GRO death certificate problem

[louisemcm]

I'd be grateful for any advice.

I searched the GRO Indexes to find the death of my ancestor, Lucy Ford, who died in 1863 in Stratfield Mortimer in Berkshire, but couldn't find her listed anywhere even though I tried several different searches.
However she is listed in FreeBMD and I got the GRO Index number there and used that to order her death certificate at GRO.

from FreeBMD:  Deaths Mar 1863 WATSON   Lucy       Bradfield   2c   228

However, the GRO have refunded me and didn't send the death certificate. I double checked the image on FreeBMD and the page numbers are correct.

Does this mean that her death certificate doesn't exist? Or could anyone tell me if there is another way of getting hold of her death certificate.

Many thanks

[PaulineJ]

I can't find any of the freebnd entries at the GRO site

Deaths Mar 1863   (>99%)
BAREFOOT    Mary Ann        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Coleman    Charles        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Cooper    Edward        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Greenaway    Job        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
HIGGINS    Edward        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Lambdin    George        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Nash    William Henry        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Rawlins    Charles        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
Stephens    William        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view
WATSON    Lucy        Bradfield    2c   228     Scan available - click to view


I'd raise a query with the GRO

[KGarrad]

Download the image from FreeBMD, and send it to GRO?

[louisemcm]

Thank you. I didn't know I could contact the GRO and do that.
It's interesting that several of Bradfield entries are missing from the index.
Thanks

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

You should be able to order her death certificate from BerkshireBMD,

Lucy is there,

http://www.berkshirebmd.org.uk/deathsearch.php


The method of payment quoted on the website seems very confusing. I think it would be worth calling them before ordering to check how to pay.

http://www.berkshirebmd.org.uk/deathinfo.php#Q3


I've not used their service so I don't know how good it is, and they may not be working at the moment.

Regards,
Daisy

[Girl Guide]

I've had that before, entries are on free bmd but not the GRO.

You could try ordering from the West Berkshire council as Bradfield appears to be in their county.

https://info.westberks.gov.uk/article/30168/Obtaining-a-Birth-Death-or-Marriage-Certificate

I've found the reference via the UK BMD website.  It says: WATSON Lucy, Age 63, Year 1863, Sub-District Mortimer/Reading, Registers at Reading, Reference    MOR/5/46

By quoting their own reference number they will find it more quickly.  Do give them all the information that you have, i.e. Stratfield Mortimer and anything else you think will be relevant.

Added: I see that Daisy Petal has given the address for the registry office so use that.  Cost is probably about £11 plus postage as that is what I paid when I registered my husband's death last year.

[louisemcm]

Thank you so much everybody. I'll do that.
 

[CaroleW]

Are you sure she died in 1863?  If her maiden name was Cripps she was still alive in 1871 married to James Smith & living in Hampshire

1861 shows her b 1832 Buckleberry with children Alfred George & Mary Jane - both births have mmn Cripps

1871 has Ford children Mary Jane, Jennet, Morris (Maurice) & James Ford - all mmn Cripps - son Alfred is with relatives in 1871

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF6Q-J6G

Dtr Harriet Smith shows mmn Cripps

[CaroleW]

James Smith married Lucy Ford June qtr 1868 Whitchurch 2c 360