Genealogy Chat

Hi all - When I have spoken to the GRO by phone regarding certificates, they have been extremely friendly and can clear up queries prior to ordering. On-line ordering is cheaper and more convenient EXCEPT that one cannot use caveats as described by that Olde Crone Holden. I think therefore that if the GRO online give a refund then it should be absolutely clear as to why the certificate was not issued without any question off any ambiguity. A statement that ' NEITHER Jack NOR Jill are the parents' is absolutely clear; whereas 'Jack AND Jill (as a couple) were not the parents' leads one to suspect that either one could be. Rita

Rita, Forgive me if I'm getting the 'wrong end of the stick' here 'cos I'm new to all this! Are you referring to the General Register Office in Southport? If so I'm must stand up in their defence. I had reason to speak to them on the 'phone twice earlier today for advice and was truely amazed at how patient and helpful they were on both occasions. It was totally unexpected on my behalf and very rare these days... Lyndsey

Rita This is why I always try to use the LOCAL Register Office when possible - the staff there are far more 'human' and use a bit of common dog most of the time. I have even had them ring me up and say 'The mother's name is Eleanor, not Ellen, is that alright?'. Also, ordering by email (Local Offices) quite often saves me the expense of a wrong cert: 'Thankyou for your email, sorry, the parents are not John and Hilda'. I do understand, however, that the Registrar, strictly speaking, is not allowed to issue a certificate which does not exactly match the info you give, which has led me into such contortions as 'The father to be James AND the mother to be Ellen Or the father to be anyone, but the mother Ellen OR the mother to be anyone but the father James' Sadly, most Local ROs have stopped issuing certs over 100 years old, I presume in readiness for the whole lot going on line. Olde Crone

25000+ is a lot to check through. At least the person you spoke to was a nice one and sent the cert anyway :)

I sent the following email to the Ordering-online Service. Dear Sir/Madam, Could you please clarify the following for me. I ordered a birth certificate on 11.7.2005 for Edward Richards, GRO ref: 1871 - Dec. - London City - 1c - 39. I was partially refunded on the basis 'that the parents were not Walter and Elizabeth”. Does this mean that neither Walter nor Elizabeth was the parent? Could it be that either Walter or Elizabeth was one of the parents? e.g. 'Walter was not the father, Elizabeth was the mother'. or ' Elizabeth was not the mother, Walter was the father' I find that the 'not Walter and Elizabeth' statement leads to ambiguity hence the need for clarification. Dependent on the explanation it might be reasonable to ask for another certificate should the mother be Elizabeth even if the father is not Walter. At the same time as the above is being considered, could you enlighten me further. If a certificate was applied for in a name such as Elizabeth, but she was registered using a diminuative of Elizabeth such Bess, Bessie, Liz/Lizzie, Eliza would the certificate be issued? Thanks for your help Rita Harman The reply followed virtually by return email. Dear Mrs Harman Thank you for your e-mail relating to the birth certificate of Edward Richards. I have consulted this birth entry and confirm that the father is not Walter Richards; however, the mother's first name is an abbreviated form of the name Elizabeth. As you will appreciate, due to the amount of applications we receive - in excess of 25,000 per week, if a customer provides specific checking points of parent's names, then we will adhere exactly to this information when checking the entry. This is why we did not produce a certificate. However, as a gesture of goodwill and on this occasion only, I will have the certificate produced as you have stipulated in your e-mail that you would like this regardless of the father's name. I apologise for any inconvenience caused. Kind Regards So now you know. PS. I received the certificate by return post. The mother was Eliza. Unfortunately not mine own Elizabeth.

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