I didn't always feel this way, but for many years now I have incorporated certificate purchases into my monthly budget (yeh, I am an addict and would prefer to buy certificates rather than go out to dinner).
We are very fortunate in Australia as our certificates usually contain a lot of information that you cannot obtain elsewhere.
The birth certificate of my Great Great Grandmother, Charlotte Drayton, helped further my research in many ways.
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| Click to enlarge |
- Middle name "Esther". Children are often named after grandparents. Research revealed that Esther was the name of Charlotte's grandmother.
- Fathers age, occupation and place of birth. It was a surprise to see that Samuel Drayton was from America. He is the only American ancestor in the family.
- Mothers age, place of birth and prior name. This led me to find records of Sarah arriving in Australia with her prior husband and children from her first marriage.
- Sisters name and age
- Year and place of marriage. I couldn't locate the marriage until I obtained this certificate. The marriage was recorded under "Raiton" rather than "Drayton". Neither Samuel or Sarah could sign (showing they were uneducated and likely poor) so it was probably written the way it was pronounced.
Don't forget to also check the names of witnesses as they often lived nearby or were family, which provides another direction for research.
I have bookmarked my favourite websites for researching Births, Deaths and Marriages;
FamilySearch free indexes - https://www.familysearch.org/
Australian State Registries - http://australia.gov.au/topics/law-and-justice/births-deaths-and-marriages-registries
www.ryersonindex.org (death notices and obituaries - primarily NSW)
South Australia
www.genealogysa.org.au
www.familyhistorysa.info/
http://www.jaunay.com/earlybdm.php
Victoria
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ausvic/mwi.htm#W (Marriage Witness Index)
United Kingdom
http://www.freebmd.org.uk/
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/default.asp
http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/
Please let me know if you have any other websites that you can add.
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| Click on the Link to see more posts in the Blogging from A-Z April challenge |
Hi Sharon, I haven't ever looked for birth certificates I must admit, despite tracing my father's side of the family back to the early 1700s. It's interesting to see what you have come up with.
ReplyDeleteI now have the majority of my Australian ancestors birth certificates, which show alot of useful information but I am still working on the UK ancestors.
DeleteI am always pleasantly surprised with the additional information that can be gleaned.
Enjoyed reading both your posts about Ancestory and birth/death/marriage certificates. I began using the Ancestory website last year and was amazed at the information that's connected with it. I learned so much about my family tree and ancestors. It's such an exciting way to pass one's time and learn about the past, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteIt is very addictive. The hours can pass by very quickly when you find a lead.
On my Great-grandmother's holy card from her funeral, I crossed out her birth year 1883 and wrote in 1873 because her family said she always lied about her age. Thanks to ancestry.com I found out that her birth year was 1874. I really am looking forward to your tips.
ReplyDeleteI have found that some of my relatives seen to have forgotten the year they were born or married. Sometimes deliberate and sometimes not!
DeleteThat's a whole lot of useful info. Thanks for sharing this via the A to Z Challenge.
ReplyDeleteDamyanti @Daily(w)rite
Co-host, A to Z Challenge 2013
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Thank you for dropping by
DeleteI am so glad I stumbled across your blog via the A to Z Challenge. Researching our family line has been convoluted and much more challenging than writing an alphablet blog! I look forward to learning your tips and tricks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating!
It can be very challenging but also very rewarding.
DeleteIt wasn't until they needed to apply for social security benefits that my grandparents filed birth certificates. They didn't have any in the 1800s where they were born. I have found death certificates very informative, even if the information may not be all true :P
ReplyDeleteI've recently ordered two death certificates and even though it's too soon for them to come, I anxiously look through the mail, hoping!
I can totally relate to the anticipation Kristin.....and then the disappointment when nothing new is revealed or it is the wrong person!
DeleteI don't know why I'm so cheap when it comes to paying for information. I guess I keep hoping I'll find it free. But you're right -- paying for a birth or death certificate can answer a lot of questions.
ReplyDeleteI was too Wendy. However, I am now a convert as I like to be thorough and can obtain so much additional information that I can't find elsewhere.
DeleteGreat info!
ReplyDeleteA-Z Blog Hop Challenge
http://www.shellygoodmanwright.com/apps/blog/show/25311404-believe-in-you
Thanks for dropping by. I shall return the favour :)
DeleteI like your idea of budgeting for certificates. Anyone wanting to save money should also see the advice in Free Certificates in Archives Files (http://qld-genealogy.blogspot.com/2010/09/free-certificates-in-archives-files.html).
ReplyDeleteThank you Judy a great tip. That is the beauty of blogging and the internet.
DeleteMy mum is really into researching family history, I'll pass along the sites you recommended in case she hasn't stumbled upon some of them. Thanks for the information. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Abi.
DeleteI hope that you become interested in researching family history and take over from your mother at some stage in future :)
It is the same here in the U.S. You can find out a lot about your family, but it does cost.
ReplyDeleteI really don't mind paying now as it is the old saying "you get what you pay for"
DeleteTo be honest Sharon I can't fathom how people can do research without certificates. Like you I used to have to budget it in, and ask for them as gifts from the family for birthday/Mother's Day etc. I guess US/UK have census information but without that we Aussies need the certificates more, and ours are so informative as well. Swings and roundabouts.I hope your posts encourage more potential family historians from the A to Z.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Pauline. Buying certificates has advanced my research so much. We are very lucky with the information contained in Australian certificates. I remember how disappointed I was (with the lack of information) when I received the first death certificate from UK.
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