|
Around 90% of register offices supply copy certs and the majority will scan the original register.
The original thread listing was deleted by GR two years ago (it was my thread originally, listed alphabetically by office name), the newer version is around somewhere but suffers from the same problem mine had including posts claiming that GRO certs are originals!!!
When ordering it is best to ask for a scan and state that the office must inform you if this is not possible BEFORE they issue a copy cert. It may be that the original is too fragile or would be damaged during the process (local offices are obliged to preserve the documents).
Supply a contact number, in every case where i have done so i have had a call explaining the situation in advance where the original can't be scanned.
If i can just clarify a point from the last post.....
"Even with copies of original certificates, J, if the ancestors could not read or write you still end up with a cert in the handwriting of the clerk or registrar."............
The cert is completed by the registrar anyway, it is just the signature(s) or their mark that would have been entered by the informant or the couple and winesses regardless of whether they could read or write.
However GRO certs are transcribed several times before the cert is created, this multiple transcription system can introduce errors that are less likely to appear on the original documents hence my preference for original documents when possible.
|
|
These were all reasonably recent certs. The births all being between 1890 & 1900 but the earliest death, which there were more of, was 1951.
I can understand if the original documents are old and in poor condition, but the likely hood of all these 10 relatively modern certs being in that state is very unlikely I would have thought.
The point is I wanted a copy of the original rather than a transcription, whether it was my ancestors handwriting or not.
Even if they made their mark it would be their mark I would be seeing on a copy of the original. How do I know if they have trancribed dates correct or not? At least if I transcribe them wrong its my own fault. But now I have no way of knowing how clear or unclear it actually is.
|
|
Thanks for your reply's everyone.
It is frustrating because I have heard time & time again people saying it is better to get them from the local registrar, and ask for a photocopy (which I did). In my eyes they have not fulfilled my request, I never even put "if possible" I asked for photocopies of the certs.
Shouldn't they have got in touch and said "sorry we can not supply photocopies only transcribed copies, do you still want us to go through with the order?"
They had my e-mail address so it wouldn't have cost them.
|
|
Every certificate,no matter where you obtain it,is a copy of an entry in a register.
Unless it is a photostat of that register it will not have the handwriting of anyone other than the person who made the copy.
|
|
When I started my family history some years ago I ordered the birth cert for my gt grandmother direct from the local office where she was born...I was so disappointed to see that it was type written!
Not only that they had typed the maiden name of my 2x gt grandmother incorrect...they had typed Longworthy and not Langworthy. Thank goodness the informant was a maternal aunt who was married and I was able to find the correct surname through this marriage.
I stick with the GRO now.
Linda
|
|
Hello J,
I did the same thing when I started on GR, my family came from Scotland but hubby's were English and came from Durham.
I therefore sent to Durham Records Office for the certificates and they were all in the same handwriting so I did know someone had just copied the info onto blank certificates. I did learn from that to make sure any others were ordered from GRO.
Betty
|
|
Hi
Not all register offices provide scans of the original..there used to be a list on here of which ones that did, but I cant find it.
|
|
I sent for 10 certificates and just received them this morning.
As I wanted to see the signatures etc of my ancestors, I decided to apply for them from the local registration office rather than the GRO. I put in my letter that I would like photo copies, I am disappointed that every one is the same handwriting, the handwriting of the registrar who issued them to me!
On one of the death certs the initial of the person who registered the death is clearly a T and was the son. Now I know this person did not have any sons with the initial T but did have a son Sydney who lived at the same address given on the cert. If I was new to this and didnt already have this information I could have spent ages looking for this son with initial T but if I had the original I would be able to make my own mind up what the initial was instead of having to rely on their transcription.
Any way rant over.
Have any of you had the same?
|
