document viewing

[boscoe]

When I researched my English genealogy during the summers in the 1980s, part of my time was in St. Catherine's House paging thru birth, marriage, death indexes. Life goes on and I have read that records are now housed in a family center. If one wanted to see say a death certificate in the 80s, a person paid a couple of pounds, waited 20 minutes, an was handed an inked copy of the original. Seeing the original was impossible.

Now the computer probably has all those records on it. If so, can a person go into the family center and use a computer to see a particular document? Or, is it still that one must pay to simply see death information? I really don't care to own a copy. I just want to know who my gr-gr-grand-parents were. And, I can imagine it costs more than a couple of pounds today even with Xerox.

[stanmapstone]

You need to register on the General Register Office (GRO) website to order a copy of a birth, adoption, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate in England and Wales.
https://www.gov.uk/order-copy-birth-death-marriage-certificate

Stan

[KGarrad]

You can also view the Indexes by using FreeBMD.org.uk.

It's a volunteer project and has data until 1983.
There is almost 100% coverage until 1940 - the coverage drops off after that, as it's still an ongoing project.

The GRO site now has a searchable Index.
Mother's maiden names are shown on almost all births from 1837 until 1915.
Age at death is shown on deaths during the same time period.

You have to register (as Stan said), but it's free to use.

[stanmapstone]

When I researched my English genealogy during the summers in the 1980s, part of my time was in St. Catherine's House paging thru birth, marriage, death indexes. Life goes on and I have read that records are now housed in a family center.parents were. And, I can imagine it costs more than a couple of pounds today even with Xerox.

The records were held at St Catherine's House until 1997, when they were transferred to the Family Records Centre at Myddleton Street in North London which closed in 2008.  Family Records Centre staff and services were then moved  to the National Archives Kew.

Stan

[panda40]

Given that it is your 3x great grandparents you are after they should be traceable in the census documents available online. If you post details of who you are looking for or the line you are searching for we can help you on here.
Regards panda

[Kiltpin]

It's a volunteer project and has data until 1983.
There is almost 100% coverage until 1940 - the coverage drops off after that, as it's still an ongoing project.

I am sure that I have asked this before (and been given an answer), but I still don't know - Why does FreeBDM stop at 1983, please?

Regards

Chas

[panda40]

After 1984 the records are computerised. Before this date they require transcribing which is done by a wonderful band of volunteers.
Regards panda

[Kiltpin]

After 1984 the records are computerised. Before this date they require transcribing which is done by a wonderful band of volunteers.
Regards panda

Thanks for that, Panda. Makes sense now that I think about it. Am I right in thinking that the 1984 onwards records are on both Ancestry and FindMyPast?

Regards

Chas

[louisa maud]

Boscoe
Let us know who they are, we might be able to help, or at least give us some information to go along with

Louisa Maud