|
Some of the most useful and informative pieces of information available in UK family history research are BMD records ( birth/ marriage/death records) available as certificates for a modest fee. These records, as well as providing proof of relationships, contain plenty of essential information for the professional or hobby genealogist. A birth certificate provides parents’ names and often more importantly the mother’s maiden name. Certificates also provide the place of birth and the parents’ occupations helping researchers to track the lives and movements. Also of particular interest, when the space for the father’s name is blank, the child is illegitimate. A marriage certificate is also a mine of information providing the name of bride and groom; the date and place of marriage; the groom's occupation, and names of both fathers and their occupations. It also gives the parties' ages, but, if over 21, the age is usually given as “full”. Up to the age of 20 the parties are described as “minors”. Certificates can also on occasion indicate if one of the parties' fathers has died with the word “deceased” under the name. Where the father's name differs from the bride or groom this can indicate illegitimacy or remarriage, and in more recent times that the father was a foster/adoptive parent. Also of particular interest and if use to researchers; witnesses named on the certificate (there are usually two) provide useful clues about family links. On many early certificates the parties to the marriage would, if illiterate, write an X (their “mark”). However, the certificates rarely contain original signatures – these being on the civil/church registers themselves. When searching for a marriage, do not think that the marriage would take place at least nine months before the first-born – in the mid-19th century around one third of all brides were pregnant when they got married. Death certificates tend to get overlooked, but they do give some very useful information – the name of the deceased and his occupation; date and time of death; the cause of death and any witnesses present.
|
