Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know if the certs received from GRO are exactly the same that are received from a local registration office? I have just received a birth cert ,1850, where the only address given is the name of the Town, would love to know the exact address, as i once lived in the same Town and 1861 census shows that the family lived in the exact Street i lived in, but again no number, if i sent for one locally to the place of birth am i liable to get this information? Mo

It's unlikely. The GRO copy is a modern photocopy of a handwritten copy made by the local registrar at the end of the quarter the original registration was made. So, unless when the registrar was making the copy, he left somthing out in error, then it's likely there would be nothing else to see on the local office version. If the person was born in a village, small town or suburb of a town it is quite common for that to be the only info on the birth certificate. Merry

Merry The Town in question is Brentwood Essex which i think was very rural at the time. The thing is, the place i lived in was a very old house converted into flats, A workman once found, under the floorboards the bell system used for the servants quarters. I was just sitting here thinking wouldnt it be amazing if i lived in the same house as my Great Grandmother, especially as i was born some 60 miles from Brentwood and i had only ended up living there because of work. Mo

If the birth certificate is for 1850, can you find the family on the 1851 census? You are very unlikely to get street numbers at that period and even the roads often have no name, but sometimes, by looking at pubs, the enumerator's descriptions and families who stayed in the same house over several censuses, you can work out where people lived. This doesn't necessarily follow. My ancestor and a neighbour lived in close proximity to the rectory over many years. So you would think that they would be listed: ABC or if approached from the opposite direction, CBA. So why is one census ACB?!!

Yes, I was really pleased to find 'by turnpike' on an 1851 census for a village as it really cut down the options to just two cottages. Normally you get no addy at all.

Phoenix and Heather Thanks for the suggestions. I have just been for a 'walk' round Brentwood on Ancestry. There are quite a few of the family around the place, nearly all living very close to each other, mostly all seem to have something to do with pubs (wondered where i got that from!!) One of them is even down as an Inn Keeper, but on looking at the details of the area it just says, South side of the High Street, In the late 70's i can remember 4 pubs on that side of the road - all old, so i dont think i am going to be able to go any further with that. 1851 census shows them living in a different Road from where rellie was born, however her grandfather was living in the road she was born in, but again, no numbers. Thanks for all your help Mo