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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: clairec666 on Wednesday 19 September 18 13:45 BST (UK)

Title: What does this mean in a burial register?
Post by: clairec666 on Wednesday 19 September 18 13:45 BST (UK)

I'm transcribing a burial register. This record appears in 1893. Does anyone know what is the meaning of the two numbers in the age column? What's the word in between the two numbers? Incidentally, the GRO death index records her age as 68.

Title: Re: What does this mean in a burial register?
Post by: Bookbox on Wednesday 19 September 18 14:15 BST (UK)

I think it is al., standing for alias, meaning ‘otherwise’. So the death cert gives her age as 68, but the vicar had another source of information stating that she was 76.

There is a person of that name in the Maldon workhouse in 1891 aged 73.

Title: Re: What does this mean in a burial register?
Post by: BushInn1746 on Wednesday 19 September 18 14:19 BST (UK)

Hello

I have seen "al" and "als" an abbreviation for also, or alias.

I would say that there are two ages for this individual going on, one age given to the Civil Authorities (The Registrar) and if a Church Burial, the age the Parish believe the person is.

Mark

Title: Re: What does this mean in a burial register?
Post by: clairec666 on Wednesday 19 September 18 14:40 BST (UK)

Thank you both. I suspect if she was in the workhouse, they may not have known her exact age.

Title: Re: What does this mean in a burial register?
Post by: Bookbox on Wednesday 19 September 18 14:52 BST (UK)

Quote from: clairec666 on Wednesday 19 September 18 14:40 BST (UK)

I suspect if she was in the workhouse, they may not have known her exact age.

Or the workhouse may have known, but the person registering the death didn't.