How reliable are death certificates ??

[chuck]

I have posted here before regarding the confussion surrounding my Grandmothers personal history.


She was born in 1879 I believe as a Brown. And then I think married a Bonner then an Alfred Morris Smith. Alfred died in 1911. My father was born in 1923 but there is no father listed on the birth certificate. His mothers details are Smith formaly Brown. I have obtained her death, certificate, she died in 1959, which says she was a widow of Edward Smith .

Now where on earth he has come from I have no idea. There has always been confussion in the family about how many times she was married but no one living can shed any light on the subject. Could the registrar simply have recorded the name wrong?

My father did have one  brother a year older than him and I am nearly ready to order his birth certificate. I just need to check some more facts. Maybe that will answer the question.

I find it hard to believe that she wouldnt have married again after Alfreds death so maybe Edward was my paternal Grandfather. If he was why wasnt he recorded on the birth certificate?

[Chris in 1066Land]

Hi Chuck

I think the main point with certificates and registrars is they only recorded what they were told.

For instance - my father always celebrated his birthday on Jan 8th, after his death plus some 40 odd years, I got a copy of his birth certificate - it said born 18th January. Grandma changed the date of his birth to avoid being fined because of late registration. Date on certificate confirmed this.

When grandma died, it says on her death certificate that my father was present at time of death - he was no where near as he had gone to melton market, it was my mum who was with her when she died - but it was dad who registered the death, so the registrar wrote down what he said.....

So you have to believe what is written, unless you can prove otherwise

Chris in 1066Land