REGISTERING THE FACTS: the secret life of the BMD Registrar
The bricks and mortar of family history – civil registration of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales – came into force on 1 July 1837 (1855 in Scotland; 1864 in Ireland, Protestant marriages from April 1844). It was the simultaneous nativity of the General Record Office (GRO), when 2,993 registrars of births and deaths plus 619 superintendent registrars poised quills. In overall charge, the first Registrar General appointed by letters patent in August 1836 was novelist Thomas Henry Lister (1800-42).
How were registrars recruited?
Because registrars required a high degree of literacy, organisational skills and trust, he (female registrars weren’t appointed until the late 19th century) often already held a position of responsibility. By late 1836, advertisements were placed in newspapers targeting those who could both read and afford them (newspaper stamp tax was abolished on 30 June 1855). As this was a totally new concept, responsibilities, salary and accoutrements to fulfil the role were explained. Salary, marriage-noticebook, forms and certificates plus iron coffer for storage were all financed by the new Poor Law taxpayers.
An advert on the front page of the from 29 January 1848 combined the role of Relieving Officer for the Poor with Registrar for Fakenham, Norfolk [see page 15]. Aged 25 to 50,
