Advice about the B/M/D 1837-1983 register

[SteveBeer]

Hi guys, hope this is the right place to put this...

I'm trying to find info on ancestry about my dad's dad's parents. I know their names, and rough birth and marriage year (approx 1920 for marriage) however, they are not listed at all on the 1837-1983 England/Devon births marriages and deaths register so I'm wondering why I can't find them...

I'm further hinderd by the fact that something happened involving them, and the only living person who knows was not willing to tell me any of the details about it.
My mum says something bad happened and my dads dads mum committed suicide about 1940 so I was expecting to find at least a death entry for around then.

Also, there is nothing in any newspaper records etc on the site.

Obviously they weren't born on the 1901 census so I can't find details of births, but I had expected a marriage or death entry for them...

Can anyone advise on this and suggest where I look next?

Thanks
Steve

[Procat]

Hi Steve,

Ancestry is very incomplete for these sorts of events.

Free BMD at:

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/

is more up to date but is also very incomplete.

You must keep in mind that FreeBMD is being transcribed by volunteers. The data on Free BMD is uploaded to Ancestry as part of an arrangement between the two organisations.

A pay per view company 1837 online.

claims to have every birth marriage and death since 1837 online.

[Peter Goodey]

This is so. FreeBMD hasn't got anywhere near 1920 yet.

1837online as Procat says has images of the GRO indexes covering 1920 and indeed 1940. It will be cheaper, of course, to find a nearby library or record office with copies of the GRO indexes.

[SteveBeer]

Ok thanks.
I think I can see it on the 1837 site but i'm not paying on the off chance. Seems it was first 1/4 of 1950
I could go to my local registry office to order the certificate, but can someone tell me, do local offices keep registers of births marriages and deaths like the main one in London?
I.e a local office where you can go and search through yourself?

[Burrow Digger]

Another place to try is the genealogist

This is also a subscription (pay per view) site but it has a very good coverage of recent BMD. The down side is that I think the amount you pay for 200 views is too much IMO

[Burrow Digger]

If you REALLY REALLY need to find a FREE place - try your local Mormon FHC.

[SteveBeer]

Yeah I could pay, but it would just make sense that if records are held locally, and searchable for free, that would be a better option. :)

[Procat]

Ok thanks.
I think I can see it on the 1837 site but i'm not paying on the off chance.

Ah but Steve, as the old saying goes "you'll never know if you don't have a go".

And sometimes in this obsession (sorry hobby) it is a matter of taking a chance - depending of course on how desperately you want the information. :)

[SteveBeer]

call me tight ;) but it just seems I have too little info to start assuming it's her. I would also need other detials such as DOB, DOD etc and I think I'd be better finding them first, before I pay for anything.

[Peter Goodey]

It's the death certificate you need to give you the date of death!

In any case, the index shows you an age at death which may give you a lead to find her birth and marriage. You won't achieve any of this without buying any certificates and it's in the nature of the hobby that some of them may well turn out to be duds.

[bernadine nisbet]

I have been on the free b.m.d.site and yes it's good.the only trouble i had is that it states click the glasses if you want to see the scan,Ive done that and I have Adobe reader but no luck can some kind soul please explain what I am doing wrong?.I am new to all of this and an oap so it is not easy!!,but I am already hooked and I subscibe to Ancestory.I feel like Miss Marples!!! bernadine

[Procat]

Hi Bernadine,

Once you click on the word info to the left of the glasses you should be taken to another screen.

Towards the bottom of that screen it states "Scan available", click here to view.

That will then take you to another screen where to the right you select the format you want the download in - gif, jpeg, tiff, pdf or original.

Then at the left of the screen click on "View the original".

You may have to scroll up and down to see all these.

Then wait. And sometimes it is a very long wait.

To run through these screens has taken me about 7 minutes and that is without downloading the scan. The time depends greatly on the number of people making enquiries.

[SteveBeer]

I was looking at this 1837 site and I see 50 units is £5. Seems reasonable, but before I buy them, can someone who has used it please tell me:

I have done a search for a marriage and it lists several possibilities with one of the people I'm looking for on a page.
So if I buy the units and view the index, does that then list the other person with the person you searched for, and give you a ref no with which to order your certificates?

[Burrow Digger]

You're asking if the index lists the spouse alongside the person you're looking for? The answer is NO. The index is strictly in alphabetical name order only You already need to know both names to find them. However every person does have their reference number.

Basically, if you dont know who the spouse is, you wont find it searching the Index.

Thats where freeBMD comes in so handy. Every person is searchable by name and then linked to everyone else with the SAME reference number.

BD

[SteveBeer]

Oh, thanks for the reply... trouble is the BMD only goes to 1921 =(

[Burrow Digger]

Personally if I were you, instead of paying 5 pounds for 50 units - its slightly cheaper to pay 15 pounds for 200 units at the genealogist link I posted earlier.

[Geoffers]

I think I can see it on the 1837 site but i'm not paying on the off chance. Seems it was first 1/4 of 1950It doesn't always work - but - if you want to confirm a death in the GRO index is the one you're after, then check the Index to wills and admons (letters of administration granted where there was no will). The index can be found on microfilm at many county record offices and local studies libraries and is easy to use. It contains such information as name, when (full date) and where died, often a separate address if died away from home, person to whom probate/admon was granted - sometimes their relationship to the deceased and an address/occupation. There's usually enough information to confirm if it's the correct person.


You're asking if the index lists the spouse alongside the person you're looking for? The answer is NO.
The surname of the spouse is given for marriages from about 1916 onwards.
Geoffers

[SteveBeer]

Aha!
Thia was 1940 ish

[Burrow Digger]

The surname of the spouse is given for marriages from about 1916 onwards.
Geoffers


Thanks Geoff, I didnt know that. So far the latest I've ever needed to search was the death of my gt gt grandfather in 1913. :)

BD

[ruthrrr]

It doesn't always work - but - if you want to confirm a death in the GRO index is the one you're after, then check the Index to wills and admons (letters of administration granted where there was no will). The index can be found on microfilm at many county record offices and local studies libraries and is easy to use. It contains such information as name, when (full date) and where died, often a separate address if died away from home, person to whom probate/admon was granted - sometimes their relationship to the deceased and an address/occupation.

Geoffers, is this index to wills by county or countrywide?

Thanks

Ruth

[Peter Goodey]

From 1858 onwards, it's a nationwide index. The microform versions available in libraries, CROs etc will probably not be a full set (if you're looking for relatively recent wills). It is possible to do it all by post - see the Probate Service website.

If you're interested in pre-1858 wills, the situation is quite different.

[SteveBeer]

Well as suggested I bough a subscription on the genealogist site, and have managed to find a marriage, so thanks for suggesting it!

I was wondering, if I'm searching the BMD index for a death of a lady who was married, would she be listed by her maiden name or married name?

Thanks.

[Procat]

Hi Steve,

She will be under her married name.

[SteveBeer]

Thanks. ;)

[Burrow Digger]

Well as suggested I bough a subscription on the genealogist site, and have managed to find a marriage, so thanks for suggesting it!
Thanks.


You're welcome :)