what about stil births

[cathy m]

hi
my father was born in tuam in 1936.he was a twin,but his twin brother died at birth.
can anyone tell me how i can find out more about this child.
would there have been a birth cert,a death cert or would it be a special cert for a still birth. i don't know the childs first name,just his D.O.B and his parents names.is this enough info?
regards catherine

[Rebecca Steele]

Hi Catherine,

You can order a still birth certificate from the GRO, as long as you can provide the parents dates of death.

This link should give you some more information.

http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/stillbirths/obtainingstillbirthcertificates/

Chui

[cathy m]

chui
my fathers twin was born in ireland.this seems to apply to babies born in england and wales only what about eire
cath

[1000xlch]

I know that the local registrar offices in UK have a separate register for still births which is not a widely known fact.  Maybe the same in Ireland.  Perhaps a grave may be a clue unless cremated.

Worth checking locally where they came from.

John Rowley

[mother Riley]

Still birth babies who weren't 'churched' or baptised were unrecognised by the Catholic Church, and were not permitted to be buried on Church ground or in Catholic cemeteries  (unbelievably, still happening today). Unless the babies parents kept private records it is highly unlikely you will discover much.
I know all this as my Father's still born twin was wrapped in a piece of rag and his parents were advised to throw him into the fire! He is actually buried on the cliff path in a makeshift grave. Sad, but that's the Catholic Church for you!!

[Berlin]

Registration of stillbirths only commenced in Ireland in 1995. As the Catholic Church did, and does, not baptise stillborn children, you probably won't be able to find any record of this poor child's existence. Sorry.