Martha Trotter - wrong name on death cert 1866

[pandacub]

I ordered a GRO PDF death cert for Martha Trotter aged 78 who died in Dec Qtr 1866, Pancras, 1B 69.
The cert has arrived but the name of the deceased clearly says Elizabeth Trotter.  I have been through the GRO indexes and can see no other possible cert that I could have been sent in error. 

I looked online for an explanation of how the GRO registers and indexes have been compiled.  I read that local registrars would have sent copy registers to the GRO and then the indexes were compiled from that.  I can therefore see a potential for transcription errors when making a hand written copy of local registers to send to the GRO.  However, if it's correct that the indexes are compiled from the copy registers, I can't see how the index would have the right first name but the copy register have the wrong one?

If anyone can shed some light on this for me I would be very grateful.  Many thanks.

[CaroleW]

If you look at GRO online the details are as you expected.  Suggest you contact the GRO for clarification as it appears to be an error at their end

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/indexes_search.asp#Results

[pandacub]

Thanks for the link CaroleW.  I have submitted a query to GRO.  It said allow 5 days for a reply.

[Gadget]

I was about to suggest the same as Carole.  I've been through the register and can find no Elizabeth with the details that you've given. Does the certificate have address, informant, etc. what you would expect?  If not get in touch with the GRO, as given by Carole.

Gadget

[AntonyMMM]

The old paper indexes and the newer GRO on-line indexes are not copied from each other and do use different indexing rules so differences are sometimes to be expected, but they both say Martha for this entry, so it is an odd one ..

Does the rest of the information match  -  is it the right age, quarter/year and in Pancras District etc. ?

Is it a PDF or paper cert (or a digital image)  and is there any suggestion of a correction being made (anything in in the margin) ?

If you want me send me an image of what you have by DM, I'm happy to investigate further.

[pandacub]

Thanks Gadget.  It's difficult to say if the other info matches.  Age and husband's name are right.  Address is close to where Martha lived in 1861.  Informant not recognised as family member, found a nurse of similar name in area in 1861. 

Thanks AntonyMMM, will send you copy image by DM, will be in about an hours time when I get home to my laptop.

[AntonyMMM]

Having had sight of the PDF entry that GRO supplied, it is as I suspected - the name Elizabeth has been underlined and there is just a hint of the edge of a correction visible in the margin.

Unfortunately GRO haven't included the marginal note in the PDF image, but I'm sure it will show the name was corrected to Martha and that is therefore what the entry has, correctly, been indexed as.

As far as I know PDF copies of entries should reproduce any marginal notes so I hope the query sent to GRO will get a positive response.

[pandacub]

Many thanks AntonyMMM for looking at the cert for me.  When I get a response from GRO I will post an update. 

[Daisypetal]

Hi,

You could contact the original Registry Office to see if they can supply a copy of the original death certificate.

https://www.camden.gov.uk/get-a-copy-of-a-certificate


You could give them a call 020 7974 4444.

I've found that the local registrars are often very helpful and can give you a copy (sometimes even a photocopy) of the original and that details can be different from GRO copy.

Regards,
Daisy