Netherlands, Gelderland Province Civil Registration - FamilySearch Historical Records

Foreign Language Title
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying a translation of the title in Dutch here.

This wiki article describes a collection that is scheduled to become available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search.

Collection Time Period
The collection of the civil registration for the Gelderland Province covers events from 1811 to 1942.

Record History
The French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, introduced the civil registration in the Netherlands at the time of the French occupation in the late 1700s, first in the southern part of the country later in the rest of the country. Since March of 1811 the local civil authorities in Gelderland began recording births, marriages, and deaths using a standard format. Two copies of the records were created; one stayed in the local registration district; the second was sent annually to the district court. The district court created the “ten-year” indexes and eventually deposited the records and ten-year indexes in the provincial archives.

Why This Record Was Created
The civil registration serves to officially record the events of births, marriages, and deaths in a person’s life. These records serve for statistical purposes also, and in the earlier years it was also used for military drafting.

Record Reliability
The civil registration is the most accurate source for records search after March 1811 in Gelderland. For events prior to March 1811 it is best to search church records.

Record Description
Record types found on the films are births, marriages, deaths, 10 year indexes, marriage intentions, marriage proclamations, and marriage supplements. The events are recorded either totally by hand or in partially preprinted books where the information is then entered by hand.

Record Content
Key genealogical facts found in most births records: • Name of principal • Gender of principal • Place of birth • Date and time of birth • Parent’s names including mother’s maiden name • Occupation, age, and civil status of parents • Names of witnesses, who could also be family members

Key genealogical facts found in most marriage records: • Names of bride and groom • Civil status of bride and groom • Their place of birth and ages • Place, date and time of the event • Their occupation and residence • Parent’s names, their residence and occupation if living • Names of witnesses, who could also be family members

Key genealogical facts found in most deaths records: • Name of principal • Date and place of death • Gender and age of the deceased • Place of birth of principal • Occupation of principal at time of death • Spouse’s name and occupation, if deceased person was married; otherwise her/his death place • Parent’s names, occupation, and residence if living, if not it gives the place of their death • Name and information of the informant, who could be a relative • Names of witnesses, who could also be a relative

How to Use the Record
Dutch civil registration records are an excellent source for accurate information on names, places, and dates of events such as births, marriages, and deaths. By doing research in the civil registration records a person can compile several family groups.

When looking for a birth record, search by the given name of the child, the mother’s maiden name, and that of the father. Children are never labeled as 'illegitimate', but the mother is noted as being 'unmarried'. If the father and mother of the child later marry it will be mentioned in the margin of the birth certificate as well and that the child is 'recognized' as theirs. The child's last name will now have been changed to the father's last name as well, so the child is born with the mother's last name, but later will go on in life with the father's last name. If you believe a marriage took place but cannot find a record of the marriage, search records of intent to marry. Take note of the marriage entry number; you will need this to locate the marriage supplements, which are the documents filed by the bride and groom in support of their application to be married. Civil death records often exist for individuals whom there are no birth or marriage records for. Married women are recorded under their maiden surname.

Related Wiki Articles
Netherlands Civil Registration

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