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How long after Samuel Hales' death were the twins born?

Did William b. 1870 really put William Hales instead of Samuel on his marriage certificate??

If so, that is almost an indication that he did not know the name of his mother's husband ............. not, of course, surprising as they were born after his death.


You may not ever be able to find out their real father ................ but Hales is their legal name.


The husband of a married woman was considered to be the father of any children she had, even if they were born as long as 10 years after the husband's death .........

....... and yes, I have found that length of time when doing a search for another member!

My husband's grandfather was called William Hales who was born in 1870 approximately. Both myself and my husband's cousin have been trying without success to trace his ancestry. We do know that he was born in Clapham, and that he was married to Louisa Woodman and had four children. Recently, however Keith's cousin thinks that she has solved the problem which is somewhat disturbing because if she is correct then our real name cannot be Hales. She and my husband remember a person called Annie Fisher but were not certain of her place in the family. Now, Susan has managed to trace a William Hales whose mother was Martha Fisher, daughter of Annie Fisher. Martha was married to a Samuel Hales. She had several children by him, and then twin boys namely William and Henry who were born after Samuel's death, who she also named Hales. On William's marriage certificate his father is named as William Hales deceased. I am trying very hard to disprove Susan's theory but sadly, cannot and fear that she could be correct which means that we will never know who William's real father was. Has anyone out there got any information on William which they can share. Somehow I know that I'm clutching at straws but it's worth a try.

Wendy Hales