Genealogy Chat

Yes, the mother must have given the father's name before the registrar realised that they were not married and he could not be named on the certificate if he was not present.

The numbers next to the crossing out and in the margin refer to mistakes or amendments which are then put into a separate book or log with these numbers against them. It means that these were number 19 and 20 in a given period.

I don't suppose that when the registrar made this amendment in 1880 anyone thought that someone would still be looking at this more than 130 years later!!

I really wish the same thing had happened with my grandmother's birth certificate. She was illegitimate with no possibility of us knowing who her father was so it's a bonus for you really.

Kath. x

I would have thought that arguments over tampering would occur if the names were completely blacked out.
In my case the parents actually married some time later - but being able to see the fathers name is great news for some.

That's interesting nameslessone! I thought if it had been error the Registrar would have made sure that the father's name could not be read at all but it was still clear for everyone to see!

I had something very similar when I was having to do some research for probate following a family death.

It indicates that the mother named the father who was not present and as they were not married could not be named. ( Because it was for probate I rang the local registry office to confirm it - the numbers have no specific relevance.)

Mine went a little further as the Registrar started writing the mothers surname to match the father.

I am in receipt of a Birth Certificate for an illegitimate child born in 1880 in Ely. I was really surprised to see a father's name on the certificate; however the Registrar has put a thin line through both the first name and surname of the father but the name can still be clearly seen.

The Registrar has put the number 19 against the first name and 20 against the surname. On the left hand side of the certificate the Registrar has written the words Nineteen and Twenty and then placed his initials. Now I realise that he has done this to show that it was he that had made the amendment.

But why would the Registrar make this amendment?

Has anyone come across anything similar?

Thanks in advance