Enrollment options
Optional Print Course Material: English: Civil Registration Records Including Wales
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Obtaining birth, marriage and death certificates is an essential element of good genealogical research. This course will provide practical details needed to understand the system of civil registration; how to use indexes, both in microform and online, and how to interpret certificates. Numerous examples are used from birth, marriage, death, and overseas certificates to illustrate the care that must be taken when reading the documents and deciphering the information. The course is aimed at those needing a thorough understanding of this original source. Note that it is important to remember that when dealing with information found in England and Wales, vital statistics are not the same as civil registration.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
Civil Registration System
Counties, Districts & Parishes
Birth, Marriage & Death and Christening, Marriage & Burial
MODULE 2
USING INDEXES
Availability of Indexes
Online Indexes
General Register Office
FreeBMD
Other Websites
Understanding Different Editions of the Indexes
The Quarters
Understanding Index Collation
Problems Encountered
How to Transcribe from the Indexes
MODULE 3
EXAMINING BIRTH, MARRIAGE, DEATH & OVERSEAS INDEXES
Birth Indexes
Christened before birth?
Twins & Multiple Births
No Name at Birth
‘Wrong’ Name Registered
Mother’s Maiden Surname
Illegitimate Births
Foundlings
Abandoned Children Register
Adoptions
Stillbirths
First Children in a Family
Marriage Indexes
Prohibited Degrees
Bigamy
Divorce Records
Death Indexes
Overseas Indexes
Unregistered Events
Registered but not on the National Index?
Different Spelling
Not in the Expected Place
Not in the Expected Year, or Range of Years
Transcription Errors on the Indexes
Different Editions of the Indexes
Know the area but no access to indexes?
Just Not There!
MODULE 4
INFORMATION ON A CERTIFICATE & ITS USE
Source of Certificate
Certificates from General Register Offices
Certificates from Local Register Offices
Codes in Top Right-Hand Corner
Semi-Literate or Careless Informant
Birth Certificates
Special Situations
His, Hers & Ours
Siblings’ Certificates
Adoption
Overseas Birth Certificates
Marriage Certificates
Rites & Ceremonies
Authorized Buildings & Persons
Notice of Marriage, or Licence
Register Office Marriage
Persons Conducting & Registering the Ceremony
Signatures of Parties
Signatures of Witnesses
Additions & Corrections
Overseas Marriage Certificates
MODULE 5
INFORMATION ON A CERTIFICATE & ITS USE … Continued
Death Certificates
Overseas Death Certificates
Killing Them Off
Comparison of Death & Burial Information
Welsh Certificates
Isle of Man Certificates
Channel Islands Certificates
Guernsey
MODULE 6
RELIABILITY OF INFORMATION
Have you got the right certificate?
Requesting Wrong Certificate
Errors on Certificates
Incorrect Information Given to Registrar
Incorrectly Recorded by Registrar
Error Corrected Later
Transcription Errors on Certificates
Is civil registration an original source with primary information?
Obtaining A Certificate
Hints for Successful Searches through Register Offices
Guild of One-Name Studies
FreeBMD
Cheshire Index Initiative
Campaign for Historicity
Recommended Reading & Resources