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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Norfolk => Topic started by: ang1985 on Tuesday 04 February 25 14:47 GMT (UK)

Title: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: ang1985 on Tuesday 04 February 25 14:47 GMT (UK)
I cannot find my Great x 3 Grandfather George Girdlestone in the Civil Registration Death Index.. he died in North Walsham (Erpingham district) in October 1870. I have found his burial records and I wanted to find his death certificate after finding two news stories on the British Newspaper Archive which reported a George Girdlestone dying in the same year and place as my Great x 3 Grandfather as a result of a tragic accident being buried by a large quantity of gravel which had been undermined too far. I am assuming this is him but just wanted the certificate for confirmation. I have searched with different spellings, searched with just the surname/first name and cannot find anything. In over 20 years of family tree research, I have never come across a relation I couldn’t find in that index (if I knew when they had died that is). Can it be possible he isn’t in it?.

Many thanks!

Angela
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: LizzieW on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:02 GMT (UK)
The only ancestor I couldn't find in the death index was one who died in 1837 although her name was in the Parish Record for her burial - which also, conveniently, gave her date of death.  The archivist who found the parish record for me assumed that as she had died just after registration started no-one thought about registering her death. 

Perhaps as the circumstances of your 3 x g.grandfather's death were reported in newspapers, the family didn't think they needed to register the death.
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:06 GMT (UK)
How old was he please?
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: ang1985 on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:20 GMT (UK)
How old was he please?

He was 64 according to the burial records, the burial records say he was born abt 1806 but I have him listed as 1811 as I have his baptism record. 🙂
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:34 GMT (UK)
Thanks, can't find him registered either I'm afraid but at least you have some information on him.
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: hanes teulu on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:44 GMT (UK)
Mary A Girdlestone is recorded as "Head, W(idow), age 55" on the 1871 Census.

One of the 4 burial records on FindMyPast has George's occupation as "labourer".
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: LizzieW on Tuesday 04 February 25 15:47 GMT (UK)
How old was he please?

He was 64 according to the burial records, the burial records say he was born abt 1806 but I have him listed as 1811 as I have his baptism record. 🙂

What age was he on the 1861 census.  He might have been baptised as a child with other siblings.
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: Andy J2022 on Tuesday 04 February 25 16:11 GMT (UK)
I take it you have his entries in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. These show him at Hall Lane, North Walsham, Erpingham, Norfolk, England, born c.1809 and married to Mary Ann (nee Doughty) and six children (in 1851), one of whom, also named George, appears from press articles to have been in arrested and charged with stealing lead on 28 September 1865 when he would have aged about 20. George senior  and Mary Ann married on 12 Aug 1835 at North Walsham.

Given that he died in an accident there is likely to have been an inquest and it would have been up to the coroner to formally report the death, which might have occurred some time later.However I still can't find relevant death registration nor any report of the inquest in the newspapers. It is interesting that the entry in the bishop's transcript of the burial register is also signed by the Registrar George Wilkinson, as well as the curate Joseph Harrison, who conducted the funeral. It's not clear whether this is the Registrar for the district or someone connected with the diocese.
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: rosie99 on Tuesday 04 February 25 16:31 GMT (UK)
The inquest is mentioned in the Norfolk Chronicle October 15th 1870 as being held Wednesday last at the Cross Keys Inn - Verdict Accidental Death
Title: Re: Missing in Civil Registration Death Index?
Post by: ang1985 on Tuesday 04 February 25 17:39 GMT (UK)
What age was he on the 1861 census.  He might have been baptised as a child with other siblings.
[/quote]

He was listed as 50 on the 1861 census which would match with the baptism record I have. It is interesting on the burial records it says ‘abt 1806’ for the birth date rather than having an exact date same as the death date ‘about 1870’.