Birth Marriage and Death after 1837

The History

After 1837 there was a legal requirement to register Births, Deaths or Marriages.

The country was divided into Registration Districts each of which had a Registrar to oversee the area.

Once an event was reported an official record was made and a certificate was issued to the person or next of kin.

Although a few additional details have been added over the years the registration system envisaged was so efficient that it is virtually unchanged today.

One weakness that frustrates family historians is that between 1837 and 1874 it was the responsibility of the Registrar to hear about births,marriages and deaths and record them whereas after 1874 it was the responsibility of the parents, bride and groom and next of kin respectively.

This meant that for 37 important years many events were unrecorded as the registrar did not hear of them and the people concerned did not report them.

What records can you find?

Birth, Marriage and Death records are the most important available to family historians.

The prime source for BMD is the government who store copies of the records at the General Register Office. Not only can information be obtained but for a small fee duplicates of the original certificated are available.

This information is regarded as prime confirmation of the accuracy of Family history records.

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Some of the records have been transcribed and are available on CD from commercial sources and Family History Societies as well as commercial web sites such and Ancestry.

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FreeBMD offers names from parish registers free of charge although there is no background information available with the records.

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The National Archives have many records of Non Conformist records including Methodists, Baptists and Quakers from 1791 to 1921.

These can be searched at the National Archives.

They are also available at the Genealogist on a paid search basis.

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For over 150 years your ancestors will have been given Birth, Marriage and Death certificates.

Ask around your living relatives to see if you can find any still in existence.