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Reader’s question: GRO indexes

Your second paragraph was probably the problem - by raising an issue which is related to re-registrations and then linking it to "amended" entries (i.e. corrected), for which there is only the original entry to order. They have answered as though you are talking about re-registrations.

  • Corrected/amended entries, and re-registrations are two completely different things that are unrelated and shouldn't be discussed together, although it is a very poorly understood subject, even amongst professional researchers. Any corrected/amended entry may be shown as an occasional copy in the indexes but there is only one entry, and one reference, which if ordered as a certificate should show whatever the correction has been.

  • A re-registered entry has two (or sometimes more) completely separate entries, often years apart, that will have different references and can have different information on them and can sometime take some finding in the indexes. Those are the ones that GRO still persist in sending a certificate from the later entry even when the older one is ordered despite it being raised as a problem with them on a number of occasions, and them promising not to.
I recently ordered two certificates that involved a re-registration of the same birth - from 1964 and then from 1969. They were ordered together but GRO still decided to send me two certificates from the 1969 entry - a phone call was necessary to get an apology ( and the 1964 certificate sent out).
 
ChalfontR said:
there is only one entry, and one reference, which if ordered as a certificate should show whatever the correction has been.
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In my question to the GRO I referred to an example of an Occasional Copy where the page reference had an 'a' suffix. This suggests that there was an additional page submitted after the pages for that volume for that quarter had been filed and numbered.
 
peter said:
In my question to the GRO I referred to an example of an Occasional Copy where the page reference had an 'a' suffix. This suggests that there was an additional page submitted after the pages for that volume for that quarter had been filed and numbered.
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It suggested that an amended version of the same entry had been submitted, but not an additional (new) entry.
 
ChalfontR said:
It suggested that an amended version of the same entry had been submitted, but not an additional (new) entry.
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If an amended version of the entry is submitted to the GRO would it always include all the information from the original entry? I'm trying to understand why the GRO provided the answer that they did - as you can see, I didn't ask them about re-registrations.
 
peter said:
If an amended version of the entry is submitted to the GRO would it always include all the information from the original entry?
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Yes - it should do, and whatever has been corrected should be shown ( there may also be a marginal note)

peter said:
I'm trying to understand why the GRO provided the answer that they did - as you can see, I didn't ask them about re-registrations.
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The wording of your question sort of hinted at it, but the people who answer enquires at GRO are not always very clued up on registration ( surprisingly) .... especially those who answer the phones.
 
ChalfontR said:
The wording of your question sort of hinted at it, but the people who answer enquires at GRO are not always very clued up on registration ( surprisingly) .... especially those who answer the phones.
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My contact was one of the management team, and whilst I don't know who he got the answers from, I would expect it to be one of his colleagues, rather than a junior member of staff.
 
peter said:
Errors in the quarterly indexes are rare, and if only two of the entries on the same page are missing from the new GRO index it can't be part of a large block of missing entries. It's more likely that the two surnames have been badly mistranscribed and, if this is the case you may find that other entries from same sub-district (but on different pages) are also missing.
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The GRO eventually found and added the two missing entries to their 'new' death index, so I have been able to get a copy of the death certificate I wanted, at long last. However, they reported that entry as 'Investigated, no amendment required. Indexed data is correct', despite amending the index and noting the new index entry as an 'Occasional Copy'? I'm happy, as I have the certificate I wanted, but the amendment process seems to be somewhat imperfect.
Perhaps I ought to let the local RO know, also, as they couldn't find the registration? The death took place in the workhouse medical ward, the day after the person was admitted, so perhaps they didn't check the workhouse registrations?
 
Sue_3 said:
Perhaps I ought to let the local RO know, also, as they couldn't find the registration? The death took place in the workhouse medical ward, the day after the person was admitted, so perhaps they didn't check the workhouse registrations?
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Definitely write to them, as I've always wondered whether workhouses/unions sent their returns direct to the GRO - perhaps this is an opportunity to find out.
 
jorghes said:
I just went and searched for the record to have a look, and perhaps they forgot to tell you they fixed the problem?? Is it just me or is that the record you're looking for? (second from the top)

54734066942_72650d8308_z.jpg
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Thank you jorghes, yes they must have finally got to it.
 
I did write to the registrar again, back in October, but didn't get a reply.

I suspect that the reason they couldn't find my certificate was down to confusion over which surname I was looking for, as the name in the old GRO index was Slatter, but the name on the certificate is Slattery (which is what I was hoping for). I had tried to explain that in my application, but perhaps that information was overlooked or wasn't sufficiently clear.

Anyway, this week I decided to go back to them about the question of whether the workhouse registers were held by the local register office or sent direct to the GRO. I did ask about that in my email to them in October, and so I suggested that they might have missed that specific question, amidst all of the other details in my email. They have replied saying that they do hold the workhouse registers at the local RO (and apologising for having missed the question).

It is sadly too late for Peter to get this information, but I hope it may be of help to others.
 
I have a query concerning the GRO Digital Service. The website states that Records Available through the online Digital Service include 'Birth Entries up to 100 years ago'.
So..... I presume I should be able to get up to 1925 on the Digital Download.
I succesfully have my Mothers elder Brothers born 1920 and 1922 but the next Brother in 1924 is eluding us. When I go on the site all I get offered for 1924 is Certificate or PDF, no Digital.
Does anyone know if and when they intend to make 1924 and 1925 available? 1923 appear to be available Digitally.
 
Mitch_in_Notts said:
I have a query concerning the GRO Digital Service. The website states that Records Available through the online Digital Service include 'Birth Entries up to 100 years ago'.
So..... I presume I should be able to get up to 1925 on the Digital Download.
I succesfully have my Mothers elder Brothers born 1920 and 1922 but the next Brother in 1924 is eluding us. When I go on the site all I get offered for 1924 is Certificate or PDF, no Digital.
Does anyone know if and when they intend to make 1924 and 1925 available? 1923 appear to be available Digitally.
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It's good question, to which I cannot find an answer either. I believe that digitising the records is ongoing and so they will release them once the digitisation for the year is complete and that year is over 100 years ago. Presumably they are still working on the ones for 1924? It might be worth contacting them to ask, however if they are busy trying to meet everyone's needs then queries will only add to their workload and potentially cause further delay?
 
Thanks. I have now randomly checked another surname for 1924 and same result - no digital available - so you must be right - they simply haven't got to 1924 yet!
 
Have today been able to order 1924 Digital Image, so the site has obviously been updated. Have just checked a random birth for 1925 and digital image for that year is also available. Must have been some delay with making 1924 available.
 
Thanks for the update, and I'm glad that you've finally been able to order the record you needed. I don't think digital images are available for recent registrations, so I expect you will be waiting for a paper certificate.
I have just had a look at the GRO site myself, and I cannot access anything later than 2024, though? Is that just me / my computer, I wonder?
 
Digital Images are only available for births from 1837 up to 100 years ago (ie 1925) and deaths 1837-1957.
You are correct the full index itself ends at 2024 currently which is pdf or certificate only.
 
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