Hi All,
In brief...
1837 was the date of publication of the first annual report of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The first annual report is actually available online at http://www.histpop.org/ohpr/servlet/Browse?path=Browse/Registrar%20General%20(by%20date)&active=yes&treestate=contract&titlepos=0
The Death Certificates formed part of the new system. Even though Deaths were registered, causes of death were very varied and often inaccurate even if (see below) a medical practitioner was involved!
A useful reference guide to mortality statistics, which willr efer to books relating to this topic is available on the wellcome library website - http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTL038911.html
This states:
1836 Registration Act created the General Register Office, which was set up in 1837. Indexes of births, deaths and marriages for England and Wales stem from this date. The Act required the GRO to prepare an annual abstract for Parliament. Under the Act the family had to report the death to the local registrar of births, deaths and marriages, it did not require certification by a medical practitioner. Required information regarding the deceased was; date of death, name, age, sex, rank or profession and cause of death.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Doug Knock
Deputy Librarian / Information Skills Trainer
Knowledge Services
Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust
Stadium Road
Woolwich
London SE18 4QH
Tel: 020 8836 6752
Fax: 020 8836 6744
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Search the Healthcare Library catalogue http://selh.sirsi.ltd.uk/uhtbin/qelizabeth
---- Original message ----
>Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 14:30:45 +0100
>From: Marilyn Shaw <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: FW: Death certificates
>To: [log in to unmask]
>
> From: Shaw Marilyn (ULHT)
> Sent: 09 July 2008 14:29
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Death certificates
> Hello
>
> Can anyone help with an urgent request for
> information on when death certificates were first
> issued and why? We have found a date of 1837 for
> the first issue of certificates but no reason as to
> why they were issued?
>
> Our requester is giving a presentation on Friday
> morning and would like to include some historical
> detail in it - hence his request.
>
> Any offers of help will be much appreciated!
>
> Regards
>
> Marilyn
>
> Marilyn Shaw
> Clinical Librarian
> Staff Library
> Grantham and District Hospital
> 101 Manthorpe Road
> Grantham
> Lincolnshire
> NG31 8DG
>
> T: 01476 464321/4368
>
> www.hello.nhs.uk
>
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