Genealogy Chat

Informants on death certs are more likely to be close relatives rather than friends. I mean who would you get to be present at your dying mother or fathers bedside, a friend or a family member, so if you get the wrong cert, or if you are still unsure if it is the right one, check and then research witnesses at marriages or informants on death certs. Witnesses were also often relatives.

Dave, Many thanks for this thread. I'm not a 'newbie' but I have never thought of investigating witnesses who I don't recognise as relatives. Perhaps I can now trace some missing G G Aunts. Rosemary(Essex)

Dea, If you order via .www.gro.gov.uk/gro then you can fill in boxes for parents names or cross ref to surnames etc. just look for the reference box at the bottom and click on it to bring down the details box. If you order via local authorities you may have to send an hand written note with your order saying what your parameters are. good hunting Dave

Have taken good notice of the helpful tips. Just to underline the importance of the witnesses on marriage certs. I had saved for over a year the census details of a family of Donoghues but couldn’t prove they were the right ones as I didn’t have older children’s names. Finally last week had enough info to send for my grandmother’s sister’s marr cert. Witnesses Benjamin and Norah proved I had the right family after all, and Norah’s married name has opened up a new avenue to explore, as on the census her in-laws were living in the same street as other family members. This is the first real progress I’ve made on my grandmother’s family. Happy rellie hunting. Carol

nudge