Dear Lyn, Your suggestions make sense. If anyone knows which records may be helpful I would be glad of any further suggestions. Meanwhile I will google! Best wishes and thanks, Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lyn" <genielynau@bigpond.com> To: <monmouthshire@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 08, 2012 9:26 AM Subject: Re: [MON] probate and death information > Sometimes Mary, researching the history of the town will give you clues to > deaths - cholera outbreak etc. See what you can find out about the history > of Blaenavon on the internet or in local history books. Then widen the > search to a wider area or research infant mortality at that time period > and > you may find it is not so unusual. > > Regards > > Lyn > In Oz. > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com >> [mailto:monmouthshire-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Mary Newbery >> Sent: Friday, 8 June 2012 5:57 PM >> To: monmouthshire@rootsweb.com >> Subject: [MON] probate and death information >> >> Dear Listers, >> I have recently received probate information on a number of >> relatives courtesy of Marjorie, and I now need someone to >> remind me how I obtain the relevant wills. >> A second, non connected question is regarding death information. >> My husband's grandparents, living in Blaenavon in the early >> 20th century lost 5 of their 8 children. This seemed a very >> high rate for the time and I would like to know cause of >> death, but that is just a very high number of certificates to >> buy. Can anyone advise me if the registry office might be >> willing to disclose this information for a smaller fee. I >> don't need the certificates just the information ie premature >> birth, childhood disease, cot death. I know conditions in >> Blaenavon may have been poor and polluted but the level of >> deaths seems excessive. I know two were twins which may have >> been one reason. >> Best wishes, >> Mary >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word >> 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body >> of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MONMOUTHSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Mary, One little thing to remember pre 1927 there were no stillborn deaths recorded. If a baby was stillborn it was not given a birth certificate and therefore no death certificate. All the parents had was their memory and possibly the burial register - if they were allowed to bury the child in consecrated ground. Sometimes the child would be put into a grave with another person, not necessarily a relative. And we call those the good old days.. Ann Macey In Sunny (at the moment) Newport, Gwent