Makes up for the lack of census information in a way. All are deliberately destroyed with very few exceptions. Glad yours was one of the majority with lots of info on it. One word of warning - you are relying, on a death cert, on info given by someone other than the subject. If you find he had children born in Victoria, or they married here, you get lots of info on those certs too, for confirmation (parents names incl maiden name of Mum on marriage cert). Birth certs give the previous issue, their names and ages; parents (maiden name)and where born I think, and ages, when and where married, occupation. Depends on how deep your pockets are, really. Interesting to track the changes over each child's birth - my gg grandfather was suddenly able to sign his name instead of a cross - I think gg grandmum had taught him by the time child two came along. Marriage and first child, he signed with his mark. Dawn -----Original Message----- From: Ruth [mailto:subs@history.fslife.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 2 May 2004 7:15 AM To: ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [ENG-CAMB] Jacob BELSHAM of Castle Camps - death in Victorian Pioneers Index Thank you very much Dawn. I've downloaded his death certificate as you suggested and it's full of information! A very useful resource. Ruth -----Original Message----- From: Dawn Webb [mailto:dawnwebb@optushome.com.au] Sent: 01 May 2004 21:51 To: ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: RE: [ENG-CAMB] Jacob BELSHAM of Castle Camps - death in Victorian Pioneers Index You can now, for a very reasonable fee, look at the index on line (99c Aust per page, about 50p) and then order a certified true copy OR download in pdf format a copy, immediately for printing etc, both for the standard fee of $17.50 Aust - maybe £9. Website is http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/CA2569020010922A/page/Births+Deaths+and+Ma rriages?OpenDocument&1=0-Births+Deaths+and+Marriages~&2=~&3=~ But if you can't get the whole reference in, I find it easiest by just putting << vic bdm >> in google and selecting Australian sites. Victorian certificates give an enormaous amount of information, always providing the person registering the death knew it of course: Name age place and date of death, place of residence, how long in the colony, age, place of birth, spouse, children with names and ages (and deceased if applicable), length of last illness, the time last seen by a doctor, what they died of - the informant's name and the relationship to the deceased, place of burial; parents names including mother's maiden name. I think also the dte and place of marriage goes on the cert as well. Well worth buying for the possibility (probability) of all that information, I'd say! And very reasonably priced/. The website is easy to use though you do have to go through a lot of warning pages about "are you sure you want to pay this" and so on. I found it just "follow your nose" in effect - and in the end just copied the pdf doc into word for easy storage. All the best Dawn (Melbourne Australia) -----Original Message----- From: Ruth [mailto:subs@history.fslife.co.uk] Sent: Sunday, 2 May 2004 12:41 AM To: ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [ENG-CAMB] Jacob BELSHAM of Castle Camps - death in Victorian Pioneers Index Is anyone able to do a look up for me in the Victorian Pioneers Index please? I've just found a relative in the Cambridgeshire Strays Database who has a death entry in the index. The details are: Surname: BELSHAM Forenames: Jacob Type of entry: Death Year of entry: 1872 Location of entry: Victoria, Australia Place of Origin: Camb Reference: The Victorian Pioneers Index CD Approx. Age: 48 Spouses Location: I'd be grateful for any additional information in the index. Thank you Ruth ==== ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE Mailing List ==== ==== ENG-CAMBRIDGESHIRE Mailing List ==== .