how to determine which is right birth registration

[terrijay]

Silly question I know! How can I decide which birth registration is the right one, without sending off for both certificates. An expensive option.
My grandfather was William Matterson. He married Jan 1904 aged 25 years. There are two records one for Dec qtr 1907 (Wharfedale) and one for March qtr 1908(Teesdale) I know his parents were both from Cumberland and also in 1911 they were living elsewhere as they had a child in 1911 registered in Houghton. William was back in cumberland when he married my Grandmother. The family on both sides were Miners. i have tried to search different parish records on line with no success. Help!

[peterbennett]

Hi
   Welcome
Sorry don't quite follow who'se birth it is your looking for.
If its your Grandfather William, have you any census details that would confirm his place of birth, as niether Teesdale or Wharfedale are in Cumberland.
I am sure we will be able to help with a little more info

regards

peterbennett

[Hackstaple]

This posting confused me no end. You say that he was 25 in 1904. Then you say you are looking for his birth in 1907 or 1908 - whose birth?
Have you looked on the 1881 census [free!] for him as would be 2 years old then - 1891 [12 years] - 1901 21 or 22 years old.
Have you considered different variants on the surname? I supsect Matterson is the LEAST common of those so mistakes are easily made on censuses and certificates.
There are a great many places called Houghton in England - family history research needs accuracy of Time and Place.
The Beginners Board deals with all of these matters in great depth:
http://www.rootschat.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=3996.0

[terrijay]

sorry having a bad hrt day! William matterson was married to Martha Bragg Daglish on January 5th 1933. hence I cannot find him on census as none are released after the 1901 census.
I have found His parents on 1901 census living at Great Clifton Cumberland.

[Heather D]

None of which really answers your original question does it terrijay?   

The sad fact is that most of us who have been at this a while have lost money by taking a chance and getting the wrong result.

However, when you order a certificate you can specify certain details to be checked to make sure you have the right one, such as parents christian names or mother's maiden name. If it then turns out to be not the one you want, they will retain £3 for the search and refund the rest of your money.

I seem to remember there is also an option to supply more than one reference and instruct them to stop looking when the right entry turns up. But in the end, we sometimes have to take a chance!

[Hackstaple]

I'm still no wiser about who youy are searching for but here is a record that may relate to it:

BIRTHS Sep 1/4 1872 Vol 10b Pg 581
Matterson, William

[Heather D]

Shall we simplify? I'm reading this as Terrijay is looking for a birth record for her grandfather William Matterson, who married in Jan 1933 age 25. There are a couple of possible birth registrations in 1907 and 1908 and she would like advice on how to make sure she has the right person?

Please correct/forgive me if I'm wrong Terrijay (I often am!)

[peterbennett]

Hi again
             Looking at the dates I would say that the 1908 Teesdale looks favourite, If you do not want to purchace certificate because it may be the wrong one,then I would advise
the following, ring the relevant reg office (Stockton for Teesdale)  and tell them your plight, if you give them his parents names they will generally look it up, please give them all the relevant details, you have nothing to loose but a few pence for the call. Details of telephone numbers etc can be found on this link please copy and paste the full link
http://www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice/usp.nsf/lookup/txthandlists/$file/userguide01.txt

good luck

peterbennett

[terrijay]

Thank you heather B, it sounded so easy reading your version. Also thankyou Peter I will phone them tomorrow.