Death certificate how do I narrow down?

[Zen Rabbit]

Can anyone offer any non-expensive solutions to my problem?
I have 7, yes 7, potential Death records for THOMAS BOURNE b. abt 1806 -11 in Liverpool but was living in Hanley in the Potteries at his death sometime between 1851 and 1861 according to census. I would like to order a certificate but how to narrow it down so that I don't end up paying near £70? He could potentially come under Wolstanton or Stoke-upon-Trent in the register.:confused5:

[malcolm99]

Hello Zen Rabbit

Do you actually know that he died between 1851 & 1861 rather than just disappearing after the 1851 Census? I say that because his son Smith only appears on the 1841 & 1851 Censuses and then disappears himself until the 1881 Census. Smith seems to have married in Stoke-on-Trent in 1859 - have you seen the certificate?

malcolm99

[Blues Mark]

give them as much information as you can, wifes name if married occupation if known etc etc that should hopefully rule a few out.

[Zen Rabbit]

That sounds a good idea. I have that info.
Smith doesn't disappear he just couldn't write. Up until he is lodging with Elizabeth Sawyer and is head of household the surname changes from Burne to Burn. Thomas is recorded as father on their marriage certificate no mention is made if he is deceased or not but then they don't always do. He was not a witness however. Fanny his wife is still alive up until 1881 and living with Smith which does suggest that Thomas died (or ran off)

[Kerrywood]

give them as much information as you can, wifes name if married occupation if known etc etc that should hopefully rule a few out.

That sounds a good idea. I have that info.
To do this you'll have to order from the local register office, because the GRO will no longer run these checks.

[malcolm99]

Mmmm; I see what you mean. Fanny is definitely a widow by 1861.

As the family were living in Shelton/Hanley area in both 1851 and 1861 would it be worth checking the burial registers for Shelton and Hanley churches [e.g. thepotteries.org/church/hanley/index.htm (put www in front)] in Staffordshire Record Office http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/sro/ ? I see that they have burial records for St Mark’s Shelton 1834 -1926 - see http://www.archives.staffordshire.gov.uk/DServe/dserve.exe?dsqIni=DserveV.ini&dsqApp=Archive2&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=NaviTree.tcl&dsqField=RefNo&dsqItem=CD342/1/1/1#HERE
There are also burial registers for this period for other local churches/chapels. I see that the Record Office also has ‘Records of many cemeteries in Staffordshire from 19th to 20th centuries’.

Of course if you checked all the relevant Shelton/Hanley local burial records in the Record Office you may be able to exclude some of the other Thomas Bournes by date of burial against those listed in Free BMD - and you might even find the one you’re looking for!

Hope this may help.

malcolm99

[Zen Rabbit]

I think I will take a trip to the local reg office and see what they say. If I assume that he was buried in Stoke-upon-Trent (ie Hanley, Shelton area) then that narrows down to 4 possibilities. I had included Burslem before as his family came from there but I can try Stoke first.

[Kerrywood]

I think I will take a trip to the local reg office and see what they say. If I assume that he was buried in Stoke-upon-Trent (ie Hanley, Shelton area) then that narrows down to 4 possibilities. I had included Burslem before as his family came from there but I can try Stoke first.

Do make sure you go to the right place. :wink5:

For ordering civil registration certificates, you will need the local Register Office. Click here for details of their services. (http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/community--people-and-living/births--deaths--marriages-and-citizenship/certificates/tracing-your-family-tree/searches-of-indexes/)

For checking burial records, you will need the county archives/record office (see links in Malcolm's post above).