Researching with Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates

These are often considered the most important documents when we begin our family history. In fact many try to hang their whole 'family tree' together on these documents. However, this is only one document recording this event, and good family historians should always try to find as many supporting documents as possible, not only to confirm the given information, but also to seek out additional information to extend the research.

Some will argue that as these are lawful documents the information must be correct. However, experience tells us that these is not necessarily so. The information on a certificate is only as good as the information given by the 'informant'. When it comes to the family historian to assess or judge the information on the certificate, the informant is very important. However, you should also be aware that people did not always tell the full truth, even if they were in a position to know the truth. Other times the information is not correct because the informant did not know, the correct information.

Birth Certificates

In March 1856 Civil Registration of Births began in New South Wales. However, it was the responsibility of the family, particularly the parents of the child to register the birth. This was usually done at the local District Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This didn't always happen, as often families lived many miles away and didn't travel to a town very often. Sometimes the parents or perhaps their employer would write a letter to the District Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages or even to the office of the Principal Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Sydney, giving the particulars of the birth. There was a requirement that the birth be registered within a certain time span from the date of birth, with an accompanying fine for not doing so. Sometimes a parent being made aware of this fact, when they went to register the birth, would 'crib' the date of birth so it fell within the time limit and so they would not be fined. This may account for the recorded birth date on a birth certificate and a church baptism certificate to vary.

It has been mentioned in a previous article that many people who have a Certificate of Particulars of Birth believe it is their birth certificate.

You will note this certificate although issued from the office of the Principal Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages (Registrar General),and was once sufficient for a legal form of identification, has only full name, date and place of birth. This is referred to as a 'Certificate of Particulars of Birth' and is no longer considered a legal document.