Lorraine, you really have a handle on the 'immediacy and accuracy" our ancestors paid to the registration of births, deaths and include in that the marriages. "Whoever was going to town" is the key phrase in your post. Life on the farm was difficult and not much free time to do much outside of the farm duties. Wasn't there a time when a fee was levied for people to register Births etc.? I have one of my Ggrandmother's siblings who was never registered in Queensland or anywhere for that matter. I know she lived because I interviewed her when she was 75 yrs old. guess the government did not always manage to dot their "i's" and cross their 't's". cheers, Beverly. Life on Earth is Expensive, but at least you get a free trip around the sun....... So wear a hat and enjoy the ride!

hi, I have in my family an un-named and unregistered baby, which I know existed because I was told about it, and I found the death registration papers (amongst private family papers) which were all signed but never lodged at the registry office. I have also found records at the cemetary and even visited the grave, yet the Registry of BDM told me that there were no records of birth or death to be found. And this is as recent as 1955. So, why the papers were not lodged is anybody's guess, but I was told that apparently at that time they didn't have to. regards, Linda

Linda, your experience is not uncommon but I am glad that you posted to the list so that others can gain courage to search out the un named children and have them put in their family units. cheers, Beverly. Life on Earth is Expensive, but at least you get a free trip around the sun....... So wear a hat and enjoy the ride!