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Archiver > NYCOLUMB > 2003-03 > 1046566071


From: "Envi-Life, Inc." <>
Subject: Re: [NYCOL] Birth Records - Unregistered or Delayed Registration
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 18:47:51 -0600


In some areas the parents were the ones to do the reporting of births, not
the doctors and midwives. My GGrandparents lived on Mt. Riga and registered
eight children in Salisbury, CT and one in Millerton, NY because that was
most convenient at the time. My father, born in MA January, 1905, was not
reported until February, 1906.

-----Original Message-----
From: Cliff Lamere <>
To: <>
Date: Saturday, March 01, 2003 4:38 PM
Subject: [NYCOL] Birth Records - Unregistered or Delayed Registration


>Patricia,
>
>In 1887, almost everyone was born at home. Few women went to a hospital.
Doctors went to homes in those days, or there was an attending midwife
(experienced woman), or possibly just a neighbor friend. Some doctors
didn't report the births as they were required to do, and midwives and
friends probably reported them very seldom, if at all.
>
>A relative of mine wasn't reported by a doctor until two years after the
birth. If it happened to your relative, the office may not have found it.
By the time the birth was reported, the mother was listed wrong, and the
name and sex of the child were wrong. But the father and date were correct,
and I know who the person was supposed to be. I think the doctor mixed up
two families when reporting the event so late.
>
>Two relatives in another family were born around 1911-15 and were not
reported at all. Both registered their births after becoming adults (one
was age 31) when they needed a birth certificate for some reason. They
received a "Certificate of Birth - Delayed Registration". A relative
looking for them today would not likely find them. I was lucky because I
saw a copy of one of the certificates and knew what I was dealing with.
They were Roman Catholic and used a baptismal certificate as proof.
>
>If you get to Albany, you could search the vital records index on
microfiche at the NYS Archives. The index is also at about three other
cities in the state. You would have to search a lot of years, but you might
find it marked with a DR (delayed registration). If you found it, it would
contain the information you seek.
>
>Cliff
>
>
>Pat & Bob Belterman wrote:
>
>> I have just received the two death certificates of my great grandparents
and the marriage certificate of my grandparents that I requested. However,
I also requested a copy of my grandfathers birth certificate and was told
there is no record of his birth.
>>
>> All paperwork I have states he was born in Hudson. Could he have been
born at home and that is the reason for no record of birth? His name was
Patrick James McCarthy and I have his date of birth as May 16, 1887.
>>
>> Is there anywhere else I can check? Maybe baptism certificates? Would
St. Mary's in Hudson have them back that far?
>>
>> Thank you and God Bless
>> Patricia Belterman
>
>
>

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