community.
Special thanks to Little Nell for the link and highlighting that the same registrar also recorded the time of birth on a certificate she holds.
Steve
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I think the second letter is H, so IHM,not IAM.
It is not the same as another A on the cert.
Viktoria.
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If it’s H then it’s not the same as the H at the beginning of the registrar’s surname (Hatch) in Column 9.
It’s the same as the A’s in column 2.
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Hi Steve
As the father is a Beer Retailer my thoughts are its the abbreviated name of a pub.
Also it's my understanding that Portsea Union doesn't mean the workhouse but the name of the administrative area.
Wendy
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The web site https://www.workhouses.org.uk gives an overview of individual workhouses ae nd information available.
From there a link to FindMyPast ( you can hold an account and search without paying for subscription) I found Edward George Scoffield born 1811 entering workhouse 1880. Possibly for medical reasons.
WRed
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Viktoria, I think that part of the loop of the A is missing which makes it look a bit like an H. :)
The first stroke looks like a number one rather than the letter I. If it was a letter I, it would have been written in italics like the A and the M.
I’d say Nell’s experience proves it is the time - 1AM. :)
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Time of birth is rare on English and Welsh certs but is on nearly all Scottish certs because it is a requirement . Looks like Neal is researching mainly Scottish families.
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Looks like Neal is researching mainly Scottish families.
Not at all. Neale also does a great deal of research on English families.
Please read the relevant part of Little Nell’s post:
I agree this is likely to be the time of birth.
I see that the date is 1839, very early period of civil registration. I have a birth certificate issued in the same RD for a birth in November 1838. It too has the time of birth on it " ¼ Past 2. P.M. " and the signature of the registrar is the same, William Hatch. This birth was not for a twin.
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Thank you Jen B . Quite right I didn't read that part of the post. Sorry
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I was comparing with the A’s of Amelia Ann .
But if it is a known group of letters then my error.
Viktoria.
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Hi All,
Thanks once again for all your thoughts, it is very much appreciated.
I have enlarged the the section of the birth certificate in question (see below) and I believe this shows that the letter is an "A", so currently I am going with the concensus of opinion that it's 1 A.M. especially considering the information provided by Little Nell.
From the information provided by Wred, I will investigate Edward George Scoffield entering the workhouse in 1880. This would have been two years prior to his daughter's (Amelia) death, unfortunately she died in Borough of Portsmouth Lunatic Asylum with Tuberculosis.
Interestingly, Amelia Ann Mitchell (nee Scoffield) was in Portsea Island Union Workhouse at the time she was committed to Dorset County Asylum on 25th May 1877 (see transcribed reception document below).
Steve