How long are GRO certs taking?

[coombs]

I have just ordered 4 more certs before the price increases. Last day. get in while you still can.

[lainie3961]

Oh - and one more question - where do I enter on the on-line form for ordering certs 'wife of ....'?

Elaine

[Silent Whale]

I've just upped my account on ancestry.co.uk for an extra £24 to include parish records and marriage banns. I didn't realise until I started searching that some documents found under 'marriage banns' contain exactly the same info as on marriage certificates.

So far I have found at least 5 full marriage certificates - so for £24 I've actually saved money.

I have no idea how this works and at least 30 have turned up just as what you would consider 'normal' marriage bann info. Although even these sometimes have the wedding date added as well.

[lainie3961]

Hi,

When I visited the archives recently - one of the archivists told me that although I had a GRO copy of a marriage cert - if I looked up the original on the records there it would probably tell me more detail. He said that the cert I had was a register copy and the original would have more detail.

I looked up the marriage - and it was an exact copy of the cert I had already obtained. I pointed out to him that the copy I had said that it was a marriage 'conducted' via the Church of England. He had no answer.

I wonder sometimes if we are being told the truth or just what the archivists want us to believe!!???

I would welcome an opinion on this - from those of you who are more knowledgable. Was I being bluffed - or is there substance to what he told me?

Elaine

[coombs]

I have often proven archivists wrong when they say things or they say they dont have these records when I look through the record office catalogues and they do.

[lainie3961]

Hi,
This has probably been mentioned before - but cannot find it and am now in a bit of a rush [date!]

How - when ordering a death cert on-line - how do you ask for the check of 'wife of .......' I have seen no options for doing this, yet I understand that it can be done.

If someone could explain fairly soon [before the price goes up] I would very much appreciate the help!!!

Elaine

[Sloe Gin]

When I visited the archives recently - one of the archivists told me that although I had a GRO copy of a marriage cert - if I looked up the original on the records there it would probably tell me more detail. He said that the cert I had was a register copy and the original would have more detail.

I looked up the marriage - and it was an exact copy of the cert I had already obtained.

It would be, but not necessarily an exact copy.  What you see at the archives as regards marriage certificates is the form completed for the parish register.  Another form would be completed at the same time for the Registrar.  Both of these are original and will contain the signatures or marks of all parties.  You would not expect to see "more detail", but you are looking at the actual document, whereas the GRO cert is scanned from a transcript made a little later by a clerk, so it may contain copying errors or mistranscriptions, and certainly won't contain original signatures.

[dawnsh]

Hi Elaine

Go to the GRO site and place your order for a death cert, enter names, 1/4 reg, vol, pg and then at the bottom of the screen is a brown box for 'reference checking', click on that and you get options for date of death, place of death, date of birth, occupation of deceased, and marital status.

I would suggest that you put 'wife of' in the occupation box but I don't think that's a guaranteed ref check point. Then rsume ordering.

Hope this helps

Dawn

[Maggie1895]

I realise they are really busy - a marriage certificate I ordered on-line on 21 March hasn't arrived yet - but I ordered 4 more birth certificates today to try and cheat the price rise and they all went through at £7 so I don't think I can complain.