REGISTRAR GENERAL'S OFFICE, SOMERSET HOUSE. The office of the Registry of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, erected pursuant to 6 & 7 Will. IV., c.86. The Registrar publishes an annual report.

Peter Cunningham, Hand-Book of London, 1850

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Registers of Births, Marriages, and Deaths are now kept at Somerset House, and may be searched over any period not exceeding 5 years, on payment of the fee of 1/-. If a certified copy of any entry be required, the charge, in addition to the 1/- for the search, is 2/7, which includes stamp duty of 1d. The registers contain entries of all births, deaths, and marriages registered since 1st July, 1837. it is not generally known that on going to the General Register Office to search for death, it may at the same time be ascertained whether a Will has been proved, or letters of administration granted for the disposal of the deceased’s effects. There are also local registry offices in every district, where the ordinary business of registration can be effected.

Charles Dickens (Jr.), Dickens's Dictionary of London, 1879