This is perhaps a stupid question, but I have to ask.....

[delmarco]

My mother always said the only stupid question is the one not asked, so here goes.

I am searching for the death records of James Mitchell, and found several on SP, being a common name there are a few that could fit the bill. My question is, is there a way to view these records through any other source?

and...what do these numbers mean? 627 00 007
652 02 0430 651 01 0161
627 00 0022

I believe the first number represents the town????

Thanks,
Karen

[DavidWW]

The first five digits are the registration district, and the next fours digits are the number of the entry in the Register of Deaths.

To view just 4 images is always going to be less expensive on ScotlandsPeople than anywhere else, with one exception. The exception is that if the dates are before 1875, or the single years of 1881 and 1891, then you can view them for free at an LDS Family History Centre, but they might have to order the film from Salt Lake City. You could also order copies from SLC but I've no idea what time that can take.

David

[AndrewP]

Hi Karen,

The first number is the Registration District (main number).
The second number is the Registration district (sub number)
The third number is the certificate number in that registration book. For each Registration District, a new book is started each year, hence the first registration in each year being 001.

In the numbers that you quote,

627 00 007 - 627/00 = Cambuslang, cert no. 7 (assuming 0007 was meant)
652 02 0430 - 652/02 = Old Monkland or Coatbridge, cert no. 430
651 01 0161 - 651/01 = New Monkland or Burgh of Airdrie, cert no 161
627 00 0022 - 627/00 = Cambuslang, cert no. 22

To completely define a certificate number, it also should include the type (birth, marriage or death), and the year.

A Registration District is normally an area including a town or village, or part of a city, but can also be an island (such as 003/03 = Fair Isle) or an area if land (such as 530 = North Knapdale). In most cases, the Registration Districts were based on the church parishes when the civil registration system started in 1855. Over the years, these were split or merged, or boundaries moved, as required.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[delmarco]

David and Andrew:

Thank you both for the information, I'm guessing too I can determine by the entry #'s about when in the year the event occurred. Since I've relied on SP for most of my searching, I had just wondered if I should have been searching other sources as well. I had found some of my Mitchell's on the LDS website.

Thanks again for your help!!
Regards,Karen

[AndrewP]

Hi Karen,

I'm guessing too I can determine by the entry #'s about when in the year the event occurred.

Yes, but you need to have an idea how many are likely to have been registered in that year. Some rural RDs will have less than 10 births/marriages/deaths in a year, whereas some busy urban RDs will have over 2000 births/marriages/deaths in a year.

Since I've relied on SP for most of my searching, I had just wondered if I should have been searching other sources as well.

The LDS website is particularly useful for OPR births and marriages; and 1855 to 1875 births and marriages. The main piece of advice is to check the source of the information - is it extracted from the records? (or is it a submitted entry?). If you find an extracted 1855-1875 record on the online IGI, then you should be able to go to ScotlandsPeople and seek the certificate, having narrowed your search down on the (free) LDS site.

All the best,

Andrew Paterson

[delmarco]

Andrew:

Thank you for pointing that out, I am going to search through the IGI, and then go back to SP, Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated!

Regards,
Karen