finding exact dates to obtain certificates

[Elin]

I'm trying to order a birth certificate onile for my great grandfater, born 1837. I know it's in the 1st quarter of the year, and have the GRO reference etc but not an exact date (that's one of the reasons for getting the certificate!!). When I try to order the certificate from GRO it says an exact date is required.:blink:

Does anyone know how I can find the exact date (no leads by takling to people)

or, can I guess a date in the quater and still get the certificate at the GRO site says they only check the name?

Ta for your help

[bernie]

I have the same problem on that site it wont let you send without an exact date its the first time I have used the site I have always sent to the registrars office in the town they were born to obtain a certificate but I thougt it would be quicker this way

[Elin]

Bernie do they still charge the same amount for that - £7?

[bernie]

yes the cost is £7 but I think they do one with a quicker service but I dont no how much that costs
I just sent them an email asking how I go about obtaining one with out the full date of birth but I dont think I will get a reply until monday on that one.
the birth I am looking for is a london one I have the date and vol no but not the full date of birth.
I might give the registrars office a ring next week and see if they can do anything

[Elin]

OOoo! Could you tell me what they say please? It's a bit difficult for me as I'm in Scotland an all the records are in England!

[jantyannie]

have you tried checking on familysearch.org to see if they have the date?

[Elin]

no luck.:( But ta Joanne.

[Sandie V]

Do you know when your great grandfather died? Some of the death records have the date of birth next to them. Just a thought?

[Scrappy~Sarah]

Did not know that they needed a full dob, as that (I thought) was one of the main reasons for getting the cert. I don' t believe I needed that info before.

[Scrappy~Sarah]

Just thought may be silly, but are you going through the GRO web site??

[Sandie V]

I've just thought that too. The GRO website doesn't ask for exact dates, just the quarter and year.

[GardenAngel]

I think that's right, the GRO site just asks for the GRO reference, which I think you will have - it's the year, quarter and page no, basically. I think the only time you need the exact date is if you don't have the GRO reference (and you can only do this for certificates dating from 1900 up to 18 months before the present date where the exact details are known).

The FAQs section of the GRO website here may be able to help you
http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/c...s/faqs.asp#bmd3

It says "If you have not done your own searching in the GRO indexes, you may apply online for any event which took place on or after 1st January, 1900 to 18 months from current date, provided you know the exact date of the event. Again, you will be prompted to supply further details for more recent births and deaths as you complete the online application form."

But prior to 1900, you need to supply the GRO anyway, and you should not need the exact date. Just a thought, but check what you are typing in when you make the request. Make sure you are typing 1837 and not 1937. Yes, I know, it sounds daft, but I am always making mistakes like that!! :lol:

Kerry x
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[Jab]

Civil registration didn't start until 1.7.1837 so you wouldn't find a GRO ref anyway if he was born in the first quarter. I've no idea what you do for births before then. If you know where he was born you could try looking at the parish registers, the birth date might be on there.

[Elin]

It's the GRO I'm going through - your do put in the GRO reference etc but at almost the last step it asks for DOB. Sorry, I typed it wrong, it's 1873.:blink: and no, I've not death date either. (Can't find him - Thomas Jefferson Barratt, born 1837, died approx 1906-7 when his daughter Hilda was 3)

[Sandie V]

ELIN
I've found him!! I've saved the image, so I can email it to you if you like. He died in the OCT/NOV/DEC quarter in 1906. I won't put the GRO references on here, pm me if you want the image and info and I'll email it to you.

[Sandie V]

ELIN
Just found his birth too! JAN/FEB/MAR 1873. PM me!!

[nikkimitch]

you shouldnt need the exact date of birth - just the gro ref - just tried myself but run out of credits on 1837online.co.uk good luck hope someone can solve this for you

[Elin]

Sandie Thank You very much! I've just PM'd you.

[Elin]

Girls Thank you very much for your help. I think I know what I was doing wrong. I had the exact GRO (but not his death one!) but when I was filling in the information form I was putting just a year in the date of birth field, which is an optional field. It wouldn't let me proceed as I had not put a correctly formatted date in. Whne I tried again with no date at all in the box it let me part with £7!!:D:D

It's lovely having so much help around!

[nikkimitch]

so glad you solved it - hope the cert helps you get further back - i am at lots of brickwalls at the moment :blink: :unsure:

[Elin]

It's really dishartening when you stop getting anywhere isn't it. Must admit it's been almost a year since I picked mine up. With a fresh set of eyes I saw a branch I'd not tried before!