What year did it become legal to register the child's birth, I know 1837 was the year the birth registration started but not enforced. My Great Grandparents x 3 had 10 children none registered, all baptised. The last child was born in 1861.
helina
That depends on exactly what you mean by your question, there is quite a choice!
In 1644 an ordinance was passed that
"... and it is further ordained, by the authority aforesaid, that there shall be provided, at the charge of every parish or chappelry in this realm of England and dominion of Wales a fair register-book of velim be kept by the minister and other officers of the church; and that the names of all children baptized, and of their parents, and the time of their birth and baptizing, shall be written and set down by the ministers therein ; and also the names of all persons married there and the time of their marriage ; and also the names of all persons buried in that parish, and the time of their death and burial ; and that said book shall be showed, by such as keep the same, to all persons reasonably desiring to search for the birth, baptizing, marriage, or burial of any person therein registered, and to take a copy or procure a certificate thereof."
In 1653 The Commonwealth directed “parish registers” to be appointed 22 September 1653.
“…that a true and just account might always be kept, of all marriages, and also of the births of children, and deaths of all sorts of persons within the commonwealth;”
In 1695 (7th & 8th William III., cap. 35) a similar enactment was made and also distinct registers were to be kept of children born in the parish and not christened all parents were required to give notice of a birth of a child within 5 days of the birth. A fine of 40 shillings was imposed on parents who omitted to give notice within the five days and a similar penalty was payable by the vicar.
In 1695 there was published - An Act for Granting to His Majesty certain Rates and Duties upon Marriages, Births and Burials, and upon Batchelors and Widowers, for the Term of Five Years, for Carrying on the War against France with Vigour. Which imposed duties on the registration of Births Marriages and Burials for a period of five years.
In 1783 there was “An Act for granting to his Majesty a Stamp-duty on the Registry of Burials, Marriages, Births, and Christenings.” (1st October 1783).
In 1812 An Act for the better regulating and preserving Parish and other Registers of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, in England [28th July 1812.]
XII.
“And be it further enacted, That when and so often the Copies of the said Register Books of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials as aforesaid, and also the said Lists of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, or Burials as aforesaid, shall be transmitted to the Office of the said Registrars respectively as aforesaid, pursuant to the Directions here-in before contained for that Purpose, the said Registrars shall respectively cause all the said Books and Lists to be safely and securely deposited, kept, and preserved from Damage or Destruction by Fire or otherwise, and to be carefully arranged for the Purpose of being resorted to as Occasion may require ; and the said Registrars respectively shall also cause correct alphabetical Lists to be made and kept in Books suitable to the Purpose, of the Names of all Persons and Places mentioned in such Books and Lists as shall have been transmitted to the said Registrars respectively, which alphabetical Lists and Books, and also Copies of Registers and Lists so transmitted to the said Registrars as aforesaid, shall be open to public Search at all reasonable Times on Payment of the usual Fees.”
Then we have what many think was the start of civil registration in 1836 with “An Act for registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England (17th August 1836.)
Then of course the Act that many think was the first time parents had to register the birth of their children the 1874 Act for the registering of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England.
Transcripts of all these Acts and more may be found at
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~framland/genealogy/acts/actind.htmCheers
Guy