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information shown on death certificates

Posted: 19 Feb 2011 11:58
by Liverbird
Hi long time since I asked a question but I need some advice on this one before sending for this particular cert. I have over the years searched for info on my Gt grandmother Elizabeth Mc Dermott and I have just come across a ref for a death cert in 1947 for Ruthin, the age would be right by all that I know of her and I know her daughter lived at Trefnant, so it sort of fits.
My question is how much info would be on a cert in 1947 in comparison to today's were husbands name and occupation is shown regardless of when he passed away. Any help most appreciated cheers L.B

Posted: 19 Feb 2011 12:51
by dickiesam
Hi,
I have a couple of death certs from the late 1940s and early 50s. They are in in the familiar landscape format as opposed to the later portrait format which have a slightly different layout.

On both certs there is no space for name and occupation of the spouse, deceased or alive. If Elizabeth was a widow when she died only the name and relationship of the informant will be shown. On one of my certs the deceased was a widow and there's no mention of her spouse. On the other one it was her husband who registered the death, so his name, address and occupation is there.

I also believe that individual registrars may have their own way of entering information additional to the basic info required by the cert. On one of a couple of later 'portrait' certs the lady who died is shown in the space for 'Occupation and usual address' [of the deceased] as "widow of..." with his name and occupation and her address.

I think pot luck, and the personal whim of the Registrar, has a lot to do with what is entered on the cert.

Dickiesam

Posted: 19 Feb 2011 13:31
by Liverbird
Hi Dickiesam, thanks for the prompt reply and advice, I see what you mean about pot luck and the whims that go with it. I will probably end up sending for it as she does not seem to fit in any where else. I can remember my Mum saying gt. gma met us when I was little in St Johns market and Mum felt that she had moved to Wales to be with her daughter probably when the war was on, so the time scale is right. So bite the bullet and pay time.
Cheers L.B :)

Posted: 19 Feb 2011 16:23
by MaryA
Unfortunately the Format of Birth and Death Certs didn't change from landscape to portrait until 1969.

Posted: 19 Feb 2011 17:16
by Blue70
I have two death certificates from about this time for female relatives. They do have information about their husbands in the column for occupation or profession as follows:-

1946 "Of (address) Wife of ... (husband's name) (his occupation)"

1950 "Of (address) Widow of ... (husband's name) (his occupation)"


Blue

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 13:39
by Liverbird
Thanks Mary and Blue for the extra info, every little helps, L.B

Posted: 20 Feb 2011 15:17
by Blue70
Here's the results of a check for this information on my female married/widowed death certificates:

1870 Liverpool: Husband's Name & Occupation
1895 Liverpool: Husband's Name & Occupation
1899 Liverpool: Husband's Name & Occupation
1904 Liverpool: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation
1910 West Derby: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation
1915 Toxteth Park: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation
1928 West Derby: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation
1937 Liverpool North: Husband's Name & Occupation
1946 Liverpool South: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation
1950 Liverpool South: Address, Husband's Name & Occupation


Blue

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 01:26
by Liverbird
Thanks Blue for your detailed info, it looks like you have been lucky with your requests. I am only hesitant as it is such a long shot as I only have my Gt grandparents names, the name of her daughter and the man she married and the fact that I believe the couple lived at Trefnant, never the less I feel I must have a go so long as I add a couple of provisions to the request. I just hate to get a wrong cert as I have done in the past with this lady. Although I have the above info she has been something of a mystery in her latter years and all her early info is from census returns. Cheers L.B :)