Help Understanding a Birth Certificate

[Pauline Andrews]

Good Afternoon

I have a copy birth certificate from 1857 it is from registration District Derby Sub District Saint Peter Derby,

in the column for when and where born it gives the date sixth March 1857 Ct 2 Abbey Road.

then the father name, sex of child etc in the signature, description and residence of informant it states

X the mark of Joseph Ball Occupier court 2 Abbey Road, Derby (This is not the named mother or father of the child) so rather at a loss as to who this person is and the address seems rather vaugue. can any one offer any ideas?

many thanks

[Peter Goodey]

An Occupier was one of the people who could act as informant.

The law stated "the Father or Mother of any Child born, or the Occupier of every House or Tenement in England in which any Birth or Death shall happen...may...give Notice of such Birth or Death to the Registrar of the District"

Don't forget that the procedure for registering a birth was different before 1875.