English Death Certificates

[niftynita]

Hi all
I recently got a death certificate from the UK (I'm Aussie) for my GGM, who died in 1917.    I was a bit disappointed to find that it only had how old she was, where she died, and who reported the death (my GGF).   It had the county in which she died, and because she died in hospital, the hospital name, but no other details like parents or even what county she was born in. 
Can anyone tell me whether later certificates give more details ? 
Also, to get parents names and info on birth (year & place), would it be more advisable for me to get marriage certificate?   
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks niftynita
 

[Keziahemm]

Hi

Have a look at

http://home.clara.net/dixons/Certificates/births.htm

gives details of what English certificates contain.  To find out father's name  marriage certificate or birth certificate required, for mother's name you would need birth certificate.

Hope this helps

Regards

Susan 

[trish251]

Hi NN

The English certificates are very different to the Oz ones as you have discovered - however, the English have access to Census data - which we do not have & much that we discover from certificates, in England we can find via the census. I assume your GGM  was born well before 1901 - so have you looked for her on census records? Tracking back through the census may well lead to the information you require.

Trish

[niftynita]

Hi Susan- thanks for the link, it is very helpful.  I take it though that they didn't add any further information on later certificates (say after WWII) ??

Hi Trish - Yes what a big surprise when I got the English Certificate.  The ones I've gotten here in Qld are absolutely fantastic for the info they provide - age, marriages, children from marriages, ages of those children (although this can be wrong), and if they were born in UK, how long they've been in Australia - it is a wealth of info. 
My GGM was born after the 1881 census (either late 1881 or early 1882), and her maiden name was Wood, but because I didn't have county info, I did a search, and there were over 200 born in that 1 year time period.   
I've looked in the 1901 census, and did find about 4-5 living with the father's name Walter (stated as deceased on her marriage certificate from 1908). 
I'll follow these few up and search backwards to 1891, or otherwise I'll  have to wait until the 1911 census is available.  She is married by then, and it will of course give me her place/county of birth.   This one will probably be a waiting game. 
The main reason for enquiry was whether its worth buying any other death certificates for other family members ??  Probably not, will seriously think marriage & birth certificates instead. 
Thanks again.
nita

[trish251]

I've only ever bough one English death certificate - have to admit I knew what would be on it, but in the joy of the moment - finding the death - I forgot & ordered it, assuming it would tell me her parents. I didn't even get a family member as the informant - it was a neighbour         -  Close to my worst genealogy buy.  I havn't bought another death certificate from England - Scotland is better, they are closer to ours, if you have any Scots in the family.

There is a good possibility that your ggm was born in or near where she married (although I guess if her father had died, the family may have moved). Were there any family members as Witness to the marriage - Did it include an occupation for her father?

Was it one of her children that came to Australia - their birthplace could also help in the search.

good luck with it - only 5+ years to Jan 1912 and the census 

Trish

[sallysmum]

Hi Niftynita
Sorry you were disappointed with the info on the UK birth certs - I agree it is rather sparse compared with the Aussie certs.  I however like to add them (when my budget allows - I agree that the birth and marriage certs contain much more relevent info).  I feel that with the death certs I have completion of the rellies life (altho it is never complete!).  Just another piece of the jigsaw puzzle!
Sallysmum

[niftynita]

I've only ever bough one English death certificate - have to admit I knew what would be on it, but in the joy of the moment - finding the death - I forgot & ordered it, assuming it would tell me her parents. I didn't even get a family member as the informant - it was a neighbour         -  Close to my worst genealogy buy.  I havn't bought another death certificate from England - Scotland is better, they are closer to ours, if you have any Scots in the family.

There is a good possibility that your ggm was born in or near where she married (although I guess if her father had died, the family may have moved). Were there any family members as Witness to the marriage - Did it include an occupation for her father?

Was it one of her children that came to Australia - their birthplace could also help in the search.

good luck with it - only 5+ years to Jan 1912 and the census 

Trish

Hi Trish
No such luck, the few that I found in the 1901 census aren't anywhere near where she married (Southampton, Hampshire), her first son is my GF and he is the one that emigrated out here.   Got the father's side of the family but not the mother's details except her name and death details.    Her marriage cert had her father's occupation as carpenter.   None of the witnesses listed on the marriage cert are in the family (to my knowledge anyway).   

And also, I've got some Scots a fair way up the line (another branch of the tree), its nice to know that their certificates are better.   He's my 4x GGF, I might order his as he died after 1855 to get a bit more family info. 

Hi Niftynita
Sorry you were disappointed with the info on the UK birth certs - I agree it is rather sparse compared with the Aussie certs. I however like to add them (when my budget allows - I agree that the birth and marriage certs contain much more relevent info). I feel that with the death certs I have completion of the rellies life (altho it is never complete!). Just another piece of the jigsaw puzzle!
Sallysmum

Sallysmum - yes you're right, it is never complete, though sometimes its nice to see the name and both years (birth & death) when looking at the screen, its just the in-between years to try and find more about.   

Thanks both for your insights. 
regards nita