Richard Morton, Manchester

[Reiver]

Richard Morton was christened at Manchester Cathedral on 24th January !858   He was living as the youngest member of the family in Hulme on census day in 1861 aged 3.   His age is consistent too in censuses (1891, 1901, 1911). His marriage was registered in September Q 1886.  His birthplace is always given as Hulme.

But I cannot find a birth registration in order to send for his birth certificate. Can anyone help please?  There are no 'Male Mortons'.

What are/were the consequences of not registeriing a birth?

Reiver

[groom]

From what I understand, although the Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths, in England and Wales, started on 1 July 1837 there was no penalty until after The Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1874 which made registration compulsory. After that the birth had to be registered within 42 days or a £2.00 fine was imposed.

Many people believed that by having a child baptised, that registered the birth. If the parents didn't register before the 6 weeks were up they would either lie about the date of birth or simply not register and hope not to get caught.

[heywood]

Hello,

Free BMD has a Richard Norton December 1857 Chorlton - perhaps it was mistranscribed.

Heywood

[SwissGill]

Good work.

I have Mortons in my tree from "South of Manchester" and I tried all kinds of variations but never "Norton".

If I were Reiver, I think I'd risk sending for this birth certificate.

Gill

[SwissGill]

Ouch!

There was a Richard Norton born 1857 Chorlton, who died Richard Norton Chorlton 1922 

[heywood]

Ouch!

There was a Richard Norton born 1857 Chorlton, who died Richard Norton Chorlton 1922 

I saw the birth of Richard Norton June quarter 1857 (as opposed to December). He is in all censuses but no idea when he died.

[Reiver]

Many thanks everybody and especially Heywood for the knowledge about the law concerned with non-registration.  The next step is to obtain his marriage certificate and that should confirm his father's name. If anything untoward occurs I'll let you know.

Reiver
 

[heywood]

Hello,
It was groom who posted re non- registration.

Good luck with the certificate - hope all goes well.

With regard to Richard Norton. There are two births in 1857, one in June quarter and one in December.
Lancashire BMD has these as Ardwick and Hulme.
1861 shows Richard Norton born Ardwick.
I can't see a death or another Richard Norton in censuses.

The other children in your family are registered so it does seem odd that your Richard wasn't.
It may be that he has been mistranscribed - however as both Free BMD and Lancashire show the birth as Norton, I may be wrong.

Heywood 

[saddles]

For what it is worth, the 1927 Manchester/Salford Directory lists a couple of dozon MORTON, 5 of which reside in Hulme.