compulsary civil registration

[magicspice]

Pre onset of compulsary civil registration in 1875 (ish) (and after 1837) would it be possible to have a death that was not registered??

many thanks

[angelfish58]

See www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,429427.0.html

However I've been unable to find a death reg for my 3xgreat grandfather, I did half wonder if it was because he was the curates butler and the curate took the line that he didn't need some new fangled form to bury his own servant.

[behindthefrogs]

From 1837 a person was not supposed to be buried without a death certificate being available.  If no certificate was available the person conducting the burial was supposed to inform the registrar although the burial would proceed.

David

[stanmapstone]

An Act for registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England.
[17 August 1836]6 & 7 Will. IV. c.86
;and every Person who shall bury or perform any Funeral or any religious Service for the Burial of any dead Body for which no Certificate shall have been duly made and delivered as aforesaid, either by the Registrar or Coroner, and who shall not within Seven Days give Notice thereof to the Registrar, shall forfeit and pay any Sum not exceeding Ten Pounds for every such Offence.

Stan

[stanmapstone]

Pre onset of compulsory civil registration in 1875 (ish) (and after 1837) would it be possible to have a death that was not registered??

many thanks

Civil Registration was compulsory from 1st July 1837. You are thinking of the penalty for non-registration of a birth in the 1874 Act.  There was a penalty for late registration in the 1836 Act, but not for non registration,
The Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1874 made failure to register punishable by a fine of £2.00.


Stan

[coombs]

I know that until 1875 the onus fell on the registrars to tour the district taking notes of any new births or deaths.

[stanmapstone]

The 1836 Registration Act stated;

" every Registrar shall be authorized and is hereby required to inform himself carefully of every Birth and every Death which shall happen within his District after the said First Day of March, and to learn and register soon after the Event as conveniently may be done, without Fee or Reward save as herein-after mentioned,"


It was left to his discretion to employ such lawful means of informing himself as appeared to be best, but he had to employ some means. He would most likely have referred to people such as doctors, midwives, undertakers etc. that would have knowledge of any birth or death in his district.

Stan

[magicspice]

many thanks everyone for your replies.
Heather

[avm228]

If you can't find a death, it may be one of the many registered as Male UNKNOWN or Female UNKNOWN (or even Unknown UNKNOWN) as the case may be.