Genealogy Chat

Hi Aileen, Nope, not any more. I used to want to order 10-12 at a time, and couldn't allow myself to spend that much in one go in the name of family research. Just used to pick out 3-4 that I *really* had to have! Then when the GRO had that huge back log some time back and the certs were taking months to come, I couldn't be doing with ordering a few at a time, and waiting so long. So now I order the ones I want/need/have found after ages! and hang the consequences. My current order is for 8, my last one was for 13! Debbie

I could have had a real decent holiday with the lot I have. If only my hubby knew!! I have more death certs than the others because in a lot of cases their marriages etc were before 1837. Death certificates often have a great deal of info on them especially if the daughter is informant. Difficult sometimes to follow the ladies but her married name and often address on the cert sets you off all over again. What they died of too can be very informative-- senectus had me rushing for the dictionary the first time I came across it .. had to laugh tho....old age. Why not put that in the first place. Doctors liked to surround themselves with an aura of mystique , made them feel more important I suppose. I really feel sorry for those that died of cancer in the 1800, early 1900's tho'; the pain they must have endured beggars belief. Having their death certs reminds you how poor and vunerable they often were and they become 'real' people instead of just a name to add to the tree. Kat

I've had a couple of death certs today. Both Jane Smith, both died in the same qtr and had the same page and vol. Mother and daughter. The mother was the informant on the death of her daughter of consumption and died 3 weeks later herself of pleurisy. Margaret

Another reason for not getting death certs - they can really get to you. My gt grandfather's upset me for lots of reasons. He left my gt gran with 7 children, the youngest were twins not quite 6 years old. The kids were old enough to know what was happening. The cancer was the sort that he would have got from his job - a chemical works where they made aniline dyes & all sorts of nasty stuff. And I daren't think about the pain & suffering. No real treatment those days, surgery would have been out of the question for various reasons (1890). One of the other certs, for another death just a year later, made me smile though. Reason - Decay of Nature. Age at death - 60.

With out counting I have no idea how many certificates I have, but I work from digital copies so even if (heavan forbid) I lost all the paper ones in a fire I would still have them. I have a few originals and a few original copies (copies that the parents got for employment or education). I've never had a wrong certificate but have been lucky that I've had some unusual names or been able to cross referance with other sources. I have ordered 5 certs at a time twice but usually send for 3 as I save up for them and only get them when I can afford them. I can't wait to get 2 G-grandparents death certificates as from what has been said about them prior to death, I think thay both had cancer. I get the impression that my G-grandmother may have had cervixal cancer and my G-grandfather may have had lung cancer. Neither went to the doctor nor told anyone that they were ill, both must have been in alot of pain but never showed it until their last days. I'd also like to find a cousins birth and death but have no idea of her name or when her birth and death took place other that she died of burns/ scolds when she was about 6 and her death tore the family apart. Lunar xXx

Merry I envy you my husband is completely not interested I wish he were sometimes when I get excited and theres nobody to get excited with, just the dog .I have to wait and share my news with our neighbour who is doing his Tree and I think is as excited for me as I am, mind you he could be just being kind. I have actually traced a couple of rellies who have left money intestate which I can still claim including a couple of Houses ,even that doesnt excite him, so I told him when and if I ever get it he is having none of it its all mine, so there ..

My block buster was ordering 19 certificates for one birth in a last and demented attempt to find out the name of my 2 x GGFs first wife. I did them 3 at a time and thanks to the helpful Local Registrars, didnt have to pay for any wrong ones (I specified father's name). I finished up paying for 6, which had the correct father's name. I managed to rule out three (obligingly still at home with mummy and daddy on census night, so not mine). But I am left with three who may or may not be 'mine'. Two of the mothers are called Mary and one is called Hester. I know this woman was dead by 1859, so I looked for deaths between 1855 and 1859 - hundreds and hundreds of them! But normally, I only send for max 3 a month, and lately, have been buying Wills instead - half the price and usually LOADS more useful information! Olde Crone

Sadly, I don't think that a fireproof safe will protect certificates if it gets hot enough. In the same way that coal turns to coke and wood turns to charcoal in the presence of heat and absence of air, so paper will go black. Paper is, after all, finely chopped wood.

Forgot to say - I have added £1000 to my House Insurance to specifically cover my certs, costs me an extra £15 per year. I have a Fire proof safe box (don't use it though!) which states at least two hours protection from fire and smoke damage up to a temp of 500C. I keep it by the back door and believe me it will be the only thing I pick up if I get the chance. Olde Crone