Difference between revisions of "Birth, marriage and death records"

From FIBIwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Ecclesiastical records (‘N’ Series in the India Office Records))
(Clean-up + affiliate link)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
There are a number of sources for locating birth, marriage or death information.  This article provides an overview of these.  See the links to the main article for each source for more in depth information.
 
There are a number of sources for locating birth, marriage or death information.  This article provides an overview of these.  See the links to the main article for each source for more in depth information.
  
Consider that a person may have been baptised with a certain Christian name, but been known by a completely different name, either for their whole life, or for various periods.
+
Also consider the following:
  
Consider also that a second marriage may be bigamous, or the birth mother may not be correctly stated in a baptismal record, as indicated by this India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2010-08/1283070071 post].
+
* a person may have been baptised with a certain Christian name, but been known by a completely different name, either for their whole life, or for various periods.
 +
* a second marriage may be bigamous
 +
* the birth mother may not be correctly stated in a baptismal record.
 +
* a person who had been widowed may be described as a Bachelor/Spinster on a 2nd marriage record
  
Occasionally a person who had been widowed is described as a Bachelor/Spinster on a 2nd marriage record, according to this India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2012-08/1345366528 post]
+
==FIBIS resources==
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=277 Births Outside India]
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=241Ministers and missionaries]
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=290 Mixed Original Records] provided by Malcolm Speirs
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=3 Deaths and burials]
 +
** Bengal burial records
 +
** Bombay burial records
 +
** Burials Outside India
 +
** Chandernagore Civil Death Registration Index
 +
** Madras burial records
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=1 Marriages]
 +
** Bengal Marriages
 +
** Bombay Marriages
 +
** Chandernagore Civil Marriage Index
 +
** Madras Marriages
 +
** Marriages outside India  
 +
** Registry Office Marriage Indexes
 +
** St Helena Banns of Marriage
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=class_detail&source_class=2 Baptisms]
 +
** Baptisms Outside India
 +
** Bengal Baptisms
 +
** Bombay Baptisms
 +
** Chandernagore Civil Birth Registration Index
 +
** Madras Baptisms
 +
* [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=list_sources&source_class=103 Births, Marriages and deaths announced in Newspapers and periodicals]
  
==FIBIS database==
 
Click on the "FIBIS database" in the panel on the left of the screen.
 
  
 
== Ecclesiastical records (‘N’ Series in the India Office Records) ==
 
== Ecclesiastical records (‘N’ Series in the India Office Records) ==
Line 21: Line 46:
 
The N series contains Anglican and some Catholic and Non-Conformist records.
 
The N series contains Anglican and some Catholic and Non-Conformist records.
  
'''These records have been  digitised and are available online through the commercial site findmypast.co.uk'''. However, be aware that the digital images are restricted for privacy purposes and a limited transcription only is available, currently (January 2014) as follows: '''There are no digital images for baptisms after 1914, nor for marriages after 1929'''
+
'''These records have been  digitised and are available online through the commercial site [http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]'''. However, be aware that the digital images are restricted for privacy purposes and a limited transcription only is available, currently (January 2014) as follows: '''There are no digital images for baptisms after 1914, nor for marriages after 1929'''
  
 
== Registrar Marriages ==
 
== Registrar Marriages ==
Line 28: Line 53:
 
Marriages conducted by the Registrar, which commenced in 1852, are included in the India Office ‘N’ series (N/11). A complete transcription of the indexes to these records is included in the [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=list_sources&source_class=102 FIBIS Search] section of this website.
 
Marriages conducted by the Registrar, which commenced in 1852, are included in the India Office ‘N’ series (N/11). A complete transcription of the indexes to these records is included in the [http://www.search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_browse_sources.php?mode=list_sources&source_class=102 FIBIS Search] section of this website.
  
The Registrar Marriages records are thought to be  included in the digitised records available on the commercial site findmypast.co.uk
+
The Registrar Marriages records will be  included in the digitised records available on the commercial site findmypast
  
If they haven't been digitised, the LDS have not filmed these records so they may only be viewed at the [[British Library]].
+
The LDS have not filmed these records.
  
==Records on the LDS Family Seach website==
+
==Records on the LDS Family Search website==
 
'''Main article: [[IGI]]'''
 
'''Main article: [[IGI]]'''
  
Line 48: Line 73:
 
'''Main article: [[General Register Office]]'''
 
'''Main article: [[General Register Office]]'''
  
[[The National Archives]] hold some records that may be useful in tracing a BMD outside of the United Kingdom.  For more help see TNA’s brief guide [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/gettingstarted/looking-for-person/bmdatseaorabroad.htm "Looking for records of a birth, marriage or death of a British national at sea or abroad"] or the books ''Tracing Your Ancestors in The National Archives'' by Amanda Bevan (7th edn, National Archives Kew, 2006), including chapter 8, "Births, marriages and deaths of Britons overseas or in the armed services" and ''The British Overseas, A Guide to Records of Their Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Burials Available in the United Kingdom'' by Geoffrey Yeo (London, 3rd edition 1995). Both are available at the [[British Library]]. ''Tracing your Ancestors'' is  available from the [http://astore.amazon.co.uk/faminbriindso-21/detail/1903365899 FIBIS Shop] through Amazon.co.uk
+
[[The National Archives]] hold some records that may be useful in tracing a BMD outside of the United Kingdom.  For more help see TNA’s brief guide [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/gettingstarted/looking-for-person/bmdatseaorabroad.htm "Looking for records of a birth, marriage or death of a British national at sea or abroad"] or the books ''Tracing Your Ancestors in The National Archives'' by Amanda Bevan (7th edn, National Archives Kew, 2006), including chapter 8, "Births, marriages and deaths of Britons overseas or in the armed services" and ''The British Overseas, A Guide to Records of Their Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Burials Available in the United Kingdom'' by Geoffrey Yeo (London, 3rd edition 1995).
  
 
==BMDs at sea==
 
==BMDs at sea==
Line 56: Line 81:
 
==British Army==
 
==British Army==
 
[[British Army#Ecclesiastical returns|British Army Ecclesiastical returns]] and [[Chaplains Returns]] detail sources other than the N series for India BMDs pertaining to British Army soldiers and their families.
 
[[British Army#Ecclesiastical returns|British Army Ecclesiastical returns]] and [[Chaplains Returns]] detail sources other than the N series for India BMDs pertaining to British Army soldiers and their families.
 
  
 
==Birth and death registration==
 
==Birth and death registration==
Line 76: Line 100:
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/india/2004-09/1096195847 post] is about change of surname.
+
*[http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=2114&id=201071 findmypast]
*This India List [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INDIA/2011-02/1298276748 post] discusses 'assuming a name'  which was a way of ensuring continuity of a family name when it would otherwise have died out for lack of a direct male descendant.
 
 
*[http://www.deedpoll.com/tracing-a-change-of-name.htm Tracing a Change of Name by Deed Poll in the UK] deedpoll.com . Some records are available at  [[The National Archives]].  It is often the case that a proof of name change either never existed or no longer does.
 
*[http://www.deedpoll.com/tracing-a-change-of-name.htm Tracing a Change of Name by Deed Poll in the UK] deedpoll.com . Some records are available at  [[The National Archives]].  It is often the case that a proof of name change either never existed or no longer does.
 
*[http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/marrlic.htm Marriage Licence Records (Allegations and Bonds) at Guildhall Library] This is a brief introduction to searching for records relating to the issue of marriage licences, with particular reference to those concerning the City of London and former county of Middlesex. Licences were issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops, and the records are called Marriage Allegations or Bishops’ Marriage Allegations.
 
*[http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/marrlic.htm Marriage Licence Records (Allegations and Bonds) at Guildhall Library] This is a brief introduction to searching for records relating to the issue of marriage licences, with particular reference to those concerning the City of London and former county of Middlesex. Licences were issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Bishops, and the records are called Marriage Allegations or Bishops’ Marriage Allegations.
*[http://www.sog.org.uk/uploads/Leaflets%20and%20Tips%20PDFs/Cela_Heritage_-_I_Cant_find_My_Ancestor_in_the_BMD_Index.pdf I Can't find My Ancestor in the BMD Index] by  Celia Heritage sog.org.uk [http://www.sog.org.uk/learn/who-do-you-think-you-are-2013-speakers-handouts/ upload] 2013. Although written about the England BMD Index, a number of the considerations apply to the India  records
 
 
*[http://www.archives.com/blog/genealogy-help/second-cousins-and-removed-cousins-difference.html Second Cousins and Removed Cousins: What's the Difference] by Amy Johnson Crow October 16, 2013 www.archives.com
 
*[http://www.archives.com/blog/genealogy-help/second-cousins-and-removed-cousins-difference.html Second Cousins and Removed Cousins: What's the Difference] by Amy Johnson Crow October 16, 2013 www.archives.com
  
Line 87: Line 109:
 
|count=true
 
|count=true
 
}}
 
}}
 
  
  
 
[[Category: Records]]
 
[[Category: Records]]

Revision as of 21:10, 18 March 2014

These ‘Vital Records’ include not only Births, Marriages and Deaths but more particularly in India, Baptisms/Christenings, Marriages and Burials. There was some registration of Births and Deaths in British India commencing in 1864 in Calcutta but generally it was voluntary.

There are a number of sources for locating birth, marriage or death information. This article provides an overview of these. See the links to the main article for each source for more in depth information.

Also consider the following:

  • a person may have been baptised with a certain Christian name, but been known by a completely different name, either for their whole life, or for various periods.
  • a second marriage may be bigamous
  • the birth mother may not be correctly stated in a baptismal record.
  • a person who had been widowed may be described as a Bachelor/Spinster on a 2nd marriage record

FIBIS resources


Ecclesiastical records (‘N’ Series in the India Office Records)

Main article: Church records

The East India Company established and paid for Anglican dioceses and parishes in all areas as they came under its control. Each parish priest was required to establish registers in which to record BMDs. In addition, he had to send duplicates to the presidency ecclesiastical authorities. The latter have been collated and sent to London and are now in the care of the India Office Records at the British Library in their Asian & African Studies Reading Room. Ministers, priests and missionaries who were not employed by the East India Company were not obliged to send these returns, however some did so on a voluntary basis but these records are available to a lesser extent.

Microfilmed copies of all the records are available for public inspection and indexes are available on the open shelves of the APAC, broken down by Presidency, alphabetically and by year.

The N series contains Anglican and some Catholic and Non-Conformist records.

These records have been digitised and are available online through the commercial site findmypast. However, be aware that the digital images are restricted for privacy purposes and a limited transcription only is available, currently (January 2014) as follows: There are no digital images for baptisms after 1914, nor for marriages after 1929

Registrar Marriages

Main article: Registrar marriages

Marriages conducted by the Registrar, which commenced in 1852, are included in the India Office ‘N’ series (N/11). A complete transcription of the indexes to these records is included in the FIBIS Search section of this website.

The Registrar Marriages records will be included in the digitised records available on the commercial site findmypast

The LDS have not filmed these records.

Records on the LDS Family Search website

Main article: IGI

The LDS maintained International Genealogical Index is a huge database of genealogical information. The IGI contains several hundred thousand birth and marriage entries for the British India period, data input from the ecclesiastical record microfilms. Those from the ecclesiastical records provide reference numbers so that the microfilms may be viewed at LDS Family History Centres.

Details of other microfilms from the LDS Library Catalogue in respect of Church registers in India are also included.

‘Domestic Occurrences’ in registers, almanacs and newspapers

Main article: Domestic Occurrences

'Domestic Occurrences' was a section found in many periodical publications detailing birth, marriage and death announcements. It is easy to search these records in the digitized versions of journals and directories that are available online. FIBIS has a wealth of transcribed resources.


Records at The National Archives

Main article: General Register Office

The National Archives hold some records that may be useful in tracing a BMD outside of the United Kingdom. For more help see TNA’s brief guide "Looking for records of a birth, marriage or death of a British national at sea or abroad" or the books Tracing Your Ancestors in The National Archives by Amanda Bevan (7th edn, National Archives Kew, 2006), including chapter 8, "Births, marriages and deaths of Britons overseas or in the armed services" and The British Overseas, A Guide to Records of Their Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths and Burials Available in the United Kingdom by Geoffrey Yeo (London, 3rd edition 1995).

BMDs at sea

Main article: Births, marriages and deaths at sea


British Army

British Army Ecclesiastical returns and Chaplains Returns detail sources other than the N series for India BMDs pertaining to British Army soldiers and their families.

Birth and death registration

Main article: Birth and death registration

Some birth and death registration did occur in British India. It commenced in the 1860s but was only compulsory in some areas, with other places adopting voluntary registration. The records are obtained from local Municipal Corporations, therefore researchers must know where a birth occurred. Some people born in India pre 1947 have copies of their birth registration. Recent copies are known to have been obtained from the Shimla Municipal Corporation following a visit there, but it is not known whether these documents are generally available, or how far back existing records go.

See also

External links