Can we believe anything we read on BMD certificates

[Ayashi]

I've found a few transcription errors on BMD certs, like the wrong middle name being written, the wrong year of a marriage (the index confirms its wrong) and it makes you wonder what is wrong that you don't realise is wrong...

I'm slightly puzzled, so would you please help my tired brain Ayashi.  I can't quite work out the above.    You say the wrong year of a marriage is on a certificate, confirmed by the index.   I'm not sure what it is you are saying, perhaps you could offer a longer explanation if you wouldn't mind.

Susan

On the actual index of quarters and years, the actual lists, the year is 1887. The copy of certificate, handwritten, says 1888.

[msr]

Yes, I understand that part Ayashi, but is the certificate you mention a photocopy from the register  held by the GRO, or a document handwritten when you purchased it? 

The original register, held either by the Church or the local registry should have the correct details, the others merely copied from that, which adds to the possibility of errors.

[Ayashi]

The certificate that I have is handwritten by somebody at the time of buying, not a photocopy.

[Rosinish]

The certificate that I have is handwritten by somebody at the time of buying, not a photocopy.

I'm intrigued. I would never have known such things as all of mine are actual photo copies/extracts.

When & where did you purchase as I'm sure if you take/send it back with a note of the error they will exchange it?

Annie

[Ayashi]

It was many years ago when I first started researching. I was a stubborn and rather naive 19 year old at the time and didn't accept the error until years later. I got it from the GRO. I do wonder if it is worth the fuss now.

[patty38]

Just read this very interesting thread and thought this might be relevant.
When I was first learning about family history I looked for my own birth an marriage records, birth found okay, marriage no luck anywhere so I tried my husband's name and there it was date and place and first names correct, maiden surname almost the same as not quite. Now I have my marriage lines and the name on them is correct so at some stage it was adjusted!!!  It was forty years before I discovered this so nothing has been done but if anyone else were to get a copy of the certificate in the future...........

[Finley 1]

My original (first) marriage cert had entered my then husbands age incorrectly ........  when I realised I was pleased and hoped it meant the marriage was not valid....(he he he..... sorry) but no it didnt   so I had to have a divorce  anyway

xin

[msr]

I have only had photocopies when purchasing from the GRO but have some handwritten ones from local offices (handwritten by current staff of course, copying from the original registers).  Those from the GRO are already copies of the originals and can contain errors made at the time.  I have two copies of a particular marriage, and they are indeed different.

Only a few months ago I noticed that my own marriage cert is not signed by me or my husband.  Why I'd never realised it before is beyond me!  I have since seen the original register which we did indeed sign.

[peggysmum]

For years before i started researching i was told my great granddads name was Steven Parker. but when i started researching i could find no record for him, i then found out he is buried as William Ellis. sure enough when i looked his death is registered in 1935 as William Ellis. But as far as the family is concerned he was Stevie Parker. When i discovered my distant cousins the great granddaughter of his sister told me the family name was actually Loveridge. His dad being Henry Loveridge and his mum Sarah Smith. I still can not find any record of him, no birth and no census nothing not even newspaper articles, just his death cert and him buried in Toddington. So i have no idea who he was or why he was registered as William Ellis and not Stevie Parker or Loveridge. I did wander as he was taken from Toddington in Beds to University college hosp in St Pancras for treatment and then taken back when he had died if perhaps it was something to do with his army service. Someone paid, certainly not them.
I would so like to know why his death is reg as William Ellis and his birth registration,when was he born and where. Infact i would just like to know anything more about my great granddad. All i do know is when he died, how he died. He had 5 daughters (i think) and he was a knife grinder then a groom.