How do I find birth information before 1837?

[morganpeet]

I am trying to find a birth certificate for Stephen Peet born 1819 in Middlesex.  Thats all the information I have.  Anyone got any ideas of where I can start?

Thanks

[Little Nell]

I'm afraid that before civil registration began on 1 July 1837 there is no such thing as a birth certificate.  You need to look for a baptism in the parish records.  The IGI is a good place to start:

http://www.familysearch.org

It is NOT complete.

It might help if you knew which part of Middlesex he was born in.  Have you found him on any census e.g. 1851?  This usually gives more specific places than just the county name.

Depending on which part of Middlesex the original registers are kept in London Metropolitan Archives, Guildhall Library, Westminster City Archives or a couple of other places for a small number of parishes.

Have a look at the GENUKI site:

http://www.genuki.org.uk

Ask if you need anything else. 

Nell

[morganpeet]

Thanks Nell,

I did get someone to look him up on the 1851 Census and the only info they came back with was Middlesex.  I will have a look at the websites you suggested.

Thanks for your help

[janetmp]

If you are looking up Parish Records on Genuki go to Hugh wallis's site .It guides you through beautifully.

freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers