Michael R Westcott, b.7/8/1949 in Barnstaple was the brother in law of my 2nd cousin, once removed.
His death was registered in Q1/1990 in Barnstaple.

He was born before his mother Betty P Jury married his assumed father, Sidney Albert Westcott in Q3/1950 in Barnstaple.

Michaels birth was registered with his assumed father's surname in Q3/1949, but strangely his birth was registered again in Q4/1950.
my initial assumption was that there were two infant Michael R Westcott children, one of whom had died and the next born infant had been given the same name.

However, no death registration has been found, but significantly, the birth date recorded on the death registration for Michael R in 1990 is relevant to the first of the 2 birth registrations.

My theory is that the mother registered the birth in the correct period in 1949 and with the father's permission to use the Wescott surname, and that she illegally re-registered the child in 1950, after her marriage in an attempt to regularise an illegitimate birth.

I am reluctant to add to my exceedingly large pile of GRO certificates to prove, or part prove, my theory.

I would be exceedingly grateful to hear from any member who might have have an alternative explanation for this strange occurrence?

John Bennett