Charles RIDDLE

[Greaves]

I am having trouble locating a birth certificate for a distant relative of mine named Charles RIDDLE, whose surname has been spelled in a variety of different ways, e.g. Riddell, Riddel, Ridle, etc.

He was born according to a baptism record in the Workhouse at Chiddingfold, Surrey. His parents were William and Harriett RIDDLE. He was baptised at Hambledon, Surrey on 25 July 1839.

He had a very short life, being buried on 29 Mar 1840 in the Hambledon House of Industry. I have located a death certificate [Q1 1840 Hambledon 4 132], but have been unable to find a matching birth certificate. I am fairly sure that such a document would have existed, given that he was born in the Workhouse.

Whilst I am typing this, does anyone have any idea of the meaning and/or function of the "Hambledon House of Industry"?

[Kay99]

I think the Hambledon House of Industry was the workhouse.   
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ht3/

Edit - I can't see a birth  record for Charles either  but registration wasn't compulsory at the time

[Greaves]

I know that registration wasn't compulsory, but would expect a certificate in this case as: (1) this family registered all their other children including one born earlier in 1837, and (2) this birth took place in an official building, namely the Workhouse.

[louisa maud]

Was there a date of birth on the entry, have you actually seen the workhouse records to find out more about the family, when they arrived and when departed, is there any evidence he was born in the workhouse or even in that area

Louisa Maud

[Greaves]

No, I'm afraid that there was no DOB on the baptism record.

As for the workhouse records, I'm not sure what is available or how to access them. The evidence for a workhouse birth is from the baptismal record, which states that the family abode was the workhouse and the burial record which gives the abode as "Hambledon House of Industry".