Best place for Certificates?

[vicachick]

Ok so got quite far tracing my family back using my 2 week free trial on Ancestry!!
Now I need to get hold of some copies of certificates, do I have to go to the office the events were registered in or can I order them online?
If so where is the best/cheapest place to get them?
Thanks for your help

[nikkimitch]

www.1837online.co.uk has a link to the government record office and it is quite straight forward to order them then with the correct reference which you obtain by searching the indexes on 1837online

[Jab]

I always order certificates from the GRO website www.gro.gov.uk, costs £7, they take about a week to arrive. If your trial on Ancestry hasn't run out you can look for the references on there or on http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/ for dates between 1837 and 1912ish. I've never been to a registry office, the last couple I ordered were in North Bierley and Huddersfield, not really practical when you live in Berkshire!

[Scrappy~Sarah]

BMD Searches also FOC at ancestry now - see my thread BMD Searches (freebmd not quite complete I am led to believe)

[Sandie V]

The freebmd isn't complete, you're right. There are plenty of years and quarters completely missing. Its a good place to start though.

[Scrappy~Sarah]

Yes of course - no problem - they also have some of the other census there too.

[Rudishoes]

Hello Kim :D

As an alternative to using the GRO site, you can usually make a postal application to the Register Office in the district where the event occurred, although it's a good idea to phone first and check that they do certificate production. The cost is the same as for GRO, i.e. £7 for certificates from closed registers, and in our office we deal with applications the day we receive them, so it may be a bit quicker than GRO :) If you need any more info on this Kim, email me!

[Scrapcomber]

The only problem I found with local as opposed to Southport is my local Register office writes the copies out by hand whereas Southport photocopies the original.

[Jab]

I ordered a certificate from Southport for my grandparent's marriage certificate then my mother decided to tell me she had a copy that they had got in 1930 odd (thanks mum!). The interesting thing was on my 'new' copy one of the witnesses was written as Florence Burchell, on the 'old' one it was Frances Burchell. My grandmother was Florence and her step mother was Frances. I assume the 'old' certificate is correct.

[vicachick]

Thanks for the advice everyone, my Great-Great Grandmother's Marriage Certificate arrived this morning from GRO (Her Hubby's address was Lancaster Asylum!!!! But apparently he was employed there not being treated!!)
This could be addictive, even getting DH interested although tracking down Williams's in Wales could be fun...

[jqp]

I wouldn't assume either is correct without going back to Southport. I think I would be inclined to phone them to tell them what has happened and can they check it again for you and then write to confirm the conversation enclosing a copy of both certificates. I'd be cheeky and ask them to photocopy it for you as you now have two 'official' copies that are very vastly different!

[Jab]

I'd never thought of that, maybe I should give it a go and see what they say. Looking on my 'puter I've only scanned one of them so it'll have to wait until I go to mothers and get the other one. There's a couple of odd things with Florence anyway.
I've just noticed you're in Bradford, my mum and dad's childhood playground. I'm doing mum's maternal side at the mo, which is confirming things she'd gathered during her childhood but didn't actually know.

[jqp]

If you want any photos of anything from around here, I'm quite happy to go hunting and snapping for you.

Where abouts in Berkshire are you, I used to live in Woking with a sister in Bracknell (or near Ascot as she would say!)

[Jab]

LOL at the Bracknell/Ascot thing. I know a few people like that! I'm in Slough.
I'm not sure that many places still exist from my parent's time, will have to ask mum. Last week I joined the Bradford FHS, specifically for their link scheme, hoping someone will do an inquest lookup for me. If you ever find yourself in the Central Library with time to spare let me know!

[jqp]

Let me know what you are looking for...will always give me a reason for going down there and doing something...

Even if they have pulled something down, or it has changed, still quite happy to take photos....I discovered that a gt gt uncle used to be the Methodist Minister in Bradford in 1890. Found where he lived and went to take a photo and a lady came out, told me her brother now owned it and was renovating it. Because it had stood empty for so long all the good stuff had gone, but she took me into her house to show me what it would have looked like....Some people are so nice.

I know Slough, not very well. I used to teach embroidery at a centre there, for TVU. MIL lives in Shepperton and parents in Byfleet.

[Jab]

Wll PM you.