Handwritten Additions to GRO List

[Ray T]

I'm trying to research an uncle "George Powell", born in Stockport, sometime during the second quarter of the 20th Century - his mother's maiden name was "Binnersley".

I have what I assume is him on the GRO list for Q4 1937 (there weren't a lot of Binnersleys in those parts) but there is also an indexed entry for a George Powell on the Q2 list for 1928 - the trouble is that it's hand written at the bottom of the page - see clipping below - which makes mention of "Dec' 37".

I've no idea what this means - can anyone help? I'm speculating that George wasn't registered at birth but in 1937, some nine years later, and the hand written reference was added to the appropriate sheet for the year he was actually born. The mother didn't marry Mr Powell until 1930 and I recall my grandmother (who died nearly 50 years ago) telling me that she looked after George as a child - yet another family mystery!

[KGarrad]

Could it be to do with the legislation that was passed that allowed illegitimate children to be retrospectively registered in the father's name, once a marriage had taken place?

[Ray T]

I'm not aware of such legislation but you may well be right as there appears to be a George Binnersley registered in the same quarter of 1928. Thanks.

[Bookbox]

I'm not aware of such legislation

Explained here ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitimacy_Act_1926

[msr]

Here is a registration for George with the register held at Stockport.  (Possibly the original one)

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1927 to 1929
Surname   Forename(s)   Sub-District   Registers At   Mother's Maiden Name   Reference
BINNERSLEY   George   Stockport Third   Stockport   BINNERSLEY   ST3/32/85


Susan

[msr]

Then another - George Powell.

Cheshire Birth indexes for the years: 1936 to 1938
Surname   Forename(s)   Sub-District   Registers At   Mother's Maiden Name   Reference
POWELL   George   Stockport Third   Stockport   BINNERSLEY   ST3/1/41

Quite possibly, as mentioned before, asking for him to be legitimised now that parents are married

[Ray T]

Thanks Bookbox that explains it - you learn something new ever day!

Thanks also MSR - I have copies of all three GRO entries.

[msr]

Do you have the certificates Ray?   

The references I gave are from CheshireBMD which is quite separate from the GRO index.

You possibly already know this, but I mention it as some people don't know that the original registers are held at the local register offices, in this case Stockport, and that those held at the GRO are copies of the originals.

Sorry if I'm preaching to the converted, but it is useful to know that errors can occur in the copies.

Susan

[KGarrad]

I'm not aware of such legislation

Explained here ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitimacy_Act_1926

Thanks Bookbox!

I had a mental block earlier and couldn't remember the name of the Act!

Just back in, and you found it for me!!