I have a lady born in January 6 1909 - apparently never needed a birth certificate when she entered the small rural school that she attended. When her husband was of a pensionable age [20 years her senior] she needed to prove her age. An application was made to order her birth certificate - No Problem - one arrived in time. but the birth date was April 28, 1909. This was questioned - but since the names of the parents were the same - it was assumed that this was correct - perhaps a late registration - with errors in the paper work. Lucky lady celebrated 2 birthdays a year - compliments of her children. until she was of pensionable age . The birth certificate was questioned again - and Vital Stats requested that this one be returned. It was - but a new one was not issued - since a birth registration could not be found for the name - and birth date * Note that the surname was often very misspelled. Letters - to doctors, hospitals etc were required for proof of age - to allow her to obtain the pension. Many letters and dollars .She did receive her OAP . At 75,A vacation to Europe - the Passport required a Birth Certificate . Application was again made - with nothing found. Copies of letters from doctors etc were not acceptable - new letters needed to be written. and responses notarized.A solution to the problem. She applied for Canadian Citizenship - and was able to obtain her documentation to allow her to travel.[limited time] *Things are different now - but apparently - had her husband not been Naturalized - she would have been considered a subject of her husbands birth country. even though she had been born in Canada. Further attempts - to register her birth - failed - One letter required that she make the application - but this hit a brick wall - since she needed proof - from a parent, sibling ,aunt ,uncle etc - who could prove the information.was correct. The only sibling still living was a sister only 11 months older - her info was rejected - as she had been to young. The last attempt - Letters to hospitals - where her children were born - for her age. Baptism certificate - copied page from church records, Certified. Marriage Certificate and registration. Anything that stated her age at any specific time. All was sent to Vital Stats. The information was finally accepted /acceptable - the birth was registered. 6 months to the day after she passed way.at age 88.without ever seeing her birth certificate. A birth certificate was never obtained. the family thought that it would be sent - after the registration was accepted.- . Cheers, Stella At 01:29 PM 3/22/2005, you wrote: >Hi Just wanted to mention that my Father's birth was not register until >July 1916, and he was born in April 1901. They most likely needed his >birth cert. so he could start school. > A note at the bottom stated that she thought that his Father had > registered him, but I guess he did not care, she said. > Lots of different excuses. > >Ken in Enderby. > > >==== CAN-BRITISH-COLUMBIA Mailing List ==== >Visit the British Columbia Gen Web page at >http://www.rootsweb.com/~canbc/