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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: rosijayne on Tuesday 22 August 23 16:25 BST (UK)

Title: Late registration of birth
Post by: rosijayne on Tuesday 22 August 23 16:25 BST (UK)

Hi everyone
I'm a bit puzzled as to why a birth which took place in November 1851 wasn't registered until the following May 1852.  I don't believe that fines were in place during that period, so just curious as to why the family decided to register 6 months later.

Also, just to try and put some  context into registration, does anybody know how it took place?  I know today we make appointments etc, but did an individual just walk into a registrars office, did the registrar come to them? and did people in small towns/villages have to go further afield to register?

Many thanks for any comments on this
Gill

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: CaroleW on Tuesday 22 August 23 16:35 BST (UK)

May be of interest

https://www.angliaresearch.co.uk/the-history-behind-your-birth-certificate/

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: rosijayne on Tuesday 22 August 23 16:57 BST (UK)

Thank you Carole, that's an interesting article, especially the bit that registrars were paid to register births. I didn't know that, so maybe my ancestor was chased until he finally got around to registering his child.  :)
Gill

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: Top-of-the-hill on Tuesday 22 August 23 16:59 BST (UK)

  Most of my experience is of small villages, where you will sometimes find a man in the census entered as registrar. They would have known their patch and I guess they went to the parents. I am open to correction from the experts!

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: rosijayne on Tuesday 22 August 23 17:11 BST (UK)

Thank you. This is how I would have imagined it to be myself.
Gill
 

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: AntonyMMM on Tuesday 22 August 23 19:04 BST (UK)

The first thing is to check that this was a first registration, and not a re-registration, which although much more common later did occasionally happen at that time.

Assuming it is the first registration - then there was no fine (and never has been) for a simple late registration, but after 42 days there were fees payable to the registrar (5s) and the superintendent registrar (2s/6d).

It should have been done within 6 months of the birth though, and countersigned by the superintendent registrar ?

The 1874 Act loosened things slightly, so the fees (slightly reduced) didn't start until 3 months after the birth and births could be registered up to 12 months ( after that the authority of the Registrar General would be needed).

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: BumbleB on Tuesday 22 August 23 19:42 BST (UK)

Although I have no connection at all with this thread (other than being nosey), I would like to express my personal thanks to AntonyMMM for his input to this and other threads related to registration matters.  His insider knowledge is very interesting and appreciated.   :-*

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: phil57 on Tuesday 22 August 23 20:11 BST (UK)

Quote from: BumbleB on Tuesday 22 August 23 19:42 BST (UK)

Although I have no connection at all with this thread (other than being nosey), I would like to express my personal thanks to AntonyMMM for his input to this and other threads related to registration matters.  His insider knowledge is very interesting and appreciated.   :-*

Seconded. As I've mentioned before, I always enjoy reading his posts, and if he ever decided to write a book containing his knowledge I would be first in line for a copy.

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: coombs on Tuesday 22 August 23 21:30 BST (UK)

Thirded, Antony is a former registrar as well so I always enjoy his posts.

Also, he says that registrars often advertised their address 1837-1874 in the days before the 1874 change, as opposed to simply touring the district getting info on new births.

And Dave Annals says there was a slight decrease in registered births in 1874, the year after the 1874 act came into force when parents (or someone present at birth) had to register the birth.

I think by the late 1950s there was a checking system introduced, where midwives and hospitals informed registrars of new births in the district.

The OP should check that it is not a re-registration.

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: rosijayne on Tuesday 22 August 23 22:03 BST (UK)

Thank you everybody for these replies.
I do feel like I have a greater understanding now of how a registration would have happened.
This particular birth was registered, as a first registration, within six months, but only just!!
Thank you for clearing up the fact that there was no fine at this time.
Gill

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: coombs on Wednesday 23 August 23 18:46 BST (UK)

I would say before 1875, the percentage of unregistered births is about 3 to 4%. The 10% seems a bit too high a percentage.

I have about 20 or so direct ancestors born 1837-1874 and 2 of them not registered and I have tried every first and surname variant under the sun.

Title: Re: Late registration of birth
Post by: rosijayne on Wednesday 23 August 23 19:12 BST (UK)

I wonder what the incentive was to get them registered early on anyway?
people must have been suspicious of this 'new' system.
Gill