My grandfathers birth certificate shows a different reference than on ancestry?

Question

on my grandfathers small birth certificate it says 4a/461

and when I look on ancesty.co.uk, it shows only 1 thomas james dando 1916, 11a/260, does this prove its a different person because of the ref?? or could it still be him?

Answer 1

It's unlikely to be the same person. These numbers aren't normally on the birth certificate any way. Did you get the short birth certificate from the register office or the GRO.  I will have a look through the index on ancestry and see what I can find for you.

I have just had  another look at the index, and I can say for certain that the volume  number 4a is not for Monmouthshire. All the entries for Bedwelty Monmouthshire began 11a, so I think 4a possibly covers somewhere else in Wales ?. I think if I were you I would phone the GRO, they have excellent advisers just waiting to help out if they can.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I would say it is the same person, it is possible the error was made on the original birth certificate.

It's true they do make mistakes.  I have government ID that shows me 20 years younger than my real age, my first drivers license said I was born in 1985  when that was actually the year I applied for it.

If you can find out if his mother's maiden name was Prosser, then you'll know that it is him.  Also, if his siblings were named Daisy C, Edwris G, Emrys G, and Clifford J J - they are all Dando's, mother's maiden name Prosser born in Bedwellty.

Answer 3

I have checked on "The Genealogist" site of original images

and it gives 11a260 for your grandfather, with the mother's name as Prosser.

In Britain the Civil Register number is never normally shown on a BM or D certificate. It is quite safe to assume that in this instance there is just the one Thomas James because there is only the one listed in that year and in any case you have the confirmation, re date etc., on the short certificate, in this instance the number almost becomes irrelevant.

(4a actually covers areas to the east and north of London).

Answer 4

To quote a Pope: "To err is human, to forgive, divine".

Does EVERYONE make mistakes?  Yes.  That includes www.ancestry.co.uk or any other site.  Birth certificates ALSO contain errors (my maternal grandmother's included).

Probably those are 2 different persons; to find out for certain, you will need separate verification from other sources.

I googled "thomas james dando, b. 1916, england" and got 3,250 hits.  With no more information that that, I have no idea which, if any, may include YOUR ancestor.  So, you might google that and see if you can determine which, if any, pertain to you.