New GRO Indexes
In the past week, since the last article, the GRO have released there new indexes to the public. By new I don't mean information that we had no chance of getting before but it has made it more accessible. Also, this index was created using images from the DoVE (Digitisation of Vital Events) project which took place a few year ago but ran out of funding.
The GRO have released, on their website, a birth and a death index more detailed than those found elsewhere. To view this index you need to have a validated GRO account which is free to set up (it is the same one as when you order certificates - but you may need to validate it again). My validation email came about 12 hours after I requested a validation code so be patient!
The main addition to the birth index is mother's maiden name from 1837 whereas before it was from 1911. Also, full names have been transcribed and are on the index instead of initials. Both of these are very helpful to genealogists - especially when you are dealing with a common name. It also allows you to find 'missing' children that you may have not come across before - like those mentioned as deceased children on the 1911 census and are not found on any census. I have found some of these on my tree!
On their death index age is now included from 1837 compared to 1866 on other indexes. However, it seems that the age may be wrong due to a mistranscription from the GRO. For example, a child who died at 7 months would be listed as 7 years old so bear that in mind. This index also uses full names. In fact these indexes should be more accurate (bar the age issue) than the other indexes due to this one being transcribed once and the others twice. It should also be noted that the birth index only goes up to 1915 and the death index: 1957.
To search sign in and click here and click either birth or death which will lead you to a search page. At the moment you have to include the surname, gender and year of the event. The surname cannot use wildcards however may have soundex if you chose to have it. Also, the year only goes as far as 2 years either side. Only 250 search results will be shown. You can also search with first and middle names, mother's maiden name (birth), age (death), yearly quarter, district, volume and page number (of certificates - can be found on other indexes).
The GRO are also trialling new ways of sending certificates. They are trying 3 methods with the first starting yesterday (9 November). This first method costs £6 for a PDF certificate which will be emailed to you within 5 (possibly working) days. This can be done by finding the record on the new index and then clicking PDF beside their name. You can also order a standard certificate this way as well for £9.25 as per usual. This trial will last 3 weeks or till 45,000 PDFs have been sold. Method 2 would then presumably start.
On a slightly different topic. Armistice day is tomorrow so Ancestry and Find My Past's military records are currently free to search till 23:59 Sunday. Lest we forget.
Published: 10 November 2016
The GRO have released, on their website, a birth and a death index more detailed than those found elsewhere. To view this index you need to have a validated GRO account which is free to set up (it is the same one as when you order certificates - but you may need to validate it again). My validation email came about 12 hours after I requested a validation code so be patient!
The main addition to the birth index is mother's maiden name from 1837 whereas before it was from 1911. Also, full names have been transcribed and are on the index instead of initials. Both of these are very helpful to genealogists - especially when you are dealing with a common name. It also allows you to find 'missing' children that you may have not come across before - like those mentioned as deceased children on the 1911 census and are not found on any census. I have found some of these on my tree!
On their death index age is now included from 1837 compared to 1866 on other indexes. However, it seems that the age may be wrong due to a mistranscription from the GRO. For example, a child who died at 7 months would be listed as 7 years old so bear that in mind. This index also uses full names. In fact these indexes should be more accurate (bar the age issue) than the other indexes due to this one being transcribed once and the others twice. It should also be noted that the birth index only goes up to 1915 and the death index: 1957.
To search sign in and click here and click either birth or death which will lead you to a search page. At the moment you have to include the surname, gender and year of the event. The surname cannot use wildcards however may have soundex if you chose to have it. Also, the year only goes as far as 2 years either side. Only 250 search results will be shown. You can also search with first and middle names, mother's maiden name (birth), age (death), yearly quarter, district, volume and page number (of certificates - can be found on other indexes).
The GRO are also trialling new ways of sending certificates. They are trying 3 methods with the first starting yesterday (9 November). This first method costs £6 for a PDF certificate which will be emailed to you within 5 (possibly working) days. This can be done by finding the record on the new index and then clicking PDF beside their name. You can also order a standard certificate this way as well for £9.25 as per usual. This trial will last 3 weeks or till 45,000 PDFs have been sold. Method 2 would then presumably start.
On a slightly different topic. Armistice day is tomorrow so Ancestry and Find My Past's military records are currently free to search till 23:59 Sunday. Lest we forget.
Published: 10 November 2016
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*Note - No copyright infringement was intended. If there is a breach in copyright contact me through the 'Contact' section so it can be removed. All photos are Copyright © 2015 Harry Clarke. All Rights Reserved. The homepage photo for this article is courtesy of the General Records Office.