Genealogy Chat

Hi Jo, I found an entry similar to this for someone who had been born illegitimately, but had later had her name changed to that of her father. The original entry in the birth index is typeset as normal, but the later entry is a 'see <month><year>' handwritten type at the bottom of the page. If you know the mother's maiden name, it might be worth looking for that entry in 1905 too. One thing to bear in mind is that you will only get the latest modified version of the birth certificate issued, and not the original. As an aside, one of my husband's relatives was registered as normal, but, unknown to him (and apparently to his parents), his first name was mis-spelled in the original entry. When he went to do his National Service, he was nearly had up on a fraud charge as the Navy said he wasn't who he said he was! His parents had to get his birth certificate modified by taking his baptism certificate to the register office and signing a declaration. That entry is handwritten at the bottom of the births index page, but because the surname is the same, it's one of those numeric entries with an 'a' stuck on the end of it. :-) Chris

Thank you everybody. Dad and I are waiting for the certificate - wonder where that may lead us........................ Good luck to all you others out there searching. Jo

Jill A few reasons for an adult registration would be: In order to start work at age 14, or whatever - under the Factories Act. To join the Armed Forces (not sure when that came in) At the end of an Apprenticeship, you had to produce a birth cert before you could get your indentures back - again, not sure when that rule started. At the age of 65, in order to get a State Pension. But people who could not track down their birth certs would often swear a Declaration in front of a JP, and I am not at all sure these were recorded by the GRO - probably not, as they are not actually birth registrations! Is it possible he was illegitimate and registered under his mother's name? OC

Hi Jo I also had an amendment to one of my entries. J27 definitely refers to the June quarter and 27 to the year. Mine also had a circle with a vertical line through it which means it is a name issue. Lesley

Thanks OC. He was born in Camberwell. I will see what I can find out. Jill

Jill My first advice would be to look in the local bmds - that is where all my missing people turn up! Despite what the GRO say, many events never got passed from the local RO to the GRO. Of course, this is no help if you don't know WHERE they were born. OC

Could this be the reason I cannot find birth cert for my paternal grandfather? I know he was born in July 1884 but even though the GRO searched from Jan 1883 to Dec 1885 there was no sign of him. Could he have been registered years later? (I'm happy to search for him for as long as it takes but only if it won't be yet another waste of time.) OC - can you advise please? Thanks Jill

Thanks OC My father and I have been searching for my grandad's birth for many years now, we.re hoping this could be it, although his other certificates ( marriage and death ) suggest he was born before 1903. We've sent off for a 1911 report and this new birth certificate. Thanks again Jo

Sounds as if the correction was made in 1927 and refers back to the entry made in 1905. Perhaps his parents 'forgot' to register him when he was born, and he had to do it by Declaration in 1927? OC

Hi Teresa Very wierd, but there is also a correction to a George E Cook in Tynemouth in June 1927, thats 22 years apart???? Jo

Hi Sue, Thanks for your reply, I'm not sure but the correction entry is on page 117 and I can't think what the J would be for?

I think it means June quarter of 1927, not sure why though! Teresa

Hi Jo, would it be the page number? Sue

Please can anyone explain what 'see J/27' ( I think thats what it says) means on a correction to a birth entry. Looking at the birth index for George E Cook Tynemouth 10B Sept Q 1905, he is added as a correction to the bottom of the page. Thanks, Jo