Author Topic: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD  (Read 2193 times)

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Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« on: Saturday 03 March 18 13:54 GMT (UK) »
I've just started to do postems on Freebmd and am scratching my chin about a death certificate that I have.

The maximum number of characters allowed on postems is 250.  If I were to enter all the info from the 1978 cert I have, I would run out of characters. 

What information would Rootschatters regard as most useful from a death certificate of this era?

Can you do two postems for one certificate?

I've just about had enough room to enter info from birth and marriage certs although for some of those I've had to be creative.

Your thoughts on the above would be appreciated.
Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Offline Wendy2305

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 03 March 18 14:23 GMT (UK) »
I would stick to putting info that can't be gleaned from just the index that could identify relatiobns etc

Age at death
fathers/spouse/informant names

Can't think of anything else at the moment
Hope that helps

Offline Ayashi

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 03 March 18 14:38 GMT (UK) »
You could abbreviate or omit words. Many of the ones I've put on there have simply been the info, such as:
1/1/1900 London - Joe Bloggs - Boy - son of Joe Bloggs and Jane formerly Smith - Carpenter - etc

under the understanding that most people looking it up would understand the format.

Pretty sure you can do more than one postem for an entry.

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 03 March 18 15:07 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for your thoughts Wendy and Ayashi.

I guess age/dob, spouse and informant would be useful for anyone.  Could start with that and then see how much 'space' is left.

I can't seem to find any means of contacting freebmd to ask about possibly providing more characters (space) to enter information. 
Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire


Offline rosie99

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #4 on: Saturday 03 March 18 15:30 GMT (UK) »
I suppose you have to be careful with more recent certificates as informants could still be living. I know some burial sites obscure this type of information which often includes address.

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Offline dawnsh

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #5 on: Saturday 03 March 18 15:36 GMT (UK) »
Freebmd may only ever go up to 1983, so some informant address details on deaths from this may be out of date now.

I personally though would never post birth cert details for anyone who is still alive.
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Sherry-Paddington & Marylebone,
Longhurst-Ealing & Capel, Abinger, Ewhurst & Ockley,
Chandler-Chelsea

Offline rosie99

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #6 on: Saturday 03 March 18 15:42 GMT (UK) »
Freebmd may only ever go up to 1983

I wonder how many of us on here have our births and marriages on there   ;D   

I would not post marriage details of anyone likely to still be living either.
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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #7 on: Saturday 03 March 18 16:00 GMT (UK) »
Of what I have done so far the most recent are a 1928 marriage and a 1978 death.  I did have a look for the informant from the 1978 death and it appears that she died in 2000.

I guess the best thing would be to apply the 100 year rule to births so anyone born after 1918 will not be added.

For the 1928 marriage I listed both persons are dead one of whom is the 1978 death.

Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire

Online Girl Guide

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Re: Minimum information for Postems on FreeBMD
« Reply #8 on: Saturday 03 March 18 16:03 GMT (UK) »
Rosie -  I certainly have my birth on free bmd but not my marriage yet........no doubt it will be added at some point in time.
Ashford: Somerset, London
England: Devon, London, New Zealand
Holdway: Wiltshire
Hooper: Bristol, Somerset
Knowling: Devon, London
Southcott: Devon, China
Strong: Wiltshire
Watson: Cambridgeshire
White: Bristol
Windo - Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire