Genealogy Chat

Hi. In the 1860's could anybody register a death - was there any minimum age or did you have to be related in some way to the deceased? Thanks. Clare

It was usually either a relative or friend or neighbour. They are often stated as being 'present at the death'. I have noticed on many of my death certificates that it was not necessarily the closest relative who registered the death. Probably someone would do it for the person who was closest and therefore grieving the most. Anne

Thanks Ann. The problem is that the person who registered the death appears to be of no relation whatsoever. Being the curious type, I thought I'd try and find out a bit more about the person who registered. The death was registered in 1868 so I did a census search for 1861 and 1871. The only person who lives around the particular area with the right name would have been approximately 13 years old at the time. Would it be possible for a 13 year old boy to register a death and why would he? Clare

perhaps it was the father of the child you found in the census that registered the death of your ancestor but he died before the next census, his sosn could have the same name as him. Check FreeBMD might find his death details there. Just a thought. Irene

Clare See this link for info on informants on death certs: http://home*.clara*.net/dixons/Certificates/deaths*.htm#COL 9 REMOVE * FIRST. nell

Thanks for that, all of you - its certainly made me wonder. I suppose I'll never know for certain who the informant was, but at least I'm aware of some of the possibilities now. Clare

I have an elderly male neighbour registering a death (when there was a house full of relatives), people who appear to be nurses, and hosts of sisters-in-law, married daughters etc who are invaluable in fleshing out the family, especially if the surname is fairly common.

One of the frustrating things about certificates is that we only get to see the ones we are interested in. Marriage registers often have 'professional' witnesses who appear on every page. Families certainly have individuals who regularly perform this task. There might be a situation where a child was employed for the purpose, especially if there were illness in the house or no adult free to go.

i register deaths for clients who either have no family or they are too far away to deal with this - i dont believe there is an age limit for the person registering they just have to have all the facts and the doctors death certificate when i do it in the name where it usually says widow \son etc they put 'causing the body to be buried\cremated' Hevi

Thanks folks. I've managed to find out that on the 1861 census, my relative was lodging with the family to which the young boy who registered his death 7 years later belonged to. I do have my suspiscions that lodging wasn't the only thing he was doing there - there's a mother, two grown up daughters and several grandchildren, all with the same surname and not a bloke in sight appart from my great great great grandfather! Hmm. Clare