Genealogy Chat

That's handy to know Andrew - it only has the registrar's name Carole

If the registration was really a year late then the cert would have had to be signed by the registrar AND the superintendent registrar. If it only has the registrar's name then it's just a mistake writing the date. Andrew

Kate Would this be on the beta index on Ancestry?

Thanks Merry, It did seem a bit unlikely, my cousin thinks that they got married then so they could qualify for the newly introduced pension! I hope to order the cert when I've got the funds! Lynn

Sorry all, been busy mailing Lancashire Registration office to ask them to check the dates Porkie Pie - yep realised I'd put my foot in it maths wise after (lol) Carole

Carole - I just realised something. If it was a late registration, then there should be a handwritten entry on the GRO birth index for the quarter in which he was actually born, saying 'see Mar 1878' or whatever quarter it was that the registration took place. So you can check for that, and if it isn't there I would bet on it being a mistake on the certificate. Kate.

That's right, Merry, my mother's birth certificate says her birth was registered the January BEFORE the December in which she was born! Kate.

Lynn, it's highly unlikely that the 1908 entry is a late reg for an 1860's marriage. More likely there was a reason they couldn't marry earlier, such as one of them already having a spouse (not saying this IS the reason!) Carole, Was your ancestor born in January?? If he was then it might be a slip of the pen by the registrar, entering the previous year by mistake......You know how it is,.....1st Jan we are all really concious of the new year, but after a few weeks we make a slip and write the previous year by mistake! Merry

Carole, if born in DEC 1877 then he would be aged 4 on an 1881 April? He would be 3 years old, would not be 4 years untill dec 1881 Roy

Hi, can I just ask if anyone knows if a marriage registration could be late? My Great great grandfather was listed on 1871 census as being married, with children dating back to 1864 but the only marriage record I can find is in 1908! could this be a mistake do you think? The names are Edward Chapman Barley and Septiana Anderton, so not likely to have the wrong one. Lynn : )

I think anything is possible I was helping a friend and her father was not registered until over 20 years later by his mother we haven't figured out why she redistered him so late as all the other children were registered at the right times, And when you goto the year of his birth he is hand written at the bottom and his page number is Mch31 showing he was registered in March 1931. ~ very strange Zoe

Thanks for tips all - am busy trying to sort my maths out now - oh dear - they only kept me in O level maths because they had to. :-)

If you got the cert from the GRO, don't bother going back to them......contact the LOCAL reg office where the cert was issued and ask them about their copy, which will be the original. Merry

Yes think so, if fhe was born in DEC 1877 then he would be aged 4 on an 1881 April census not three. But as he wasn't living with his parents then they could also have made a mistake. Best do as you suggest Annette, make sure there hasn't ben amistake from the GRO. Carole

I'd check with the office that issued the certificate, my Grandad's birth certificate states he was registered in 1907 (he was born in 1901) but when I checked with the Registry Office they had actually made an error when they wrote out the certificate. Update: If the GRO have made a mistake they should replace the certificate free of charge I would think. Annette

Hi Marry from the cert I have him on the 1881 census - right age - hold on, am off to check update on 1881 age 3 ---oh , being thick here, what was the census date?

Where have you got the two dates from?? Are they the dates on the actual cert? How old is he on the 1881 census? Merry

Helen Yes, I read through some of the previous threads about this - can understand late registration for reasons of school, marriage etc, but why for a one-year old?

Spot on Pippa - he was illegitimate

Is it possible that his parents weren't married when he was born?