Handwritten Entry - Birth Records

kernowmaid

kernowmaid

Our very own Cornish Maid
Could someone please tell me why a handwritten entry should be added to the "official" Birth Records? Could it be to officially change a child's surname?

My gran's sister, Harriet Copley, married Albert Fisher in Q3 1907. In the 1911 Census (Notts/Arnold/ED5/page 394) she records 5 children - 3 living, 2 dead. So she either got it wrong (unlikely), had twins twice losing one each time (can't find suitable deaths) or started producing before she married (highly likely, given this family's track record).

In the 1911 Census her eldest son is Samuel, 5 years old.
There is a Samuel COPLEY born Q3 1905, Basford (vol 7b, pg 275).
BUT there is a handwritten entry under FISHER (same Q3 1905).
"Samuel, Basford, Sep/38".

Yes, I know the only way I'll get the true answer is to order certificates ... but with 14 siblings producing infants all over the place ... it's getting expensive!

All help gratefully received!

Jane
 
In Sep 1938 there is a registration of a Samuel Fisher in Basford.

upload_2014-9-22_17-44-43.png

The hand written one in 1905 must be a cross reference to the later one. But why I have no idea, unless as you say he changed his name.

Edited to add. Maybe Albert decided to recognise him as his and to make Samuel legitimate ?
 
Sometimes people got the instructions wrong and entered all their children, not just those from the current marriage. Could she have been married before?

Also, any chance of finding baptism records for the children? If you can it is usually cheaper than buying certificates and can sometimes clear up mysteries.

Good luck with the hunt,
Lynda
 
I have a feeling that legislation came in either in the late 1920s (along with the registration of still births?) or early 1930s that allowed for a birth to be re-registered if the parents subsequently married, thus allowing for the father to be named on the child's birth certificate.

However, this is something that I think that I have read somewhere and so am unable to confirm.
 
Daft Bat said:
I have a feeling that legislation came in either in the late 1920s (along with the registration of still births?) or early 1930s that allowed for a birth to be re-registered if the parents subsequently married, thus allowing for the father to be named on the child's birth certificate.

However, this is something that I think that I have read somewhere and so am unable to confirm.
Click to expand...
Found it! :D
The Legitimacy Act of 1926.

Okay, so it took them a few years afterwards to do it.... ;)
 
Thank you, guys, for the above. Especially Chimp (for finding the entry) and Jan (for the 1926 Act). Lynda, I don't think she had been married before - but I'm going to explore that further. But getting the info from the Baptism records is BRILLIANT!

... Now where do I go to be able to look at Baptisms in Bulwell and Arnold, Nottinghamshire, 1879 to 1903? (I've got Ancestry, but they don't seem to have a searchable database, just those darn links from hints which usually want me to look at USA info!)

Jane
 
Well if you ask very nicely :)……

[I already have a shopping list…and I'm feeling more energetic than I have been the last few weeks. If you give me names, I could see what I can do down the Local Studies Library (where they have copies of the registers…….)].
 
Last edited:
Dear Flook - You really are a True Gentleman.
Thank You.
That is a very kind offer, and I'll bear it in mind ... but (I think I must be a control freak!) I find that the search itself is part of the thrill of finding my ancestors!
So, for now, I'll look for a CD. Or perhaps persuade hubby to spend a few extra days in Notts next time we're visiting the grandchildren in Matlock. Where would the best place be to look at the registers?
Jane
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top