Searching the BMD Indexes
Searching for your ancestor’s records in the birth, marriage and death indexes is, in the most part, straightforward. However, occasionally the entry can prove elusive. The elusive entry could be down to something as simple as a misspelled surname. Other explanations could be, when searching further back, errors on census records, whether they are deliberate or accidental. After 4.5 years of searching for my ancestors within the indexes, I’ve learned a few things that make searching so much easier.
- Remain open minded regarding forenames and their variations.
These days we leave a paper trail behind us no matter what we do. When Civil Registration first began, it wasn’t taken quite as seriously. When we register our children’s births, we understand that will be their name forever… it wasn’t though of so final in the 19th Century. I’ve had ancestors recorded on census’ as Elizabeth, Ellen, Margaret, Thomas but their registered names were “nicknames”, Bessie, Nellie, Maggie and Tom. - Check for alternative spellings of surnames.
I have found Boulter’s registered as Bolter’s and Bolder’s. These weren’t transcription errors, the births really were recorded under variations of the surname (although Bolder was a new one on me). Often, the parents of the child/spouse of the deceased/bride and groom were illiterate (although not always) and the registrar spelled the name as they said it. This could explain the transformation of Boulter into Bolter and Bolder. - Don’t take a given age as gospel.
Reiterating point 1, paper trails were not common; there were no National Insurance Numbers or driving licenses, credit cards or telephones. Ages could be fabricated. I have one particular relative whose birth certificate had him born in April 1886 and his death certificate registered in February 1954 stated he was 63 years old when he died. He was actually 67 (almost 68). I generally say start with one year either side of the suspected year of birth. - Be prepared to find no records.
Despite Civil Registration starting on 1st July 1837, it wasn’t rigorously enforced until 1875. Even after 1875 a few births, marriages and deaths may have got through the net, so if at first you don’t succeed, prepare for the worst and try again. However, that being said, I’ve discovered well over 1000 relatives and have found 99% of their records.
BMD’s (Births, Marriages & Deaths)
Researching your Family History is rewarding and exciting, discovering where your family originate from provides a feeling like nothing else.
Civil Registration in England and Wales for births, marriages and deaths began on 1st July 1837, although this was not rigorously enforced until 1875 and it has been estimated that up to 10% of births between 1837 and 1875 were not registered.
The birth of Civil Registration meant that almost everyone left a basic paper trail from birth. However, the BMD Indexes have changed considerably since 1837.
Births
From 1st July 1837 registration of a birth of a child only around 90% of all births were registered. The information contained in the Births Index from the 3rd quarter of 1837 until the 2nd quarter of 1911 was surname (rather obviously), first two full forenames (plus any subsequent initials), district of registration and reference number. This changed in 3rd quarter of 1911 to the surname (again rather obvious), first forename (plus any subsequent initials), district of registration, reference number AND mother’s maiden surname.
Marriages
From the 1st July 1837, it was illegal to not register a marriage, however some marriage records did not make it to the General Record Office. From the 3rd quarter of 1837 to 4th quarter of 1911 the marriage index contained surname, first two full forenames (plus any subsequent initials), district of registration and reference number. From the 1st quarter of 1912 two changes occurred; the first was the
addition of the spouses surname and the other showed the bride’s married name (if previously married) and maiden name. This however was stopped in the 3rd quarter of 1962.
Deaths
Although Civil Registration started in 1837, compulsory registration of deaths was not enforced until 1875. Since 1837 the Death index has been updated on numerous occasions.
From 3rd quarter of 1837, the index contained the surname of the deceased including the first two full names (plus any subsequent initials), district of registration and reference number. In the 1st quarter of 1866, the age at death was added. The information within the index changed in the 3rd quarter of 1911 to surname, first full forename (plus any subsequent initials), age at death, district of registration and reference number.
The final change to date happened in the 2nd quarter of 1969 when the age at death was replaced with the full date of birth of the deceased.
