Registration of twin births

[Andrew Tarr]

I know that the time is usually recorded for multiple births, to prevent any later disputes about precedence, and I have at least two examples in my fairly modest tree.  I have one other example where the birth was single, as far as is known.  Does it follow that there was a stillbirth, and can that be traced in the records?

[stanmapstone]

In the early years of Civil Registration some registrars put the time of birth for all births.  Stillbirths were not made registrable until the Births and Deaths Act 1926,

Stan

[Beeonthebay]

I have more than a few sets of twins in my tree and sometimes on the baptism register it has been noted TWINS.
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My father is a twin and yes the time was noted on his birth certificate from 1925.

[Andrew Tarr]

In the early years of Civil Registration some registrars put the time of birth for all births.  Stillbirths were not made registrable until the Births and Deaths Act 1926.

Thanks, Stan, I suspected something like you suggest.  The 'phantom' twin registration I was thinking of was in 1838; another (genuine twins) was a year later.

[coombs]

One ancestor was born in April 1842 and the time of birth was given as 7:30am. I am sure he was not a twin, and they must have stopped putting the time on for single births about 1845.

[stanmapstone]

Apparently one registrar in Stoke-in-Trent put times against all the registrations up until about 1850.

Stan

[zetlander]

Not certain on this but I think all Scottish birth registrations have the time of birth noted.

[stanmapstone]

That is correct in Scotland the time of birth was put on all birth certificates.

Stan

[Maggyanne1950]

I found a still born child on deceased on line, recorded as SBC of parents names. You can search for free on there and only pay the small fee if you locate a record. Coverage is patchy.