Genealogy Chat

I have an Ancestor born 1858 no father's name on the birth cert. I unjustly thought he was illegitimate (his mother had a child 3 years before she married) however I eventually found that her husband had died 3 months before he was born. He did not have his father's name on his marriage cert either. So strange things happen. Pat

I have, very occasionally, seen the name of a mother, on a marriage cert and assume that the person is illegitimate. However, no father, although it almost certainly means illegitimacy, could also mean that the person doesnt have a clue who EITHER of his parents were, in the case of a foundling, or an orphan, say. Many babies were dumped anonymously at Workhouses, Orphanages, Convents etc. certainly in the 1800s. OC

marriage cert.......Illegitimate..........unless he was an axe-murderer!! lol!! Christening.....yes, illegitimate children would have been baptised....to ensure the salvation of the child's soul, even if the mother may have been considered beyond redemption Reg

Does anybody know for what reason someones fathers details would be omitted from their marriage cert? I am assuming that it would either be because that person was either illegitimate, they didnt know, or there was some personal reason why they did not want him on there. I know that at my best friends wedding last year when i was her chief bridesmaid she was asked about her fathers details as we were signing the register etc and she asked the registra if she had to have him on there and she said no, so im assuming hes not on hers. I have my Nanas parents certificate. Her mum disappeared when she was 6 months old. I ordered it for 2 reasons really, 1) for Nana as she was really pleased to get it. She was never officially told that her brothers mother wasnt also her own. and 2) thought that there might be some extra info on re: Nana's mums family for her. But its blank and her address had been the rectory before marriage, even though they married in grt grandads family area not hers. Just wondered. There are a couple of possibilities for her birth certificate so I might order them after pay day. How I would rule one out against another thought I dont know. Also (im aksing lots of questions today im sorry) would an illegitimate child be christened? It was the early 1900's. I wouldnt have thought that you would want to stand infront of a church full of people openly declaring that, or if the church would let you for that matter.