Genealogy Chat

Well I got my dads original birth cert. He was born Thomas and then adopted by his grand parents and renamed Ronald. I dont think he ever knew this himself!
He was born in 1931 but was not reregistered 'offically' until 1946, this is what it says on his cert.
No fathers name unfortunately, so I am still as ever in the dark.
It has been suggested that I go to the main library and have a look at their bastardy records for that year. Which is what I think will have to be my nest step.

Hi Debbie

Your father may be re registered and later adopted.

He won't be listed in the birth index in his adoptive name as this is for live births only.

However, you will never know until you purchase his original birth certificate. If adopted it will show an amendment and the word adopted in one of the columns.

Should you be lucky enough and the certificate shows a father's name then the birth will be registered in both the mother and fathers names.

Can you tell us what the wording is on the certificate you have? There is a slight difference in the wording of a short original birth certificate and that of a short adoption certificate.

A short adoption certificate states that it's a copy maintained by the General Register Office and gives no other information.

Cheers Gerry

I have researched for a friend who was adopted - he too only had his "adopted" certificate.

However, he was able to find out his "original" name and I sent for his "original" certificate. Although is was endorsed "adopted", I had no problem being given the original.

Debbie,

These two birth registrations carry the same birth index registration numbers,8b -748,


If you send for the birth cert for Thomas,,and it comes back with _Adopted_written on it then every chance he was was renamed as Ronald,,,,,,,,plus it will name the mother who you maybe able to identify as a family Oldfield member, ,but it may not name a father as Oldfield is given as surname and that of the mother,

Gerry Thanks. My dad passed away 2 yrs ago so he cant get it himself.
My family mystery gets deeper and deeper. I bet even my dad didnt know he was once called Thomas! what a shocker.
I know a lot was kept hush hush about this, but my dad always wanted to know who his father was.
I wonder if I will ever find out?

Debbie

You may well have the short adoption certificate and you can apply for a FULL adoption certificate from the GRO website. This will give you the name of the people who adopted your father. However, it won't give birth family details. Only your father can apply for his adoption file which will give him the name of his birth mother and possibly the father.

GRO informed me that if a child has been re-registered the original birth certificate is superseded and only the registered certificate will be issued.

If you order Thomas's certificate GRO will contact you and tell you that a re-registration has taken place (they did me) In the case of twins/multiple births then a time of birth will be noted on the certificate.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Gerry

My grandma(my dads mum) wasnt illigitamate, because I know who both her parents were.
her mum and dad were Oldfield's so was she. So when my dad was born he took the grand-parents surname, as was the same as his mum because she wasnt married when he was born.

Kay How strange! No wonder I couldn't find an entry of birth. Thomas was the name of his mum's brother who died some 10yrs before my dad was born!
Where did you find the entry for Ronald Francis? I couldnt find one.
Thank you so much.

Ronald looks to be renamed & re-registered .

See,1931 Sept,

Thomas Oldfield,,West Derby--8b--748,

Re-registered as ,

Ronald F Oldfield,West Derby,,8b--748.

In both instances mothers maiden name as--------Oldfield,,,,,,,,

Perhaps mother was a close family member.........

Try getting the birth cert for Thomas,,,,,,,,,,he could possibly be a twin?but looks to be a re-registering with a name change,,,,,,,,,,

Thats what I was thinking that he may have had another name, his mum though was unmarried so had the same surname as her parents(who apparently adopted him).
Ok I will try and get an adoption cert from GRO. Thanks Rebeka

Hi Debbie,

Apparently you can still obtain an adoption cert from GRO! So baffled really. Surely he would still of been registered but maybe with a different name?

My dad was born illegitimate in 1931(raised by his grandma) I have searched all birth records and applied to registrars for his birth cert to no avail. My mum found a short cert in his belongings, so surely this must mean his birth was registered,right? I was looking to get a full version with parents details etc. I contacted the GRO, who told me that when there are 6 numbers written at the foot of the cert this means he has been adopted. Therefore would his original cert be elsewhere, I feel I am barking up a very wrong tree here.
Any help from anyone would be great.