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EXAMPLES OF GENERAL REGISTRATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES
Most countries around the world have General Registration, although relatively few have had such a system for anything like as long as Britain. Below are some details of General Registration in countries where British people may wish to do research. In all cases, you can obtain up-to-date information and advice from the relevant country’s embassy in London, usually from the embassy’s cultural section. Bear in mind that the primary duty of an embassy is not to help you trace your family tree, and the average receptionist is unlikely to be an expert on genealogy, so a considerable degree of polite persistence is often required to ensure you are passed on to someone who will be able to help. But, invariably, your efforts will pay off.
AUSTRALIA
Civil registration started at different times in the different states, beginning with Tasmania in 1838. Many of the records for different states are being published on CD-Rom by the Latter Day Saints in the form of pioneers’ indexes: contact them on www.familysearch.org. Records tend to be fairly detailed, e.g. including parents’ names on death certificates.
BANGLADESH
Modern civil registration started in 1960. What little has been recorded can be accessed via the Bangladesh Demographic Survey and Vital Registration System.
INDIA
Contact the Registrar General’s Office or address enquiries to the ‘Chief Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages’ of the capital city of the relevant state, union or territory. Civil registration of births and deaths was introduced in Bengal in 1873 and throughout India in 1886 but outside major towns and cities compliance was very low. Registration of marriages became compulsory for some faiths by special Acts: for Christians (1872 and 1955), Parsees (1936) and Hindus (1955). In practice, the best way of finding out about a marriage is to contact the place of worship where the event is thought to have taken place.
JAMAICA
Compulsory civil registration of births, marriages and deaths started on 1 January 1878. Records are kept at the Registrar General’s Department. Much can be accessed on microfiche through the Mormon Family History Centres.
KENYA
Modern civil registration of births and deaths for whites began in 1904, available to Asians from 1906, compulsory for Asians from 1928 and compulsory for blacks from 1963 (and in other states from years up to 1971). Contact the Principal Civil Registrar or the local district registry. White marriages have been registered since 1902 but few black marriages have been recorded. Islamic marriages are registered by the Minister of Mohammedan Marriages.
NEW ZEALAND
Civil registration started in 1848, first for whites only, but Maoris soon started to use the system voluntarily until it became compulsory in 1911 for marriages, and 1913 for births and deaths. Copies of the indexes to 1920 are at the SoG in London.
PAKISTAN
Modern Pakistan has required the registration of all over 18, and all foreigners, since 1973. Birth, marriage, death and divorce records kept by the Directorate of General Registration, which you can contact via the Pakistan Embassy.
SIERRA LEONE
Civil registration began in Freetown in 1801 but has never been truly comprehensive. Information is held at the Office of the Chief Registrar.
SOUTH AFRICA
Civil registration started piecemeal in its constituent provinces, beginning with the Cape of Good Hope (1820), while national civil registration started in 1923, with records held by the Department of Home Affairs, which you can contact via the South African High Commission.
QUICK REFERENCE
See also Main Sources in Useful Addresses.
BANGLADESH DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY AND VITAL REGISTRATION SYSTEM
REGISTRAR GENERAL’S OFFICE
REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT
PRINCIPAL CIVIL REGISTRAR
MINISTER OF MOHAMMEDAN MARRIAGES
PAKISTAN EMBASSY
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF REGISTRAR
SOUTH AFRICAN HIGH COMMISSION
OTHER GENERAL REGISTRATION RECORDS
The Registrar General holds a number of civil registration records besides those for England and Wales. They contain broadly similar types of information and can be found at TNA and on www.findmypast.com.
Consular records: records of birth, marriage and death of British subjects kept by British consuls from 1 July 1849.
Birth and death at sea: from 1 July 1837. See C.&M. Watts, Tracing Births, Deaths and Marriages at Sea (SoG, 2004).
Forces deaths: for Boer (1899–1902) and First and Second World Wars.
Forces births, baptisms, marriages and deaths (except foregoing): regimental returns (1761–1924), forces chaplains (1796–1880) and returns (1881–1965).
Indian service deaths: 1939–42.
Deaths in the air and missing persons: 1947–65.
Births, marriages and deaths: in Ionian Islands (1818–64).
A record of death at sea.
CHAPTER SIX CENSUSES
The first mention of censuses is familiar to many from the Christmas story. Sadly, Caesar’s census will not help many modern family historians, but more recent ones will. Those for 19th-century Britain can provide ages and places of birth, essential information for seeking births and so identifying earlier generations.
Censuses are now available online.
