Death register - A duplicate entry, or simply coincidence?

[Peetee]

Whilst researching I've come across what looks to be a duplicate entry in the 1983 death register.

The 2 names are: Dorothy Rhoda Ellis & Dorothy Rhoda Williams, and they both have the same details which are -

Birth Date: 30 Dec 1913, Date of Registration: JunQ 1983, Age at Death: 69
Registration district: Shepway, Inferred County: Kent, Volume:16, Page:1435

I have looked at the pages to check the transcriptions and both check out. There's too many similarities to my mind for that to be coincidence, so how could that be?

[MaryA]

I think if you were to ask a Registrar it might be that Dorothy Rhoda Ellis was "also known as" Williams, so the entry has ended up in the index twice, although there will be only the one certificate. The only way to discover the truth is to order the certificate.

[dickiesam]

My take is that the deceased was divorced and whoever registered the death was unsure of the surname Dorothy was then known by. If, for instance, she died in a Home or Hospital, the staff may not have known her 'usual' name. It is possible she preferred to be known as Ellis [otherwise Williams]. I have come across such a situation before and I think only the cert will have the answer.

For instance, this might be her....
ELLIS, Dorothy R
Registration district: Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire
Year of registration: 1914; Quarter of registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Mother's maiden name: Winstanley
Volume no: 8C; Page no: 1180

Dorothy R Ellis married Richard D W G Williams
Registration district: Stockport, Cheshire
Year of registration: 1946; Quarter of registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Volume no: 10A; Page no: 1217

[Blue70]

One person with 2 different surnames on the death certicate so 2 entries required for the death index?

Blue

[MaryA]

Snap - you have three answers all amounting to the same thing. Get the certificate if you believe she is your girl.

[Peetee]

Hmmn interesting. So maybe a clue to her married name if divorced/widowed.
I haven't clue yet if she's the right person or not, I've reached a bit of an impasse c1911 at the mo.

What I will do though is ring the GRO tomorrow and ask them the question. I asked the question here as I thought there was something to be learned by it. I'll post what I learn

[MaryA]

I believe the answer will confirm what you have been told here.

[Blue70]

There's two marriage indexes for my Nan's second marriage. One for her maiden name and one for her married name.

Blue

[Peetee]

I believe the answer will confirm what you have been told here.

An explanation on my part is needed. The reason I phone them is not because I doubt the information given, it's to hear another take on it from another valid source. 1) for my own learning and 2) to feed it back into the discussion here.

It's not because I doubt people here. I do it all the time with many different things. As they say 'you don't know what you don't know'.

[dickiesam]

You will sometimes see a marriage on FreeBMD and other sites entered twice with the groom's full name and the bride's forenames the same in each entry but with different surnames for the bride. This indicates she is a divorcee remarrying. There will be a double entry in the Index. One with her maiden name and one with her married name.

[MaryA]

An explanation on my part is needed. The reason I phone them is not because I doubt the information given, it's to hear another take on it from another valid source.

As a Member of the Liverpool & South West Lancashire Family History Society I, like many others, some of whom are members of this Forum, attended the annual Conference on Saturday last. One of the speakers there was a Registrar, named Barbara Dixon, who gave a talk entitled "Registration for Family Historians".

It was a very interesting talk which confirmed many facts which we have learned over the years, one of which was the reason for what appeared to be duplicate entries in the indexes.

What a shame you hadn't become a member of the Society prior to last weekend as you would have been able to attend and listen to valid sources rather than ourselves, just a collection of helpful amateur researchers whose assistance, knowledge and experience having been gathered over many years, is welcomed by many seeking help and our knowledge.

As you have welcomed our assistance since the beginning of this year, I look forward to seeing your Membership Number noted in your profile very soon. http://www.forum.liverpool-genealogy.or ... =2&t=12073

[Peetee]

Quite happy to Join and Support the group MaryA. I have joined now. I take it the membership number comes through at some point as I'm not aware of it yet, it's not in the email and it hasn't come up automatically on my profile.

When I first began to research family trees I was fortunate to come across Barbara Dixon's very informative website. But, that still wouldn't stop me phoning the GRO. I've researched many things and there's often value in approaching something from multiple angles and also the random variable. So if anybody is taking that as a personal slight, that is not my intention.

I spoke to the GRO today who were, as usual, very helpful. Their answer as MaryA suggested, and the other replies also mentioned, was that the person was known by more than one surname. They also mentioned that sometimes handwritten sidenotes on the index can offer clues. She did say that by ordering any one of the two you would get the same certificate.

[MaryA]

That would seem to confirm our advice then.

If you joined the Society online you will get your membership, almost immediately probably if you gave an accurate email address. As the forum is a separate entity to the application process, your number wouldn't come up automatically on your profile, it will be for you to insert it. If you have any problem or it takes too long, don't hesitate to contact me with your details and I will chase it up for you.