LOST BIRTH RECORD

[Gerry]

I want to apply for a birth certificate for John Handley but can't find a record of his birth in the Free BMD Index.   

1871 and 1881 Census shows John born 1864 in Leebotwood, Shropshire together with his parents Henry Handley born c.1829 and his mother Mary born c.1832

Grateful for any help

[martin hooper]

HANDLEY, JOHN       ADAMS 
GRO Reference: 1863  J Quarter in WELLINGTON SALOP UNION  Volume 06A  Page 768

[Gerry]

Sorry, my post should have shown mmn as Perkins

[martin hooper]

HANLEY, JOHN       PERKINS 
GRO Reference: 1862  J Quarter in CHURCH STRETTON UNION  Volume 06A  Page 572

[KGarrad]

GRO free search shows Mother's Maiden Name for nearly all births. 

[Gerry]

Many thanks for the Church Stretton Union reference which suggest John was born in the workhouse.

In the Free BMD index I can't see see the name  CSU under the 'District' heading.   Apologies if I'm missing the obvious

[arthurk]

Many thanks for the Church Stretton Union reference which suggest John was born in the workhouse.

No it doesn't. Registration districts were initially based on Poor Law Unions, and 'Union' is often seen as part of their name. That's all that can be deduced from this, nothing more.

[martin hooper]

The workhouse usually included an infirmary. Mothers could be admitted to give birth and then discharged.

Martin

[arthurk]

Could be, but this was far from universal. 'Union' here doesn't refer to a building but to the area covered by the Registration District/Poor Law Union. The only way to find out if the birth was in the workhouse/infirmary would be to get a copy of the certificate and see what address is given, or else look at the workhouse records.

In the Free BMD index I can't see see the name  CSU under the 'District' heading.

It's listed as simply Church Stretton - as I said, sometimes 'Union' was used as part of the district's name, and sometimes it wasn't. The FreeBMD entry is the same as Martin found at the GRO (except that it doesn't include the mmn):

HANLEY, JOHN       PERKINS 
GRO Reference: 1862  J Quarter in CHURCH STRETTON UNION  Volume 06A  Page 572