Genealogy Chat

Hello, I've got stuck with my search and I wonder if anyone can advise me how to continue as I'm having to rely on parish records on FamilySearch. I am planning a visit to the church in Hutton Rudby so if I need to look at the parish records there I can. Thomas Milburn b1814/5 in either Hutton Rudby or Whorlton in Yorkshire. Parents Mary Milburn & Thomas Appleton. I don't believe they ever married or lived together. With first Wife Elizabeth he had 3 children John William and Mary. Elizabeth dies before 1851, Thomas is listed as wid. In 1856 Thomas marries Isabella Sidgwick and has one son with her, James c1858 (my line). I know that tracing illegitemate children can be problematic but if it is possible, any hints would be appreciated. Also, I haven't been able to find the record for his first marriage, do would it be worth getting this to confirm what's on the second?

The first thing I would say, is very few churches hold the records - they have been passed to the areas records offices - I was lucky with one of my lines where the church warden suddenly produced these huge registers from a chest in the vestry - but that was quite exceptional. So, firstly check where the records are that you want to see.

Dear Rebecca It would be worth checking the local records office for bastardy orders/ maintenance orders to see if there are any listed for your family. If a mother had an illegitimate child the parish would ask her to name the father so he could be obliged to pay maintenance and so that they wouldn't be a drain on the parish resources. Best of luck Maria

Thanks for the replies, I have googled the records office and emailed them! I didn't know about the parishes enforcing the father to pay up - that's very interesting! - Thanks.

Rebecca The parish authorities had dropped out of forcing fathers to pay up by the 1850s - it was left to the mother to go to court and claim maintenance. OC