Genealogy Chat

well its seems that young William just took the fathers name from his elder half sisters or assumed it was his father aswell,

nudge

I have the marriage of Elizabeth and William Morrison in the parish records in 1832, the of baptisms of the two daughters she had with William, the death cert. for William Morrison in 1838, the birth certs. for the 3 illegitimate children she had after she became a widow (no baptisms found as yet, at least they weren,t baptised where they were born), plus the marriage cert. of Elizabeth and Thomas Partington in 1850 and the birth cert. of Mary Partington in 1851.
William Morrison died at the same address as where the childeren were born. It's hard to believe that she had another William Morrison in her life.

Have you thought about a birth certificate for John to compare?maybe William Morrison was the father and the mother just used that name.but as the were never married she perhaps didnt put him on the certificate,,? as all that was required with early registration ,,,,, that ,a birth was registered,,,,

You say by 1848 the mother was a widow,have you proof?

I have a William Morrison born 1848 in Ashton in Makerfield near Wigan Lancs. On his birth cert. no father is given. He had an older borther John and a sister Ann who also have no father on their birth certs or marriage certs. William also had a younger half sister called Mary Partington.

Now, I've received the marriage cert. for Wiliam and I'm confused. He married in Ashton in Makerfield on the 31 March 1868. On the certificate he gives his age as 18 when he was in fact 20 (his wife Hannah Glover is given as 17).

He also gives a father, William Morrison, engine tenter. The witnesses were John Morrison and Mary Partington. On the parish records for Ashton which are online, the father is also mentioned.
William's mother was a widow whose husband, William Morrison died in 1838 (death cert.) so it can't be him. He was a "pensioner", not an engine tenter.

There aren't any more marriages for a William Morrison in the Wigan district over the next 10 years and he's the only William Morrison on the following census living in Ashton.

Did William invent a father? If so, why as Ashton was a small town and I presume everyone knew everyone. I know that it doesn't change much for me (John was my direct ancestor) but I hate untidy ends. I'd love to find a father for my John.

I'd appreciate your opinions.
Regards

Olivia