Genealogy Chat

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Hi, I have an ancestor, John Davenport, who in 1851 and 1861 is down as being a registrar. Would he have worked at the register office nearest to where he lived and do you think that the register offices will have like a list of who were registrars? Sorry if this is a bit stupid! P.S do you think he could have registered his own children. (I mean be the registrar and the informat) This is him in 1851: Name: John Davenport Age: 40 Estimated birth year: abt 1811 Relation: Head Household: View other family members Gender: Male Where born: Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire, England Civil parish: Coleorton County/Island: Leicestershire Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Source information: HO107/2084 Registration district: Ashby De La Zouch Sub-registration district: Measham ED, institution, or vessel: 1 Folio: ?? Page: 16 (click to see others on page) Household schedule number: 79 GSU Number: 87710-87711 Thanks, Tom

I should think Yes, to most of your Q's, but I doubt he would be allowed to register his own children. Everyone is prob bored with this.....but my rellie was a registrar in Bristol 1882-1932. I was talking on the phone to the registrar, ordering a cert, and I joked that I was waiting for one signed by my rellie. She said she recognised his name because she had seen it on a lot of certs she had copied. When I received the cert I had ordered in the post, the registrar had also sent me a photocopy of a press cutting of my rellie at his retirement in 1932, inc his photo!! Merry

I would think that he did work at a register office near to where he lived, and I'm pretty sure that he would have registered his own children, but only the birth certificates will confirm this. Kath. x

Thanks Merry, I'm going to order his marriage cert this week (Dec Qtr. 1837 - lucky!) and I might ask them when I order it. Would be interesting to know. And you too Kath - I know who is wife is because I have him living in 1861 with his MOther in law and have found the ref for the marriage. I'm going to get the marriage cert and one of his children's certs as well - see what I can find out.

Tom, there's more than one kind of registrar. Are you sure you're on the right track here? Medical Registrar Lloyds Registrars Surgical Registrar School Registrar Gp Registrar Hospital Registrar? Doctor Registrar Registrar General? Museum Registrar College Registrar? Definitions of 'registrar' - 3 definitions - WordNet registrar (n.) a person employed to keep a record of the owners of stocks and bonds issued by the company registrar (n.) the administrator responsible for student records registrar (n.) someone responsible for keeping records

Paul - hadn;t thought of that. Oh Dear. I just assumed - it's worth a try anyway I suppose. Now i will have to order son;s birth cert to see what it says on there. lol. On his son's marriage cert it says that he is a Relieving/Receiving Officer, but this is in 1862. I seemed to remeber this had something to do with counting the votes at an election...?

I must admit usually a registrar (the sort we mean) is a very particular type of person (LOL a fusspot!), and there are actually two different job titles: 1) Registrar of Births and Deaths 2) Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages The majority of registrars were not authoried to conduct marriages. I would have expected your rellie to have stated which job he did. Still, it's worth getting a cert and if that doesn't work....give the reg office a ring and ask about him! Merry

The relieving officer was the union officer with the most direct contact with the poor and probably had the most difficult job of all. He was responsible for deciding whether a pauper should receive outdoor relief and thus could wield a lot of power. These officers were often unpopular with the poor and the subject of complaints of brutality and insolence. At the same time they were answerable to the criminal courts for any refusal, or even any negligence, by which a destitute person suffered death or serious damage to health. Does he appear on the 1861 census as working at a workhouse?

Thanks for that Paul - so what type of registrar do you think he was then if he ahd a career change?

I just had a bit of a 'google' and there are plenty of people described like this example: Relieving Officer to the Board of Guardians of Bingham Workhouse and Registrar of Births and Deaths.

My registrar (of B's and D's) was also a rate collector and census enumerator and later an enumerator's checker. Those sorts of jobs do seem to go together! Merry

Thanks you two - looks like he was a registrar (but we'll have to wait and see!) I've just found him on 1871 census - still just a registrar! These things are sent to test us.

I would bet he worked at Ashby-de-la-Zouche Workhouse (Corleorton was one of the parishes within this Union). You could check in historical directories if he is listed as the Relieving Officer. You could e-mail recordoffice -AT- leics*gov*uk

what I want to know is why does Merry have such interesting rellies , and finds out so much about them, I must be doing it all wrong

Emmeline Pankhurst was the registrar on my Grandad's brother's birth certificate. Copied from a website about her 'Emmeline Pankhurst was born the daughter of Robert Goulden, a well-to-do Manchester calico printer. She married Robert Marsden Pankhurst in 1879. Robert was a barrister and champion of womens' rights, and the couple soon campaigned together for Womens' Suffrage. Together they had promoted the Married Women's Property Act, and in 1889 Mrs Pankhurst worked as a member of the Women's Suffrage League. When Robert died in 1898, Emmeline was forced to work at the Registrar of Births and Deaths in Rusholme to support her 4 children; she worked here until 1907, after which her work for social reform took up all her time.'

how wonderful Helen you must be thrilled I would be !!!

Tom, I've just found this in the Gazetteer & Directory of Leicestershire and Rutland 1861. Page 251 - Ashby De La Zouche Union The Union Workhouse standing on the Derby Road is a brick building, having accommodation for about 300 inmates. Mr & Mrs Arnold Master & Matron, Rev Thos S Green Chaplain, John Davenport Union Clerk & Superintendant Registrar and Joseph Flood and WP Bosworth, relieving officers.

Nice one Paul!! Valerie......it's just that I've been researching a long time and have a big tree......no one esp remarkable on my direct line. The registrar is my 1st cousin 3x removed! Merry

On 18th November 1849, at the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Register Office, Eliza Straw married James Burton, a labourer of Hugglescote, Leicestershire. At the bottom of their marriage certificate is:: Married in the Register Office before me Thomas Dartford, Registrar John Davenport, Suptr Registrar