Baby girl without a name

[Daisycakes]

While searching hubby's side of the family I have found a baby girl on fbmd with the correct surname but no christian name ...she is just registered as female born 1891 and then death female 1891... I did check the original register and it also said female....Even if she was born dead as sometimes happens .I cannot get my head around why you would register a baby but not give her a name. Never come across this before anyone any thoughts...for myself I just think it is so sad.

Ann

Not sure if I have posted this in the correct place

[dickiesam]

While searching hubby's side of the family I have found a baby girl on fbmd with the correct surname but no christian name ...she is just registered as female born 1891 and then death female 1891... I did check the original register and it also said female....Even if she was born dead as sometimes happens .I cannot get my head around why you would register a baby but not give her a name. Never come across this before anyone any thoughts...for myself I just think it is so sad.
Ann

Hello Ann,
This might help understand the thinking behind not naming a child.... Still births could not be registered before 1927. See this from: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentc ... /DG_175614

Stillbirth registration began on 1 July 1927 to help protect infant life. It gives parents the opportunity to have their child officially acknowledged and to give him or her names if they wish to. It is also an important source of historical and statistical information.
Stillbirths in England and Wales must normally be registered within 42 days of the stillbirth but cannot be registered more than 3 months after its occurrence.

If the child was born alive but died shortly after birth and before registration of the birth had been done, I think is was relatively common not to name the child. A lot of parents saw the baptism as the 'naming' ceremony and if the child had died this could not be done.

[Daisycakes]

Thanks DS ....It seems unreal that even though this baby must have died either at birth or right after... that she had to be registered but then not given a name. Times were so different though way back then. ...But thank you as ever for your thoughts on this one.

Ann

[MaryA]

Have you checked to see if there was a burial? I don't suppose there would be a baptism, but you never know, the mite could have been taken along by a relative to a nearby church.

[Daisycakes]

Mary..I did check for a baptism just in case she had been named later just a bit of wishful thinking really ..but no luck.. good suggestion burials are worth a look (never thought of that) ..This little one was their first born and they went on to have 7 more children 3 of which also died within the first couple of weeks.. and all were baptised...this from Ancy Parish records.

Thank you again Ann

[Daisycakes]

Well folks have spent the afternoon tring to find a burial without success....Is there anywhere else i can look apart from ordering the death cert??

Ann

[MaryA]

I suspect not, I had wondered about a burial in case it had been placed in a family plot, but if not then we hear so often about babies being buried together with the next adult - perhaps a niche to the side, and probably no charge being made for it, so there may be no record at all.

[Daisycakes]

Its time to put this one away now...

Thanks Ann

[Hilary]

My mother had 3 siblings and 2 half siblings who all died before her birth. When I looked for them (I knew their names) I found the burials for 2 of them. They are together in a bought grave. Their elder brother is not there. However I did find his death and sent for his death certificate. He was aged 3 hours and died from "compression of head during delivery".

I believe he was probably removed by the doctor (the death was certified by a doctor) and sadly disposed off due to the injuries received during birth. I think in these earlier times it was probably what happened to both still born babies and those who died shortly after birth. Now there would have been a post mortem and an inquest but not then.

Sadly my grandfather had already had 2 sons by his first wife, both died under the age of 2 years. He then had John above then a daughter who lived, a daughter who died at 2 , a son who lived a daughter who died at 3 days and then my mother. All these other children were christened and buried. The first two with their mother and the 2 girls of the second marriage together.

Poor John wasn't christened or buried. My grandfather had a good job so money wasn't the issue. I never knew my grandparents but I feel for them.

[Daisycakes]

Oh my goodness how sad is that....and sad for you never knowing your grandparents... my mother ((my dad also)) never knew any of her grandparents and she often said" At least your (mine) children will have two sets of grandparents...and I am for ever grateful for that because their nan's and grandy's meant so much to my children...sadly all four of them have now passed away...

You come across so many sad stories with this hobby of ours and it touches you ((must admit have had a few tears sometimes))...but then there are the wonderful moments when you find someone you have been searching for,for years and its YE HA !!!!!!!!!!! and off we go again forever searching.

Thank you Hilary for your thoughts Ann

[Hilary]

Thanks Ann.

It was only a few years ago I saw photos of these grandparents. Grandfather died in 1928 when my mother was 11. He has a really lovely smile. Grandmother has an amazing nose a bit like an acute angle! She is a real mystery I have a marriage certificate death certificate and assorted other bits but her antecedents are a mystery. One daughter in law is still alive and she tells me she knows nothing about her!

[Daisycakes]

Maybe fresh eyes might find her....goodness knows I'm no expert but give me a clue and who knows what might turn up.
Ann