Birth certificate confusion - time of birth

[joelhall]

How common was it for the time of birth to recorded on birth certificates in the early years of BMd certificates?

I ask because I have a birth certificate for my g-g-grandad's brother and box 1 reads:

Twenty fifth of May 1840 3:30 am at Runcorn.

Is it significant for the time of birth to be recorded, as I have not seen this before on any old birth certificates.

Thanks in advance,

Joel

[dawnsh]

Hi Joel

It usually indicates a multiple birth ie twins, triplets

Dawn

[nigelp]

Hi Joel,

As Dawn mentions, the entry of a time usually indicates multiple births and which was necessary to identify the elder / eldest child for inheritance purposes.

However, in the 1840s there were a small number of Registrars recording times for all births.

Nigel

[joelhall]

Ah right thanks.  Just that it didn't appear on any others and I can't find a related birth in the same quarter or area.

Once again, thanks folks

Joel

[toni*]

i think the time is recorded anyway on scottish birth certs.

[cuthie]

I was born in Scotland and the time of my birth is recorded.  Cuthie

[coombs]

I have an ancestor born 26 April 1842 iN Foulness, Essex. The birth cert says 9am. I have not found any evidence he was a twin.

[mshrmh]

Joel - as others have posted time usually indicates a multiple birth, but this was early in civil registration & registrars weren't consistent. Barbara Dixon's guide has another example:
http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm#COL1