Common Names - Obtaining the Correct Birth Cert

Hi all, wonder whether anybody would be able to give me a bit of advice
which could help me to identify another of my great grandmothers Ann
Morgan from a mass of them born around the same time in and around
Liverpool.

Her marriage certificate from April 1886 to William Tillston shows her
age as 24. The 1891 census shows her as Ann Tillston aged 27, and the

CWatters...

It wouldn't be unusual to be married in the same church your christening.
Perhaps you can find her christening in the church records?

1901 census as Annie Tillston aged 38. Father's name on the marriage
certificate is John, and father's occupation "Warehouseman".

According to the three ages given above, she could have been born
anytime between 1861 and 1863 - and I'm tempted to search a year either
side of that just in case.

CWatters...

The normal proceedure is to check the census for 1871 to see if she is
living with her father.

A search using 1837 online has turned up lots and lots of
Ann/Annie/Anne Morgans born in Liverpool/West Derby between 1860 and
1865, about 12 of them in fact. Using the IGI and later censuses I
have been able to eliminate about half, but am still rather stuck as
there is a real possibility, with John being such a common name, that
two or more of the remaining ones could have had a father named John.

Eve McLaughlin...

Good thinking

1. If I ask the GRO to perform a 3 year search with reference checking
conditions specifying the father's name as John, will they search all
the records within the three years, and inform me if more than one of
them had a father John, or will they simply stop at the first one they
find and send that? I'd rather pay for 2 certificates than get the

Eve McLaughlin...

You should specify, either 'stop at first found' or 'search all
references'. The latter is the only safe course, though it does mean
they will charge the search fees for all and production fees for any
which match. If you don't do it, you are right - you will always wonder
if there could be an alternative.

wrong one and be none the wiser.

2. Another option is to order every one specifying the
District/Vol/Page numbers and reference checking father's name as John.
Those where the father wasn't named John will only cost me 3 quid each
as a result, but it could still be a relatively expensive and lengthy
process.

3. Would a visit to the Liverpool Records Office to search the Parish
records be more fruitful? I'm still quite new to this, but a visit to
the records office is definitely on the agenda soon.

Ruth Wilson...

Liverpool is HUGE! Unless you have a pretty good idea of church of baptism,
and bucket loads of luck, it could take years! The 2 main churches were
baptising 80 odd children each and every day! (I counted a few random days).

The local registrar is probably your best bet, BUT ... it took me 4 months
recently to get a certificate, although I did hear that things were
improving. Any siblings with weird and wonderful Christian names to help
narrow it down?

Liverpool Gore's Directories are pretty good - contain lots of names, not
just professionals, so if you do get to Liverpool, I would look there first.

Good luck (you're not the only one in this situation, but something can turn
up!)

Eve McLaughlin...

What you could try is asking for each certificate from the local
Registrar. They normally do not charge if it does not match the 'father
named John'. If all the refs are in one RO, rather than some in
Liverpool, some in West Derby, or wherever, then they might jib at
checking half a dozen for free, but if they are feeling kind, and you
write a crawly letter saying how much you will appreciate it if they can
manage to do this etc etc, then you could get the right result/s for the
absolute minimum.

Most grateful for your advice
Shaun