Hello every body...
I'm new to this site so apologies If I've posted in wrong section.
Ive been researching my family history for some time now and hit a brick wall where my paternal grandmother is concerned. Iv'e obtained most of my information via family members and B.M.D certs. However my grandmother and her family are proving to be quite elusive. I can find no trace of them on census records.
My grandmother (Elizabeth Handley c1905) doesn't appear to have been registered at birth, I have trawled birth entries 5 years each side of her supposed birth date of 12th May 1905. In the end I gave up!!
However I have recently come across a document that was found amongst my deceased aunty's paper works (Elizabeth's daughter) unfortunately it's not in very good condition but I can make out that it reads - " Statutory Declaration by parent 44 & 45 Vict?
???68 and on the top left hand corner I can make out the word
of education.
It then goes on to say "I hereby solemnly declare that "Elizabeth Handley" was born on the 12th day of May 1905 at D???ty street Ancoats Manchester. And I make the above Declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of Declarations act, 1835.
It is signed by Justice of the peace for the county borough of Salford on the 11th day July 1919. There is also a signature by a parent but this is difficult to read due to handwriting and condition of the document.
Can anybody tell me what this Declaration would be needed for? and why it took place some 14 years after Elizabeth's birth year??? I'm totally baffled by this but then I'm thinking perhaps this is why I can't find any birth entry for her? Would Elizabeth's birth been registered on the 11th of July 1919 some 14 years after her actual birth? Hope I've not confused anybody lol thanks for reading, Traycee