Births, Deaths and Marriages

Hints & tipsKirsten Perris

State Library of Queensland

Aims• To highlight the importance of births,

deaths and marriages indexes• To demonstrate how to access and

search the online indexes• To demonstrate the usefulness of the

indexes in other formats – CD-ROMs, microfiche

How to start your family history• The first step is to create a family tree,

working backwards from yourself. • Use pedigree and family group sheets. • Start with your own birth certificate • It may be necessary for parents and

possibly grandparents to supply their certificates after the cut-off dates.

Things to consider• Ask family members for information• Use family records in the home• Crosscheck information as much as possible.• Establish ancestors’ names and approximate

dates, if you can. Be flexible in dates.• Always be mindful of possible variants of

names that could affect the filing order. • Names may be spelled variously or

misinterpreted

What’s valuable about BDM indexes?Indexes lead to certificates that can hold a wealth biographical information, and link to other sources such as:• Monumental inscriptions and other

cemetery records• Undertakers’ records• Probate records• Newspaper items

Queensland historical online indexeshttps://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research/

Searching

• You only need to fill in one name field and a date or date range.

• Sometimes less is better.

Wildcard searching• Wildcards allow you to search for

variations in the spelling of a name

• The wildcard is ‘ * ’. It can be used after any letters but you must have at least 1 letter before e.g. s*

Sorting resultsSort by clicking on the headings of the columns. This enables you to:• Sort by date to more easily locate a

specific date• Sort by either parent’s name in the case

of births or deaths to more easily locate siblings with common parents or family groups.

Codes• B = within Brisbane area• C = outside of Brisbane• M = event happened at sea• O or R = late registration.• F = WW1 death happened overseas • S = WW2 death that happened overseas • BBP / BBU / BMA (marriage) - transcribed

from church records 1829-1855.

Activity

Can you find the names of the children born to John McQuillan and his wife Annie (nee Scholmier) between 1880 and 1915?

Interval searchingOnce you have located the year you can work out the actual date by adjusting the date range until you narrow it down to a specific date.

Interval searching (continued)When you get an exact date,

The result comes through with just the year.

Activity

Can you find the exact date of birth of Kennedy John McQuillan, son of John McQuillan and Annie (nee Scholmier)?

Online NSW indexhttp://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx

Searching• Search births, deaths

and marriages separately• When searching you

always need to include a family or surname.

• If searching by a single date select No in the “Date of Event Range”.

Wildcard searchingThere are three wildcards that can be used on the NSW website.• ‘ * ’ used to find a string of letters but there

must be 3 letters before e.g. bro*• ‘ ? ’ used to replace a single letter• ‘ @ ’ used to locate names that sound similar

e.g. @colin will locate Clune, Colan, Cullan, Callahan etc. [example from NSW registry website]

Sorting resultsSort by clicking on the headings of the columns. This enables you to:• Sort by date to more easily locate a

specific date• Sort by names or district.

Activity

Can you find the names of the children born to Francis Parameter and his wife Rosannah between 1875 and 1900?

Interval searching• Same as Queensland. • Narrow down to a specific date by

adjusting the date range.• NSW allows you to bring the date range

down to consecutive dates

Activity

Thomas Archer Fletcher died in 1959.

Can you work out the exact date he died?

Other facts• When looking for Queensland BDMs

prior to 1856 you should also check the NSW indexes.

• Between 1788 and 1855 there only early church records.

• Early church codes are available online http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/early-church-codes.aspx

Other factsEntries with a V at the beginning of the registration number are mostly available on microfilm at the State Library

V1849427 34A = V 1849 427 34A Volume referenceYear

Individual reference no.

Other indexes available online• Victoria • Tasmania• South Australia• Western Australia• New Zealand

Victoriahttps://online.justice.vic.gov.au/bdm/indexsearch.doj

• Search bdms separately• Basic search or advanced search • Must have a search period• Can only search by year• Wildcard ‘ * ’

Tasmaniahttps://linctas.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/names • Part of a general search of several

indexes• You can search all fields or specific field• Records up to 1899 are digitised from the

original registers.• Limit search results through column on

left hand side of screen.

South Australiahttps://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-databases.html

• Searches bdms indexes plus newspaper indexes and a cemetery index.

• Basic search so a specific index can’t be selected to search on its own,

• Results are very basic.

Western Australiahttp://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au/_apps/pioneersindex/default.aspx

• Search bdms separately• Only need to enter information into 1 field• Can search by using just first letter• Don’t use apostrophes• Wildcard ‘ % ’

New Zealandhttps://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/

• Search bdms separately• Need to fill in one name field as well as a

date range • Narrow it down to a specific date by

adjusting the date range.• No wildcard searching

CD-ROMs & microfiche• Located on level 3• Some states have integrated indexes• CD-ROMs can be searched by filling in

only one field• Microfiche makes it easier to scan for

family groups or name variations • Late registrations – easier to locate on

microfiche

Example – Qld bdms on CD-ROM

Example – Qld bdms on CD-ROMSearching a specific date – search screen

Example – Qld bdms on CD-ROMSearching a specific date - results

Example – Late registration

Example – Late registration

Summary• Online indexes are a good place to start• Use wildcards to help find results• If you can’t use wildcards try as many

variations as possible.• If you aren’t finding results online, check

the CD-ROMs and microfiche