Birth Registration.

[p.risboy]

Did I read somewhere on the forum, that birth registration wasn't a legal requirement until 1865, (even though it was instigated in 1837 ), or thereabouts.

Steve.

 

[p.risboy]

Ok....it was 1875.

Wiki.

'It has been estimated that in some parts of England up to 15% of births were not registered between 1837 and 1875'.

'As a result of the Births and Deaths Act 1874, registration was made compulsory from 1875 and the onus was now on parents to inform the registrar when they had a child and penalties were imposed on those who failed to register. Births had to be registered within 42 days at the district or sub-district office'.

 

[benny1982]

Yes I have a 1852 birth in Essex that is not registered and I have tried all names under the sun and no luck. I also think it was common in County Durham as well as Liverpool, London and Surrey, where it is reported the highest number of unregistered births took place.

Until 1875 it was the duty of the registrar and his deputies to scour the registration district taking notes of any new births. Must have worked with local midwives or if the birth was not with a midwife, they got info from local shops, pubs etc. From 1875 the parents (or at least one of them) had to trot off to the registry office and register the birth themselves.

 

[Ladybird1300]

I must be one of the lucky ones, all of mine have been registered. However, I have been helping a lady in Australia with her Huguenot ancestors in a group on FB.
One of her ancestor's b 1840 was not registered and they has been no baptism that I can find, I haven't found them in a census before his marriage in 1865 I think it's because his father was a traveller on his marriage certificate.
I was wondering if there are any sites that may have some information for her??

Amanda

 

[emeltee]

If you Google 'Genealogy sites Travellers' it comes up with loads of sites. However I have never used any of them so don't have a clue if they will be of use or not.

Emeltee

 

[gwenythgreen]

In my Bustin line Thos and Sophia of Wolvercott had nine children but only one was registered in 1850 Ellen Bustin the earlier children from 1838 are all unregistered although all are baptised and there is no trace anywhere of a marriage for Thos and Sophia.

 

[benny1982]

Lots of births went unregistered whether the family were travellers or not. I have a William Musgrave born 23 August 1857 according to a family bible of a rellie but have not found a birth reg and tried all variants under the sun. He was born in Co Durham. Ironically he had a cousin who I think was unregistered and another cousin born in 1871 whose birth was registered late. All in Co Durham.

 

[p.risboy]

I think I had 3 out of seven children baptised in the 1850's, and the other 4 were registered.........Surname of SMITH, which made it awkward. mmn. was Whyat/Whyatt/Wyat/Wyatt.......so that's another problem.
2 other apparent children, which I need to find baptisms for, before I can claim them.

So, a total of 4 from 9 children registered, if I have my sums correct.

 

[DaveHam9]

Familiar pattern with my Blackley family for birth reg.

John - no birth or bap
Thomas - no birth * my great grandfather baptised St Peter Liverpool 1854
William - birth and bap
Isabella - no birth just bap St Peter
Archibald - birth and bap
Jessie - birth and bap

Dave

 

[benny1982]

No birth cert or bap. Yes I have had that for Isabella Stokes born in 1852 in Terling, Essex. Her siblings were registered but some were not baptised. Until 1875 it was the onus of the registrar and their cronies to record births so if they missed any then it was their fault, not the parents.