GRO v Local Record Office

[meekhcs]

I ordered a marriage certificate earlier in my research from the GRO to help confirm the marriage for a Gt Aunt.
Fast forward a few months and in trying to unravel her husband's life I have found he has committed bigamy twice!
As a final check I emailed the local record office to obtain a copy of the marriage entry from the original register so that I could compare his signature, which I was quite happy to pay for, with his signature I have on other documents
They have pointed me in the direction of their certificate ordering service. I have never ordered a certificate from a local office before.

My question is "Would this certificate show the original signatures of the couple or would it be the same as my GRO copy?"

The Record Office has copies of all their Registers on microfiche, and I was hoping for a copy of the original register entry. Unfortunately they are not online.
Thank you

[AntonyM]

The office that holds the register might produce a certificate by photocopying the actual entry, but they don't have to. You can only ask - much depends on the condition of the register, and how helpful that particular office are willing to be. It isn't a simple process to reproduce an entry from a register directly onto a certificate form.


For a similar enquiry I had the registration office would only supply a certificate by copying the information onto the blank form but they did also supply a photocopy of just the signature part of the original register, which solved my problem.

[meekhcs]

Thank you Anthony
The office concerned have responded to me again, following a further question from me, and said that if they are unable to provide a certificate with the original signature then they will refund my fee, so fingers crossed.

[Thunder]

If he married in Church then you should be able to see the signature, assuming he didn't change it in an effort to hide his actions!.

[meekhcs]

Hi Thunder

I have discovered it was a non conformist wedding so that may cloud the issue. I may have to visit the office personally to see any signature.