Hi Bob When the price went up last April they also changed a few other things, the checking system is now the same price and if the check is false you are not charged whereas you used to get a part of the fee back so on the face of it that is an improvement I haven't used that part of the system so perhaps someone else can confirm my understanding Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hi been some time since I last ordered a certificate from the GRO, do the > they still have the facility for reference checking? > In this case I want to check out the father's name for a William > Frederick or possibly William Percy LEE born in Holborn in 1884 or in > Islington in 1885 respectively. > This LEE family in the the 1891, 1901 and 1911 census has been fairly > consistant with William's age at census time being 6, 16, and 26 and his > birthplace being Islington or just London. > 1881 to 1901 census finds the LEE family located at Islington so they > didn't move away from the registration district of Islington. > William had a sister Minnie Florence who was born, baptised and registered > in Islington in the April to June quarter of 1882. Her

Nivard Ovington wrote: > I haven't used that part of the system so perhaps someone else can confirm > my understanding There are three ways to find out other than ordering the cert and hoping for the best. One is to put in the father's name and hope for the best. Another is to mail the GRO (with GQ in the subject line) and ask their advice on the best way to order a cert with a specified father now they've withdrawn the reference checking facility. The alternative is to ask the register office. However, IIRC, Islington is one of the unco-operative register offices who'll tell you to go to the GRO. If they are still as awkward as they used to be, then it's a matter of contacting the GRO and asking them to ask the "relevant person" to contact the register office and tell them to co-operate! :)) -- Charani (UK) OPC for Walton, Greinton and Clutton, SOM Asst OPC for Ashcott and Shapwick, SOM http://wsom-opc.org.uk http://www.savethegurkhas.co.uk/

Now I didn't say order the cert and hope for the best They haven't withdrawn the reference check they have altered and improved it As I understand the new system you can order *with* a reference (ie the fathers name) and if found true they will supply the cert, if found false they tell you but do not charge Thats not hope Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > > There are three ways to find out other than ordering the cert and > hoping for the best. > > One is to put in the father's name and hope for the best. > > Another is to mail the GRO (with GQ in the subject line) and ask their > advice on the best way to order a cert with a specified father now > they've withdrawn the reference checking facility. > > The alternative is to ask the register office. > > However, IIRC, Islington is one of the unco-operative register offices > who'll tell you to go to the GRO. If they are still as awkward as > they used to be, then it's a matter of contacting the GRO and asking > them to ask the "relevant person" to contact the register office and > tell them to co-operate! :)) > > -- > Charani (UK)

I would wish folks could stop knocking my local council. The services provided by them to the residents who pay taxes are much more valuable than any historical BMD cross checking services required by anyone, even residents doing family history. JK On Tue, Nov 2, 2010 at 9:38 PM, Charani <charani.b@gmail.com> wrote: > > .... Islington is one of the unco-operative register offices > who'll tell you to go to the GRO. If they are still as awkward as > they used to be ..... > >