Until the GRO computerised the capture of registration data, the quarterly indexes were compiled by hand. In the earliest indexes, entries are handwritten, later ones are typeset. These indexes used to be in huge books that you could consult at Somerset House, then St Catherine’s house, and finally Myddleton Street, before they were eventually withdrawn, and for pre 2005 records, only fiche copies of these index books already in existence and online services remain, for the indexes covering all of England and Wales.
Transcription errors can and do creep in at every stage. I found one that probably crept in at the typesetting stage. This was in an index from 1862, when the typeset indexes had started to save space by setting the surname first, and below it, a set of forenames.
So, if you are looking for Susan Beakley, born Wisbech in December quarter of 1862, you probably will not find her. In that quarter, the printed surname Beakley had been omitted, or set one row too low, so Susan was indexed as Beakhurst, just below Albert Beakhurst. As this birth was in an odd place for my family, I ordered the certificate. The order was rejected, but as they proposed not to return my money, I double checked this entry and spoke to a supervisor at St Catherine’s house. He phoned Southport, who examined the films and found that indeed it was Beakley, and as it was their error I did get my refund.
The entry in question is still found in error in findmypast and freebmd, as they just transcribe what was copied onto the fiche.
The entry in question should read: 1862 Dec quarter: Beakley, Susan, Wisbech vol 3B page 565, not Beakhurst, Susan, Wisbech vol 3B page 565.
Online indexes offer the chance to correct transcription errors, but this one cannot be corrected on Find my past or Freebmd, as their online records do fairly reflect the printed index.