REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES. Parish registers were not kept in England till after the dissolution of the monasteries. The 12th article of the Injunctions issued by Cromwell, Henry VIII!' secretary, in 1538, directs that every clergy man shall, for every church, keep a book wherein he shall register weekly every marriage, christening, and death ; any neglect being made penal. in the first year of the reign of Edward VI. (1547), eccle siastical visitors were sent through the different dioceses in order to enforce various injunctions, and, among others, that of Cromwell with respect to parish registers. In the beginning of Elizabeth's reign this injunction was repotted, when the clergy were required to make a protestation in which, among other things, they promised to keep the register book in a proper and regular manner. In 1694 an Act (6 & 7 Wm. III. e. 6) for a general registration of marriages, births, and deaths, was passed merely for purposes of revenue : it is entitled " An Act for granting to his Majesty certain rates and duties upon Marriages, Births, and Burials, and upon bachelors and widowers, for the term of five years, for carrying on the war against France with vigour." It is a very long Act, in which the duties are minutely set down. A supplementary Act was passed (9 Wm. III. c. 32), entitled "An Act for preventing frauds and abuses in the charging, collecting, and paying the duties upon marriages, births, burials, bachelors, and widowers." The 52 Geo. 111. c. 146 (28 July, 1812), entitled "An Act for the better regulating and preserving parish and other registers of births, baptisms, marriages, and burials in England," made some alteration in the law, chiefly with reference to having the books made of parchment or strong paper, and to their being kept in dry and well painted iron chests.
The Registration Act (6 & 7 Wm. IV. c. 86: 17 Aug., 1836), entitled "An Act for registering Births, Deaths, and Marriages, in England," came into operation July 1, 1837. By the 44th section of the 6 & 7 Wm. IV. c. 85, entitled "An Act for Marriages in England," the provisions of this Registration Act are extended to the Marriage Act, and some further facilities and regulations were given by the 19 & 20 Vict. c. 119.
The most important provisions of these Acts are the following :—A general registry-office provided in London at Somerset House. Annual abstract of registers to be laid before parliament. Register-offices to be provided in each union by the guardians, and to be under the care of the superintendent-registrar. Registrar and deputy to dwell in the district, and their names and additions to be put on their dwelling houses. Register-books to be provided by the registrar-general, for making entries of all births, deaths, and marriages of his majesty's subjects in England, according to prescribed forms. Registrars authorised and required to inform themselves carefully of every birth and death which shall happen within their district, and to learn and register as soon after the event as conveniently may be done, the particulars required to be registered touching every birth or every death. Parents and occupiers, within forty-two days after birth and five after death, to give notice thereof to registrar ; and owners and coroners to do so forthwith in cases of foundlings and exposed dead bodies. Parents and occupiers, on being required by the registrar, within forty-two days, to give all the particulars required to be registered respecting birth. Children born at sea to be registered by the captain. After the expiration of forty-two days from the birth of the child, it can only be registered within six months, on the solemn declaration of the particulars before the superintendent-registrar, who is to sign the entry, and to receive 2s. ad. and registrar 58, extra fee ; and no registration, after forty-two days, shall be made otherwise than as above, under a penalty of 50/. Births are not to be registered after six months, and no registration after that date is to be received as evidence. Name given in baptism may be registered within six menthe
after registration of birth, on production of a certificate by the minister. Some person present at death, or occupier of house, is required to give particulars of death, on application by registrar, within eight days; • registrar to make entry of finding of jury upon coroner's inquests. Registry of persona dying at sea, containing particulars, to be kept by the captain. Registrar to give certificate of death to undertaker, who shall deliver the same to the minister or officiating person, and unless such certificate is delivered the minister must give notice to the registrar ; but the coroner may prder body to be buried, and give certificate thereof ; and if any dead body shall be buried without certificate of registry or of inquest, and no notice given to the registrar within seven days, the party forfeits 10/. Every register must be signed by the informant. Registrars to make out accounts quarterly, to be verified by the superintendent, and are to be paid by the guardians, as directed. Marriage register books to be provided by the registrar-general for ministers. Marriage registers to be kept in duplicate, and every entry shall ho signed by the clergyman, or the registering officer, or secretary of Quakers and Jews, by the persons married, and by two witnesses. Certified copies of registers of births and deaths to be sent quarterly, and the register-books when filled, to the superintendent-registrar. Duplicates and certified copies of registers of marriages to be sent to superintendent-registrar. Super intendent-registrars to send certified copies of registers to the general register-office. Searches may be made and certificates given by the persons keeping the registers, on payment of the fees prescribed. Indexes to be kept at general register-office, searches allowed, and certified copies given. Certified copies (certificate to bear a penny stamp, to be also paid for by the applicant) given at general register office to be sealed, and shall then be evidence without farther proof.
Ministers, &e. may ask parties married the particulars required to be registered ; and wilfully giving false information is perjury. The penalty for not duly registering births, deaths, and marriages, or for losing or injuring the registers is not to exceed 66/. The penalty for destroying or falsifying register-books, or entries therein, or giving false certificates, is felony. Accidental errors may be corrected, within one month, in the presence of the parties.
Another Act was passed (1 Vict. c. 22—June 30, 1837), entitled "An Act to explain and Amend two Acts passed in the last session of Parliament, for Marriages, and for registering Births, Deaths; and Marriages, in England. This Act consists chiefly of arrangements necessary to extend and improve the provisions of the Registration Act.
Previous to the Registration Act coming into operation it was necessary to divide the country into districts of convenient size for equalizing the labours of the registrars by contracting the area where, the population was dense, and extending it where the population was thin. To each district a registrar of births and deaths is appointed, and also a registrar of marriages; and in each union there is a euper intendant-registrar. The registrar of births and deaths is appointed by the guardians, and is always a resident in the district in which he acts. The registrar of marriages is appointed by the superintendent-registrar, subject to the approval of the guardians.
On August 7, 1854, an Act for assimilating the registration of births, deaths, and marriages in Scotland to that of England was passed. A registrar-generac was appointed, and the returns of the two kingdoms are now annually laid before parliament. The measure has not yet been applied to Ireland.