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Hi everyone,

I have just found out from a death certificate that my grandfather's aunt died after falling down the stairs of her home and fracturing her spine, dying instantly.

Very tragic indeed, especially when you consider she was only 28 and had six children.

I note from the certificate that an inquest was held shortly after he death. It may sound macabre, but does anyone know if the reports from such inquests are readily available and, if so, where would be the best place to try and obtain a copy?

Thanks in adavance.

Can anyone give me there opinion on the following situation?

A couple marry in 1897 in York. It is the second marriage for both of them. They have no connection to York other than the fact that the groom's sister and brother-in-law (both witnesses at the wedding live there). They both live in Barnsley but the bride is originally from Scotland.

The groom is aged 43 and listed on the certificate as a widower, though I have been unable to locate the death of his wife in death registers.

The bride is 29 and listed as a spinster, though she has been married before and has two children from her first marriage. There appears to be no record of the death of her first husband. She uses her original, birth surname on the certificate rather than the surname of her first husband.

I have too questions:
(a) Does this sound like something dodgy is going on?
AND
(b) Is it usual for a woman to use her maiden surname on official documentation if she is a widow, or would she have retained the surname of her dead husband?

I had heard that it was common practice in Scotland for wives not to change their surnames on marriage.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated?

I just thought I'd declare my love for the detail included on Scottish BMD certificates.

Not only does my great great great great grandmother's death certificate from 1855 include a chronological list of all her children, the date of her marriage, the names of both her parents AND her place of burial, I found another gem this morning.

While searching for a birth I came across the birth ceritifcate of a John Green Connell from 1892, which notes in the parents column that the mother and father are not married. Not only this it details clearly that the mother was already married to a fish dealer called Henry Roberts, who she declares is not the father of the child and that she has had no communication with her husband since 1885.

I have seen other certificates with similar extended commentary - such a pity we don't tend to get this in England.

Can anyone help me decipher this certificate?

Firstly, the cause of death - am I right in thinking it is 'typhus fever'?

Secondly, the name of the husband - 'George Swaine'?

The problem I have with the latter is that I strongly believe the certificate to be that of my gr gr gr grandfather's first wife. However, my gr gr gr grandfather was called John Swaine. All the other information fits and interestingly the informant was 'John Swaine, present at death'.

Is it possible that the registrar made an error with the husband's name? I do know John was illiterate so he would have been in no position to correct any errors and its not inconcievable that George/John sound alike especially in a strong accent.

Or am I clutching at straws because I don't want to think I've spent £7 for no reason!!!!???

Hi, I wonder if anyone has ever come a across a situation with the same person appearing on the same census twice but in two different places?

I think my great great great grandfather Joseph Appleyard might appear on the 1861 census twice.

In one entry he is living with his family at Rectory Street, Castleford aged 51, and yet in another entry is he listed as being the only person onboard a vessel called the 'Ann' and aged 53.

I should add that Joseph was a waterman/mariner and his wife is called 'Ann'.

Is it possible these two are one and the same?