ST JAMES END & NORTHAMPTON UNION 1861

[mrsghjun]

Hi everyone

Can anyone help me out with a query re my great great grandfather's, Joseph Whiteman's birth in 1861.  On his bc he's registered as being born at St James End, Duston but the certificate is headed Northampton Union, does this mean it was issued whilst his mother was in Northampton Union workhouse.

His father, Thomas Whiteman, was a bricklayer.

[mrsghjun]

Can I just add I've got these names the wrong way round   Great Great Grandfather was Joseph Whiteman and his son was Thomas. Apologies.

[Milliepede]

Northampton Union was possibly the name of the registration district which encompassed his birth place. 

You can look up his birth registration on the Free BMD index.  Click on the registration district and it will bring up a list of places covered by that district.

[mrsghjun]

Thanks that's helpful.  It could be that the registration district included the parish with the workhouse in it possibly.  Will keep looking.  Northampton Union not listed on the BMD Index as far as I can see.

[Bookbox]

the certificate is headed Northampton Union, does this mean it was issued whilst his mother was in Northampton Union workhouse.

No. Registration districts were originally established in 1837 with reference to the areas encompassed by the poor law unions created in 1834, and the two were closely linked administratively. Some districts retained the word ‘union’ in their name for a few years afterwards. That by itself does not indicate a workhouse birth.

[JenB]

Here's a list of the parishes in Northampton Registration District (includes Duston)
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/northampton.html