Hi Caroline, Many thanks for your reply. I am now thinking about the distinct possibility Elizabeth was registered under Eliza's maiden name. My reply to Nivard should be on the list very shortly. If you can think of anything in regard to the points I have raised there I would be very grateful. Thanks again Christine -----Original Message----- From: Caroline Bradford Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 3:05 PM To: Christine Benson Cc: London Mailing List Subject: Re: [LON] Elizabeth Edith COURT You were right to give the date of 1 January. This is what the GRO suggest if you don't know the exact date (or even quarter). And they should search for the whole of that year and those either side. But if you specify any other details, such as a father's name, they will not issue a certificate unless the details match. My guess is that that was the stumbling block in this case. So either the certificate does not exist (because the birth was never registered or registered under a different name) or the certificate does exist but with a father's name different from the one you expected. The system is helpful *sometimes* but it is not foolproof. From time to time there is nothing for it but to order a cert on spec and take the financial hit if it is "wrong". One way we could all limit the damage and help each other out is to add postems to all the entries on FreeBMD for which we have certificates or other documented evidence of details. A late New Year resolution everyone? Caroline Sent from my iPad > On 6 Feb 2015, at 14:16, Christine Benson via <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Diane, > > Many thanks for your reply. As I understand it quoting 01/01/1860 as the > date but NOT giving a specific reference will get them to search a year > either side and part of the GRO’s reply was > “We have searched the indexes for events registered in England and Wales > during the years specified (1859-1861). We have been unable to find any > entry with the details you provided." > When I ordered the certificate I gave Elizabeth COURT as the name, > omitting > Edith. Sorry I did not make that clear. > > Thanks again > > Christine > > From: Diane Wynne > Sent: Friday, February 06, 2015 8:45 AM > To: Christine Benson > Cc: London Mailing List > Subject: Re: [LON] Elizabeth Edith COURT > > When ordering a certificate with a with a specific reference (quarter, > year, > district, volume and page no) and specify the date of birth as 01/01/1860 > for the indexed reference, then this is the date they will check on the > original certificate. So if her birth was in May then you will be told > that > the details do not match even if the father´s name could have been > correct. > Since the birth you found in Shoreditch registration district is the only > possible one (St Lukes is in that area), if it was me, I would reorder it > without specifying a date of birth or father´s name if you are unsure of > that. OK it could cost you 9.25 GBP but at least you would know if it was > correct. > > Diane > > On 6 February 2015 at 01:21, Christine Benson via <[email protected]> > wrote: > Hi All, > > Elizabeth Edith COURT was born c 1860, St Luke, London according to the > 1861 > census. She appears to have been the daughter of David Thomas (William) > COURT and ELIZA. She was baptized at Market Lavington, Wiltshire on 18 Aug > 1861 and that gives a birth date of 30 May 1860. That confirms the parents > but unfortunately no image is available so I can't check the dates. > (Market > Lavington was her mother's birth place.) > > The only birth I can find that appears to match is for Elizabeth COURT b > Q2 > 1860, Shoreditch. > > Does Shoreditch correspond with St Luke? > > I ordered a certificate specifying born 01/01/1860 in London so they would > search a year either side. I think I gave the father's name as David but I > cannot remember exactly and the acknowledgment email does not give those > details. Although I thought it was probably the Shoreditch one I was > trying > to get the right one if it wasn't. The GRO say they cannot find a > certificate with the details I specified. Of course they refunded the > money. > > So before I order the Shoreditch certificate which is the only one I can > find that matches, (my hope being that he called himself Thomas, say, on > the > certificate,) but might well not be the right one, can anyone shed any > more > light on the matter, suggest an alternative birth registration, or give > any > more useful info. > > (In some censuses she is shown with the surname BENSON as she was > "adopted" > by her step-grandfather William BENSON who refers to her in his will as my > adopted daughter.) > > Any help gratefully received > > Christine