Hello Lynne birth registration wasn't compulsory until 1837 and also have just checked on www.familysearch.org on the IGI for Andrew McCALPEN christening in 1776 and nothing there under batch no 062612 for the years 1774-1804 for St Mary's Portsea. Sorry it's not a positive response Linda and Tony I would like to be able to find a birth for Andrew McCalpen thought to have been christened in st.Mary's Portsea in 1776. where would St.Mary's records be so that I can confirm this please.