An entry in the Dr Williams' Library index usually indicates a non-conformist family.
Dr Williams was a presbyterian minister who died in the 18th century. He bequeathed his book collection for public use and this is how the library came into being in 1729. It was then known as "The Dissenters Library in Red Cross Street." By 1890 it was in Gordon Square.
Non-conformist ministers apparently neglected proper register keeping and so the Protestant Dissenting Deputies of the Three Denominations (Baptists, Presbyterians and Congregationalist) formed the General Register of Births and arranged with the trustees of the Library for it to be kept there. It was open to Londoners, non-conformists and ANY parents ready to sign a certificate of the their child's birth and pay 6d to register a copy. The certificates contained the exact place of birth and the name of the mother's father, as well as the usual information. However, not that many took up the offer so the ministers were encouraged to deposit their register books.
The original certificates were bound into books in 1831 and in 1837 they were transferred to the keeping of the Registrar General along with the deposited registers and can be found in the National Archives under class RG.
This document tells you how to search the Registers:
http://www.familyrecords.gov.uk/frc/pdfs/HTU_RG5_Dr_Williams.pdfThe Library's contact information is as follows:
Dr. Williams's Library, 14 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0AG; Tel.: +44 (0)20 7387 3727; fax: +44 (0)20 7388 1142;
or e-mail enquiries [at]] dwlib.co.uk
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