Genealogy Chat

When Grannie died in 1980, my Grandad's sister registered the death. I've been unable to obtain a copy of the death certificate through the GRO as I do not have the exact date (Dad thinks it was near Christmas. It was December Qtr, that much is true!). I contacted the local RO and they said much the same as the GRO. BUT if Dad was to approach them, would he be able to obtain a copy of the certificate as her (only surviving) next of kin without the exact date. Thanks Lou

Hi Dea Yes it's on 1837 and I have the ref number but because her death was within the last 50 years I need the exact date to be able to order the certificate and if I had that then I wouldn't need the cert. I know what she died of and where! Hi Chris I'll get Dad to give them a call tomorrow and see if that gets us anywhere. Its not like I want to do anything with the cert, I just want her exact date of death for the tree and a copy of the cert for the tree book. I was lucky with my maternal grandparents in that Mum registered the deaths and still had the certs to give me, the same with Grandad. But when Grannie died, Dad was working away and Grandad was housebound which is why his sister registered the death. Hence her birth date being incorrect on the index! Lou

Hi Pat Thanks for that, might be worth a try. I was only 10 when she died so I don't actually remember even going to the funeral, although I do know she was cremated. That much I remember clearly cos Grannie and Grandad were both C of E but Grandad's sister had reverted to catholicism when she married and there was apparantly a huge row between Dad and this Aunt over burial v cremation! Mind you, if Dad can't even remember the date she died, I'm not sure he will know who organised the arrangements! Lou

Hi Lou, I have just been reading your thread, I have just ordered my grandads cert on line and he died less than 50yrs ago.. Or I have I not understood this thread properly. I am just waiting for it to be delivered. I dont know the exact date he died, I too found it on 1837 then put that ref in and nobody has said I cant have it. Tell me im making sense and I didnt dream that I ordered it!! Debs x

The GRO told me that under the Data Protection Act, any certificate ordered within the last 50 years has different requirements and you need the exact date that the event happened. This isn't the first time this has happened and 3 local Register Offices have told me the same thing. Guess you got lucky Lou

Lou, your right I must have got lucky, in fact just double checked to make sure I hadnt made a mistake and I have the confirmation email, though to be honest its 45 years since he died, so not sure if that explains anything. Debs x

Howdy The only ref i had for my B/F was year and QTR. He died Feb 89- i had no way of knowing the date- didn't even know it was the right man until it came - GRO applied on line as per norm. ~Jess~

I got my uncles and my grandads death cert ok my uncle died 1963 and my grandad 1957 I didn't know exact dates i never had a problem Jeanette

I also got my grandmothers death cert 1976 without the exact date ordered online with GRO reference. Ann

I have recently got 3 death certs all died within the last 50 years, as it would not let me do it on 1837 ,I rang them direct and the lovely lady there sorted it out for me and I got all 3

Hi Lou, I rang our local crematorium last Friday, to try and help me find a missing relly. They were so helpful. They tried to look while I was on the phone, and would let me look through all their records if I made an appointment to go. Found out that the records for crematoriums aren't held at the local RO's!! Happy hunting Paula x

Thanks All I wonder whether the GRO were just being particularly pedantic that day. I'm going to try the local RO again in the morning cos chances are it will be quicker than Southport anyway. And I'll try the crematoriums department, if they can give her date of death I don't need the cert cos I know she died at home of bronchial pneumonia! Lou

Hi Johnathan Yep there is but our local archives office is closed for 3 months for a refit and they haven't put the records elsewhere, they've boxed them! Some of the death records are on the local council's website, they're slowly adding them, but I've checked and Hilda aint there yet! Lou

Hi Pat Hilda Mary Turner (nee Hawkridge) Lou

Pat's message seems to have vanished!

Lou have you tried the cemetery or crematorium records where your grandmother was interred. The information they have could possibly include the date of death Sdeane

Not to worry Pat, thanks anyway Sylvia, I'm going to try that avenue tomorrow! Lou

If there is a gravestone, the date will most likely be on that. If she was cremated the crematorium will look it up for you. They open the book of remembrance every year at the date of death so that family can go and see it. Have any family members kept newspaper cuttings of the obituary? Dianne

Hi Dianne I doubt it or they would have said cos Mum and Dad both know that I'm trying to get her death cert. I'll try the crem, that might be my best option! Lou