Genealogy Chat

This hypocrasy does have it's sad side. My late father in law (similar age asmy grandmother) had 2 sisters - they never married despite having a queue of suitors, as their mother insisted no-one was 'good' enough for them. They died spinsters. I found out their mother was pregnant when she married!! My FIL only 'got away' as he had an affair when he was 19 with a divorcee in her 30's who subsequently gave birth to a boy!! FIL fled the village and joined the navy. He didn't marry until he was in his 30's. My grandfather was a widower. Gran told me she was told by her mother she shouldn't marry him as he was 'soiled goods'. Gran waited until she was 21 and married him anyway. THEN I found out G grandmother had 10 children out of wedlock as G grandad had been married before and they waited until his first wife died before they married - the same year my gran married!! THEN I found out g grandmother had a child previous to meeting g grandad, which was left with her parents in Suffolk, while she scarpered off to Dorset!!! Maggie - 4 months pregnant when I married the father of my child - who I had been with for 6 years!!

Chris- When my Welsh Aunt-in-Law was talking about someone who'd married, she'd sometimes say they'd 'married tidy'. Took me ages to work out what she meant - eventually my MiL explained that any babies were born at least 9 months later - hence, the bride had been 'tidy' when she married! Reading about your chapel-going lot brought it back to me! Bx

Julie When I told my mother I was pregnant (I WAS married), she became very quiet and sort of grunted! I think the vision of how it had come about was too much for her. Karen I think perhaps your gran may have felt uncomfortable being reminded of her own 'failings'. Very sad. Chris

Yes Julie - talk about hypocrites! We're just more honest about ourselves I think. At least I hope I don't pretend to be someone I'm not. Although saying that, I'm too scared of my mother to ever have dreamt of having children before I got married. You're a braver woman than me. Lol Chris

Chris I was 34 still living at home, and she kicked me out lol I was 4 months pregnant, had my son 2 ½ months later Julie

Chris I know what you mean. I know my Nan ( if she was still alive) would go mad at me cos i'm not married but have 2 children. Since doing my tree i have found out my Nan was 5 months pregnant when she got married, and her parents married 14 years after she was born lol Julie

My mum has always been very prim and proper, virgin bride etc. etc. She was even given elocution lessons as a child - quite something when you live in a council house in Liverpool!! I've been taking a closer look at her father's family and have just got to laugh. My grandfather John - first wife pregnant when married (mum didn't believe it until her 86 year old half brother confirmed it). Grandfather's sister - pregnant when married. Grandfather's brother - wife already pregnant on marriage. Grandfather's baby sister - you guessed it! They were all Welsh chapel goers for goodness sake. I can't wait to get certs. for the rest of his brothers and sisters!! Luckily they are all deceased and so there will be no embarassment. Do you know what, I think I would have liked them all a great deal.LOLOL. Chris