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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => London & Middlesex Lookup Requests => London and Middlesex => England => London & Middlesex Completed Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Suffolkgirl on Friday 26 September 08 15:15 BST (UK)

Title: Completed - Stillbirth in the early 1900's
Post by: Suffolkgirl on Friday 26 September 08 15:15 BST (UK)

Hi

Am I right in thinking that there are no official records for stillbirths around the early part of the twentieth century?  The area would be Wood Green, Muswell Hill in Middlesex.

A relative mentioned that she thought my grandmother had a stillborn child sometime around 1912-1920, but knew no information about it whatsoever.  I was wondering if there was any way of finding out as all relatives who may have known have passed away.

I have checked FreeBMD (births & deaths) and will try full indexes when I can but thought I read somewhere that if the baby was born dead then it couldn't be registered.

Jan

Title: Re: Stillbirth in the early 1900's
Post by: dawnsh on Friday 26 September 08 17:01 BST (UK)

Hi Jan

Stillborn children weren't registered before 1927.

There's more information half way down here

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/civilreg.html

Dawn

Title: Re: Stillbirth in the early 1900's
Post by: Suffolkgirl on Saturday 27 September 08 13:57 BST (UK)

Thanks Dawn, just what I thought really. 

Jan

Title: Re: Stillbirth in the early 1900's
Post by: Valda on Tuesday 30 September 08 21:34 BST (UK)

Though there is a register of stillbirths from 1927 onwards it is closed to the public (so no GRO index and no FreeBMD transcription of the GRO index). You have to apply to the GRO directly. You have to be either one of the parents, or if they have died a close relative, to obtain a copy of the certificate.
You can however find the burial entries for stillbirths in cemetery registers.

Regards

Valda