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certificates pre 1837

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Karen

Karen Report 14 Sep 2005 13:40

How do i, or from where do i obtain certificates pre 1837 with no GRO numbers? Karen

KathleenBell

KathleenBell Report 14 Sep 2005 13:43

There aren't any 'certificates' as such pre-1837 as that is when registration began. If you are looking for births, marriages or burials, you will have to look at parish records for the area involved. You will find these at county record offices, local archives, or can be ordered at any LDS Family History Centres. You can also look on the IGI which you can view at:- www.familysearch.org Kath. x

Phoenix

Phoenix Report 14 Sep 2005 13:50

Um, you don't. Civil registration only started 1 July 1837. There is no centralised system before that date. You just have to hope that your family members were baptised and married and that details of that (and their burials) survive. Hopefully, they lived in one county and you can get to the appropriate record office to start playing, or as second best find an LDS Library and order films of parish registers. There is some information on the internet, but it is piecemeal and even if you do find a reference, say on the IGI or familyhistoryonline, you do need to look at the original records to make sure nothing has been omitted from the transcription.

Kate

Kate Report 14 Sep 2005 14:09

People did still get 'certificates' before 1837, for example, they got a baptism certificate when they were baptised and could use this to prove their identity. But the GRO cannot issue you with copies of these. You have to look them up in parish registers. Kate.

Karen

Karen Report 14 Sep 2005 14:42

Thanks for all responses - I suppose i will just have to start digging deeper! Karen

Kevin

Kevin Report 14 Sep 2005 14:50

Karen this is where it becomes interesting. Some of the registers you will come across will be well preserved and have the most beautiful handwriting. However sods law states that the page your ancestors are on was written by a spider that had fallen in the ink pot. Places to look to point you in the right direction are the International Genealogical Index (IGI) and the British Vital Records Index (VRI). The IGI is available online at familysearch(.)org, the VRI is not though there are are a few members on this site who have a copy. If you know the county your ancestors came from try the Local family history society. Many have transcribed the local parish registers. Have fun

Karen

Karen Report 14 Sep 2005 17:11

Does anybody have a copy of the VRI and what info will it give me? Karen