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This is a large database containing almost 810,000 names (decedents). It contains all events that were registered with the central Vital Statistics Agency. If any event was, for whatever reason, not registered, it will not appear in the index database. In January 2001, index data relating to the overseas deaths of 3,423 British Columbians during World War Two was added to the database.
For quick searching of this database and trouble free viewing, be as specific as possible with search criteria. The default number of matches displayed is set at the first 25 records. If you do not find the death registration that you are looking for in the first 25 matches you can reset the default limit to a higher number. The total number of matches is displayed above the list of retrieved records. If that number is above 200 you should try more restrictive search criteria.
You may enter search criteria into one or more of the fields. The more fields used, the more restrictive your search becomes. For example, searching by only the surname Smith will retrieve far more matches than searching by the surname Smith, the given name Mary, the years 1900-1905, and the event place Vancouver.
Each field has associated search criteria. The default setting, match exactly, means that every string of characters must match the data in that field exactly, no more and no less. Partial match allows you to enter part of a name. For example, entering doug in either of the surname fields, and selecting partial match for that field, will match all records containing the data string "doug". This will retrieve the following surname records:
Dougall
Dougen
Dougherty
Douglas
McDougal
McDougall
MacDougall
Exclude allows you to make a search of names that omits the information entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.
You may enter any surname (last name) in this field. The name may be searched on its own or in combination with a given name or any other fields. Searching by a very common surname, such as Smith, without restricting the search by some other criteria will result in a large number of matches. Over time, surnames with an apostrophe (e.g. O'Brien) and/or several parts (e.g. St. James or de Boer) have been entered into the index database with different punctuation and spacing. For such names, omit apostrophes, periods, hyphens and/or spaces (e.g. OBrien, StJames, deBoer, etc.).
Match exactly means that every string of characters must match the data in that field exactly, no more and no less. Partial match allows you to enter part of a name. For example, entering doug in the surname field, and selecting partial match for that field, will match all records with the data string "doug". This will retrieve the following names :
Dougall
Dougen
Dougherty
Douglas
McDougal
McDougall
MacDougall
Exclude allows you to make a search of names that excludes the surname entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.
You may enter one or more given names in this field. The system allows you to search on a given name without a surname or other criteria, but the number of matches retrieved will likely be too large to be useful. It is most useful to search given names in combination with surnames and/or some other field that will limit the number of matches retrieved. In some years, the indexes record only one given name. To find "Peter John Smith", you may have to search for both "John Smith" and "Peter Smith".
Over the years, stillborn babies were recorded sometimes with birth registrations and sometimes with death registrations, usually indicated by the letters "SB" in the given name field and an age of "0". For some years, stillborn babies were registered in a separate record series which has not yet been microfilmed.
Match exactly means that every character entered into the field must match that field exactly in the database, no more and no less. Partial match enables searching when you are not sure if a person was registered with more than one given name or with a short or long version of a name (e.g. John, Jon, or Jonathan), or when you are not sure of the spelling of a given name. It also means that a name will be retrieved whether it is a first, second, or third given name. You can also use part of a name such as "jo" and retrieve such names as John, Jonathan, Joseph, and Johnson. It is recommended that you do a partial match search on given names or, if this is not successful, leave out the given names and use surname only.
Exclude allows you to make a search of names that excludes the given name entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will receive an error message.
Specifying an age at death in the search criteria will speed up the search process, especially if the surname is quite common. If you know a person's approximate age at death, but not the exact age, it is a good idea to limit the search by specifying "greater than" or "less than" an age. For example, if you are certain that a person died when between 65 and 70 years of age, set "greater than 60" or a range of "60 to 75" in the search criteria.
In the search results, age "unknown" indicates the age of the decedent was unknown. Age "0" is shown for children who died before their first birthday.
This is the number that was assigned to the record by the Vital Statistics Agency at the time of registration.
For search purposes, this field is only useful if you know the exact registration number and correct format. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff, therefore it is normally best to leave this field blank.
This field can be used to retrieve a registration by its registration number. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registration with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations with numbers greater than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations with numbers less than the number entered.
Choosing range allows you to search for a range of registration numbers. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.
In this field you may enter any year between 1872 and the current release year. You may also enter a range of years, for example 1872 to 1910. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all deaths for a particular year, or range of years, or in combination with other fields. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.
Match exactly means that you will only retrieve deaths for the year entered. Select greater than to retrieve all matches for years later than the entered year. Less than means that all matches will be for years earlier than the entered year.
In this field you may enter any number from 1 to 12 representing the months of the year. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all deaths for a particular month but be careful, you will retrieve a very large number of matches. It is best used in combination with other criteria.
Match exactly means that the month for all records will match the entered month exactly. Select greater than to retrieve all matches for months later than the entered month. Less than means that all matches will be for months earlier than the entered month.
In this field you may enter any number from 1 to 31 for the day of the month. You may use this field on its own to retrieve all deaths for a particular day of the month but be careful, you will retrieve a very large number of matches. It is best used in combination with other criteria.
Match exactly means that you will only retrieve deaths for the day entered. Select Greater than to retrieve all matches for days later than the entered day. Less than means that all matches will be for days earlier than the entered day.
In this field you may enter the name of any city, town, municipality, district, or Indian Reserve in British Columbia. Some place names in British Columbia have changed over time. The event place names on the registrations, and in this index, are the ones that were used at the time of the death. For some early place names it may be necessary to consult atlases and gazetteers for the names used during the dates in question.
The default setting for this field is "partial match" which allows you to enter part of a name and retrieve all names containing that string of letters, or to retrieve place names with more than one word in the name. For example, by entering George you will retrieve deaths for both Prince George and its earlier name Fort George. If you enter Vancouver you will retrieve deaths for Vancouver, South Vancouver, North Vancouver, and North Vancouver District.
Match exactly means that all records will match the entered place name exactly, letter for letter. Exclude allows you to make a search that excludes the place name entered in this field. This is useful only when used in combination with other criteria that will narrow your search. Note: This database permits the use of "exclude" with only one field at a time. If you use exclude with more than one field you will get an error message.
The most common event place names for the overseas deaths during World War Two are: at sea, overseas, and unknown. Alternatively, try a partial match search on the country name for those killed in action on land, or leave the event place field blank.
This is the number BC Archives assigned to the microfilm reel containing the registration record.
This field is only useful if you know the exact BC Archives microfilm number. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is best to leave this field blank.
This field can be used to retrieve registrations contained on a particular reel of microfilm or range of microfilm reels. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registrations included on the BC Archives microfilm reel with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations included on BC Archives microfilm reels with numbers higher than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations included on BC Archives microfilm reels with numbers lower than the number entered.
Choosing range allows you to search for all the deaths found on a range of microfilm reels. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.
This is the number given to the microfilm reel by the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) for use in its Family History Centres throughout the world.
This field is only useful if you know the exact GSU microfilm reel number. It is included on the search form for use by Vital Statistics Agency and BC Archives staff. Entering numbers in the wrong format in this field will produce an error message. It is best to leave this field blank.
This field can be used to retrieve registrations contained on a particular reel of GSU microfilm or range of microfilm reels. Match exactly means that the search will retrieve only the registrations included on the GSU microfilm reel with the exact number match. Greater than means that the search will retrieve all registrations contained on GSU microfilm reels with numbers higher than the number entered. Less than means that the search will retrieve all registrations contained on GSU microfilm reels with numbers lower than the number entered.
Choosing range allows you to search for all the deaths found on a range of microfilm reels. Note: ranges must be entered in the form of number to number.
You can choose to sort your search results in ascending order by any one of the fields on the search form by selecting the desired field in this list. The default sort criteria is "no sort" which provides the fastest response time.
This field allows you to select the number of matches that will be displayed. At the top of the match list will be shown the total number of matches found. This may be far greater than the number displayed.
The default setting is the first 25. You can change the setting to 50, 100, 200. If the number of matches retrieved is over 200 you should adjust your search criteria.
The only persons excluded from registration under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act of 1872 were Chinese and Aboriginals (referred to in the legislation and registrations as Indians). This was changed by an amendment in 1897 (SBC 1897, c. 33, s. 3) which stated that the Act would apply to all races including all Aboriginals, Chinese and Japanese. However, the Act was amended in 1899 (SBC 1899, c. 8, s. 3) to once again exclude Aboriginals from provincial registration. This continued until the Act was amended again in 1916 (SBC 1916, c. 73, s. 3.2) to authorize the registration of Aboriginals, which began in 1917 with Indian Agents submitting registrations monthly. In 1943 this system was formalized with a special form for "Indian death registrations". Special forms for "Indian registrations" were discontinued after 1956.
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