Genealogy Chat

I have in my posession a statutory declaration for my father dated June 16th 1945/6. I thought this maybe to verify his age to join the army then realised with his d.o.b being 16th Aug 1934 this wouldn`t have been possible. Can anyone tell me what this type of declaration would have been used for? It was signed by his mother.

From a very quick googling, it looks like a legal change of name document. Liz

I thought that however the name is the same as his original birth cert so back to the drawing board but thanks

He would be about 11 years old. Maybe it was done because he was going to change schools and needed verification of age....Perhaps birth cert. was lost due to Wartime ..?? Gwyn

From Nottingham Uni's website: Affidavit and Statutory Declaration Introduction Both of these documents are written statements. They are commonly found in deed bundles as part of the evidence of title collected by lawyers. They were often used to verify family relationships, or to certify that a particular piece of land had been in someone's possession for a substantial period of time. Some affidavits and statutory declarations can be very useful in tracing family history. They might give all the birth dates or death dates of the children in a family, or be accompanied by a pedigree. Some give details about members of the family who went abroad and were never heard of again. There is very little difference between the two types of document, except for the method by which they were made. An affidavit had to be accompanied by an oath sworn by the person making it. However, nonconformists and Quakers objected to taking oaths on religious grounds, so in 1835 the Statutory Declarations Act was passed, enabling people to make a simple declaration confirming the statement. Purpose Confirmation of a piece of information. Important words and phrases Affidavits and statutory declarations give the name, address and sometimes the age of the person making them, with an indication of why they would know the information (for example, being a member of the family, or one of the oldest people in the village). The person making an affidavit was usually referred to as the 'deponent'. 'Deposition' is another word for a written statement. Statutory declarations are recognisable because they always include a paragraph explaining what they are: '... and I make this Solemn Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of an Act made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of His Majesty King William the fourth entitled 'An Act to repeal an Act of the present Session of Parliament entitled An Act for the more effectual abolition of Oaths and Affirmations taken and made in various departments of the State and to substitute Declarations in lieu thereof and for the entire suppression of voluntary and extrajudicial oaths and Affidavits and to make other provisions for the abolition of unnecessary oaths'.' --- according to that, it should state what the purpose of the document is for. could you post a transcription maybe?

Thanks everyone for your rapid responses. It appears that the declaration was worded to confirm his d.o.b and I am wondering if it was used as a way of stating his age because they didn`t have his original birth cert and needed confirmation for the 11 + exam, which I know he did take. I am going to apply for his original birth cert in any event.

Makes a bit of difference whther it is 1945 or 46. If the latter it may well be connected with the 'reclaiming' of war time refugees. I think 1945 is too early but am not completely sure (HPT - when did V2s cease?) There are some really pitiful stories about children who never were reunited with parents whilst others had a struggle by kids and parents to be allowed back together. Clive

It may have also been something to do with rationing - if the family had been bombed out, say, or he had lost his ration card and had no National Identity card, then he would have to prove who he was, before he could get his ration card! OC