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Archiver > DORSET > 2000-03 > 0952233037


From: "Roland Cocks" <>
Subject: RE: I need help and advice, thanks!
Date: Sun, 5 Mar 2000 05:10:37 -0000


The Best help I can give is to forward the following information recently
put on the Dorset list.
I found most of my family's bmd's by obtaining copies of the certificates
from the LOCAL Superintent Registrars for any records that were required
after 1837. They cost 6pounds 50 pence each (stirling cheque only). You must
know the parish and the close date for this to work though. If the dates are
before 1837 you will need to ask the LDS to obtain the film of the parish
register(s), and this they will usually do for about 3 pounds 50 for a
period of hire of about 3 months, or alternatively write to the County
Record office(s) and ask them for a quote.
The following is copied from an email to the list a few days ago by the list
owner.
You can see how I did it on my webpages (the URL in my signature) in my
references to my Paternal line.
Best wishes
>>>>>>>

As there have been so many new listers recently - nearly 100 since January I
am reposting this guide to finding Civil Registration Records in England and
Wales. It was originally written by Oxf. listowner, Wendy Archer, ammended
by Steve and I and further ammended by Lynda Muddle-Small! If anyone has any
further comments, please let us know and we will include them. We need to
add a section telling you exactly what you will find on each sort of
certificate so that will follow when I've written it!
Apologies to all those listers who have seen this posting before!
Helen

>>>>Access to civil registers of Birth, Marriage and Death

Civil registration commenced in England and Wales in July 1837. One copy of
the original registers are kept in the office of the Superintendent
Registrar for the Registration District and each quarter a copy of this was
sent to the General Register Office where the national index is created
(most of this is now done weekly by computer) It is not possible
for the public to view any of the films/fiches (or originals) of the civil
registration of births and deaths in England in Wales, but it is possible to
order a copy of the entry. The current marriage registers kept by the parish
church can be viewed and older ones if they have not been sent to the
county record office (not usually on fiche), although this will not always
be possible when the ceremony did not take place in the established
(=parish) church. (Usually two registers are kept, one, when completed goes
to the local register office and one is kept or goes to the local record
office, this applies to C of E or non-conformist)

Obtaining Copies (certificates) of the entries for birth/marr/death as
follows
If you can get to London, you can order the certificate in person at the
Family Records Centre at Myddelton Street.
One useful method is to contact the local Superintendent Registrar for the
district in which the event took place. They will do a five year search at
no extra charge This way the price is the same as at London, but you do
have to be sure of your district (and parish for marriages). As far as I
know they accept payment only in sterling cheques. Addresses of register
offices can be found at http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/RegOffice/s.htm
make cheques payable to 'Thhe Superintendent Registrar.

If you are overseas a practical proposition is to order direct from the
Office for National Statistics (ONS), by post or by email - see
http://www.ons.gov.uk/regist_f.htm
This is slightly more expensive, particularly if a search is required, but
cheaper if you count the travel costs! They accept payments using credit
card - so this method may be useful if ordering from overseas. A cheaper
alternative is to use a record agent - these advertise in most Family
History Magazines.
>
>>>> Which Certificate?
By now you will be wondering how you identify the certificate that you
require!
You will need to find the indexes (called GRO indexes - general register
office) which provide a means of identifying the correct entry in the civil
registers of birth, marriage and death, so that certificates can be ordered.
The registers themselves are not open for public searches in England and
Wales. In brief, for each entry, the indexes list the volume and page
numbers for the civil registers providing a unique identifier for ordering
your certificate, if ordering from the FRC or GRO - of no use to registrars
other than verification it is in their district somewhere!.
>
The registration and indexes start from July 1837 and extend to the present
day.

The hardcopy indexes are at the UK Family Records Centre
http://www.pro.gov.uk/about/frc/
in London and are alphabetical lists by surname, then forename for all the
events in each three-month period. The indexes are also available on
microfiche at county record offices and the Latter Day Saints (LDS) family
history centres, also some Family History Societies have their own indexes,
i.e. Devon and a few large reference libraries have them.
>
The LDS (Latter Day Saints) Family History Centres usually hold the UK GRO
indexes on microfiche, and, though some are open evenings only, they are a
very helpful source of family history data. The list of centres worldwide is
linked from
http://www.lds.org/en/2_How_Do_I_Begin/4_Where_is.html

>>>>>Some general info
There is a description of the English civil registration system and indexes
with much more information at
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/civreg/
also at http://www.pro.gov.uk/leaflets/ri2118.htm

>>>>> Summary
In summary, you need to search the GRO indexes at the LDS, then order from
the UK using the methods given on the ONS website or through a local
registrar. The ONS will do a search,but this is more costly and may not be
feasible if your starting information
is uncertain.
>
Suggest current prices should be listed somewhere, from register office or
FRC it is £6.50 per certificate, ONS it is £8 with reference otherwise £11
<<<<<<<<<<<


Roland in Bournemouth, UK

http:\\www.roland.cwc.net


-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:]On Behalf Of Michael Cooper
Sent: 05 March 2000 01:04
To:
Subject: I need help and advice, thanks!

Hello, I am a new subscriber and I would like some advice and/or help.
I have research interests in Dorset, Somerset, and Berkshire counties.
Here is where my problem begins. First, I live in Canada with no chance
of getting to England. The parishes I am interested in doesn't appear
to be located in the IGI and I don't know off hand much about any other
records which might be accessible to me other than what the LDS has. I
would like advice on sources I might be able to check which could
eventually lead to obtaining bmd records given the fact that the LDS
records are no longer useful to my particular situation. One important
note is that I do have fairly specific information about the baptism and
marriage records I would like to search so I would have an idea where
and when to look in parish records. Thank-you in advance for any advice
I might receive.

Mike Cooper




==== DORSET Mailing List ====
The Dorset GENUKI pages may be found at
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DO

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