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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: taffie01 on Saturday 27 January 18 13:58 GMT (UK)
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hi, hope someone can enlighten me.
In England I was of the understanding that a time of birth was recorded in cases of multiple births.
I have a Scottish birth cert with a time of birth recorded and was wondering whether it also signified a multiple birth, or was it the norm to record the time of birth? The year in question is 1947.
thanks in anticipation
taffie
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Hi,
Yes, they recorded the time aswell. I saw this when I went up to Glasgow and was really pleased when I saw such detail on the births and also on death records.
My records, all different years had the times of the birth, I know they were all single births.
The two death records I have, also had the times of the deaths.
Maggsie
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thanks Maggsie for your prompt reply.
There is no hint of a sibling for this person but thought it best to check. That helps a lot.
thanks
taffie
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Hi,
If there was a twin, the eldest would be listed first and the next entry would be the younger.
In early Ireland Parish record books where there are twins, it would say.........eg.
John
twin to Fred.
then underneath
Fred
twin to John.
Twins were always listed as individuals.
Maggsie
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thanks for that info Maggsie
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Normally, for twins, the word "twin" is inserted below the name on the birth certificate, so you know to look for another child. If you are lucky, they are on the same page on the birth records, so you get two for the price of one.
I expect similar annotation would be made for triplets or any greater multiple. I haven't come across any multiples beyond twins in my family tree.
ADP
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There's the time on my birth certificate, if there's a twin I haven't noticed! ;D
Skoosh.
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Not sure when this started in Scotland but I have the births of my parents going back to 1917/1918 and the time of birth is on them.
Away to check any further back.
Dorrie
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Times of birth and death have been included since the start of statutory registration in Scotland in 1855. How accurate they are is another matter, as they do often seem to be rounded.
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GR2 that would tally with what I have found in my records.
My earliest one seems to be for 1856.
Agree with you about accuracy of the time.
Dorrie
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Thanks to all for your comments and clarification. No need to look any further :)
cheers
taffie
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I am told that when I was born, there was doubt about the time - which side of midnight. So 11.59pm was chosen, and is what was written on my birth certificate. Hence the date was effectively chosen when the time choice was made.
ADP
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hi ADP,
if I was you I would party on both days to be sure your birthday was celebrated. ;D
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I have often wondered how you choose what time a child has been born.
i.e Is it when the baby emerges/is completely born/or when the cord is cut.
I asked a midwife friend who said it's when one of us has time/remembers to glance at the clock depending how easy/fraught the birth has been.
Equally time of death recorded is when the doctor pronounces life extinct I assume.
My dear old dad died last year, the family had spent six days by his side and I feel honoured that it was on my watch. I looked at the clock just after and remember noting the time but obviously it was a good half hour documented on his certificate.
I hadn't realised until recently that this was commonplace nationwide. We were celebrating a friends 60th birthday and I asked him what time of day he was born and he had no idea, his Mum was no longer alive and his Dad couldn't remember.