help with a death certificate.....

[karenc]

Hi, I need help with a problem which i have on a death certificate.

i have a death certificate for a george simpson, its for 1873. i know from other information i have that he was married to an agnes waston. the problem is that on the death certificate it says he was married to a francis watson. the only thing is the informant who signed it was frank simpson his son. im wondering if the francis as a wife could be a mistake? maybe it should be agnes but its an error.

just wondered what everyone thought on the matter.

thanks
Karen

[AndrewP]

Hi Karen,

Of the three main certificates dealt with in genealogy, the death certificate is the one where the information has most mistakes. In the most part they are very reliable, but there are two different categories of errors show up.

The first is the type that you appear to have. The information is given by a close relative, probably in a state of grief. Did he perhaps give his wife's or his grandmother's first name for his mother?

The other type is where the deceased (or spouse of the deceased) was not well known to the informant, and the wrong information was given, although almost certainly in good faith.

Either way, no verification if the information was sought by the registrar. It was taken as fact as was given by the informant.

All the best,

AndrewP

[JustJean]

Hi Karen

I always try and figure these things out just for the challenge! Not knowing ages it would be tricky though. If you run a search for the DC of each named "wife" using wildcards of course.....you can usually find a corresponding one stating married to George Simpson. Another means would be to try and track a marriage or even the birth of the son Frank and see who his parents are named as. Assuming of course that all these events occured in Scotland......

Best wishes
Jean

[nelmit]

Hi, I need help with a problem which i have on a death certificate.

i have a death certificate for a george simpson, its for 1873. i know from other information i have that he was married to an agnes waston. the problem is that on the death certificate it says he was married to a francis watson. the only thing is the informant who signed it was frank simpson his son. im wondering if the francis as a wife could be a mistake? maybe it should be agnes but its an error.

just wondered what everyone thought on the matter.

thanks
Karen

I agree it is probably a mistake.

Is this your family from the IGI?

Father: George Simpson, Mother: Agnes Watson


AGNES SIMSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 28 APR 1850 Muiravonside, Stirling, Scotland

JOHN WATSON SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 23 MAY 1847 Polmont, Stirling, Scotland

ALEXANDER SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 15 DEC 1833 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

FRANCIS SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 14 MAY 1836 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

GEORGE SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 01 SEP 1844 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

FRANCIS SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Male Christening: 15 MAY 1836 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

MARY SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Birth: 07 JAN 1842 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

ELIZABETH SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 01 DEC 1839 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

MARY SIMPSON - International Genealogical Index
Gender: Female Christening: 30 JAN 1842 Falkirk, Stirling, Scotland

[LesleyB]

Hi All
I just wonder of the registrar has got a bit mixed up with this one - Frank who reported the death was probably a Francis. Seems a coincidence that this is the name in question given for his mother...?

I wonder if he just misheard it Agnes/Frances - they are not too dissimilar.

Best wishes
Lesley

[karenc]

hi, thanks andrew, jean, nelmit and lesley for all the suggestions.

nelmit, yes that is my family on the IGI.

i think probably it is the right person and a mistake has been made. i really just want to make sure because if it is my george i have added another generation to my tree as i didnt have his parents names and they are on the DC.

thanks again everyone

Karen