Genealogy Chat

Hi,
I am trying to help a friend of mine whos may have a genetic illness. the illness affects [mainly] the females in the family. both her mother and grandmother have died at an early age. She would like to order death certs to see the causes of death of these females.

Can anyone please tell me the quickest and most reliable way to try to trace these deaths [and marriages] - I seem to be going around in circles!!

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

Elaine

Which years are you looking for?

If before 1984 then I'm afraid it is a long search quarter by quarter on Ancestry or Find My Past. After 1984 they are transcribed so easier to search

If before about 1935 then try on FreeBMD

Hi, have you consulted the GRO indexes. It depends when the dates are. Most libraries and County Record Offices hold the GRO indexes. From here you can note the gro index for the vol and page numbers, also the name and district and you shoudl be able to order the certificate from the GRO for £7.00. Alternatively, you coudl also contact the local register office for the ditrict where the event occured. But my best bet would to be, either become a member of ancestry.co.uk and look at the GRO indexes from your home or go into your local family history department of your local library and ask to look at the GRO Indexes. Or on the other, your local archives if you live near.

Civil Regitration began on 1 July 1837 so the GRO indexes start from there and then go up to about 2005, this is what my local arhives hold.

To apply online at the GRO it costs £7.00
To apply by post to the GRO it costs £8.50
And usually at district registers where the event ocurred, it usually costs £7.00, some ask for an extra 50p for postage or a self addressed envelope.

Hope this helps

Regards,

Ryan

Hi both of you,

Thanks for your suggestions.

I am a full member of the geneologist - so i can search quarter by quarter - but i was wondering if there is a reliable site that would give me clues as to which quarters to look into further!

I am currently searching on Free BMD - but [and I dont know if I am searching 'properly'] this site is missing stuff that I know for a fact i.e. one of the females I am looking for married a Barrett between her birth 1893c and 1938 when she was a witness to her brother in law's death. She is on the cert, and her name is then Barrett. The marriage is not coming up on this site.

Fortunately, the family just come into the 1901 census - so at least I know who I am looking for!!!

The trouble is, of course, that I have no clues as to when they died!!

Thanks - Wish me luck!

Elaine

Ahhh I see, I understand now. I don't think there is. But if I think of one I will get back to you.

If you check here:-
http://www2.freebmd.org.uk/progress.shtml

You will see that FreeBMD has not yet transcribed many marriages in the 1930's,and is by no means complete yet, dont forget it is still a work in progress by volunteers.

Thanks Ryan, would welcome any ideas!

Thanks Keith - I will have a look!

Elaine

Hi Island,

My friend thinks that they were all Nottingham based - so that is the place I am working on.

All Robinson's - Ada [14], Elsie[8], May [7], Hilda [5] and Lily [2] - ages are according to the 1901 census. I do not have birthdates.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

At the moment I am working through Free BMD list of marriages from 1910 onwards - I cannot get further unless I find out if they were married so I can look up deaths. I really hope that none of them got married again!!!

THANK YOU!!

Elaine

Hi Elaine,
Have you found them on the 1911 census - the index is free so you should be able to work out who's alive.
Janice

Thanks Island - have a good time!!

Hi Janice - no I didnt know that I could access the index for free!!

Will I find that on the Archives website?

Elaine

Thank you Von. I had spotted that marriage - but of course, I am not sure whether it is the correct one!!! Age wise though - you must be correct. Thanks - that is a great clue when she come to order the death certs. So far I have got her spending about £196 on certs [lol] she will have to make the decision as to which ones she orders - I just hope that they give an accurate cause of death!!

I have just searched the 1911 index [as Janice suggested] and have found the there seems to be a 'duplicate' family [same names] in Worksop in Notts. So now I am not sure if they are the Nottingham or Worksop familiy?

You are very kind.

Elaine

Hi Von,

The difficulty is she knows nothing whatsoever about her ancesters. She has never asked any relatives - and now she is having difficulties trying to trace relatives to help the doctors discover more about which line of the family this gene thing comes from. Relatives help the doctors to identify the gene.

I think she would have difficulties with being able to narrow it down - but that choice is hers. All I said I would do is to try and trace ancestors and therefore possible living relatives.

I am hoping that she will be able to give me some further information pretty soon. She is going to ring her godmother in Austrailia to see if she can tell her anything at all. I will keep you posted!
Elaine

Sorry to those who replied to me last night - I lost the will to live and went to bed with a headache!!!

Hi Keith,

I see what you mean about FreeBMD!! The volunteers transcribing are doing sterling work - but there are some gaps yet!

Thanks Keith, I wasnt complaining - just getting frustrated. The site [with the information it already has] is great - it just isnt helping me very much at the moment.

Elaine

Hi Island,

'OMO'? what does this stand for please? [I just have to know EVERYTHING!]

Elaine

Hi Val,

I will pass on your finding of Ada's marriage to my friend - it was very kind to look it up on the website!

These are probably VERY silly questions - but I am quite new to all of this, and I would like to do my best for her!:-

1] I do need to know whether her relatives were married or not to be able to trace their deaths?

2] failing married names - I need last known addresses to be able to trace them on electorial registers?

3] Is there anything else I can do with a record of them in the 1901 census - to be able to trace them? - or am I missing something?

Any help appreciated!!

Elaine

Hi Island,

REALLY!!! That is useful to know! - do they still sell OMO soap powder?

lol - you can imagine that my mind has been working overtime!!! I was desperately trying to think of something that fitted with 'OMO' - and couldnt think of anything!!

Thanks for explaining that - for the future OH will do fine, as I understand that one!!! :-)

Elaine

Married females will generally have their death registered in their married name.
After 1969, birthdate will show on the GRO index beside their death registration. Birthplace should be shown on the actual certificate, after that date.

Electoral lists are searched by address, not surname, so Yes, you need an address, ...or at least alot of patience to trawl the whole district, if they are thought to have lived in a village.
You can search old electoral lists in a main library or archive local to the address of interest. It might be useful to search forward for a few years on any addresses which show up on birth or marriage certificates, remembering that before about 1930 there will be limited information about females.
No lists were compiled in the war years.

Gwyn

Thank you Gwyn, I just wanted to check that my understanding is correct.
I dont want to go and promise her that I can do stuff that is beyond my powers.

Useful information about the war years - I hadnt considered that! Would this be both the first and second world wars?

Elaine