Birth information in UK

[Vixter]

I live in the USA. Is there a way to get copies of birth, marriage and death certificates in the 1800's and 1700's without paying for a service and only paying for the copies. I just have so many in England and Wales that I would like information from. Vixter

[Procat]

Hi,

Civil registration commenced in Britain in 1837. There are no "certificates" prior to that time. The records for pre 1837 events are contained in the Parish Registers.

You can search the indexes for certificates for free at FreeBMD (http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/) and use the information you find there to purchase certificates from the GRO (http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/).

There is a similar website to search for free for details prior to 1837 at FreeReg (http://www.freereg.org.uk/). This is a transcription site where the entire record is being transcribed.

Both FreeBMD and FreeREG are works in progress so what you are seeking may not be there as yet. Both sites have a page providing details of the coverage that they have.

The Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp) site may also be of interest to you.

This page (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/records/looking-for-person/default.htm) may also be of use to you

[Waitabit]

Also many Parish records are viewable online. It depends where your people were BMD'd.
try a Google or put some names / Counties forward. Never know when someone may have in hand the info you want.

[Vixter]

Thank you both for the information. Vixter