Local registries were established, and each event generated an official certificate that recorded relevant information.
From July 1837 in England and Wales, every birth, marriage and death by law had to be registered with civil authorities; the system was introduced in Scotland in 1855, and in Ireland in 1864. Local registries were established, and each event generated an official certificate that recorded relevant information. For example, birth certificates contain the name of the child, the date and place of birth, the name and occupation of the father, the name and maiden name of the mother, and the address of the informant (usually one of the parents). A marriage certificate records the date and place of the wedding, plus the name, age, marital status, occupation and address of the bride and groom, along with the names of their fathers. Finally, a death certificate contains the date and place of death, the name and age of the deceased, the cause of death, and the name and address of the informant (again, often a member of the family). National indexes have been compiled over time, and you can use these to select and order duplicate certificates for the births, marriages and deaths of our ancestors.