Genealogy Chat

Just in case anyone wants to help Paul and starts asking questions -- the meat of the matter is in a thread on TTF!

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1103431

All are welcome to join me in the goose chase, lol.

My Nan was illegitimate, she didn't quite invent a father for her marriage cert but used her grandfathers name and of course deceased

Kate,

I have a few fathers on marriage certificates that I think have been invented, and John seems to the commonest name. The giveaway is when they have the mother's maiden name.

Peter

Great help ..... many thanks.

Good point, Peter. I am having a very frustrating time with a 3xgreat grandad called William who claims on his marriage certificate to be the son of John Halsall, a labourer. But I can't find a matching christening.

(I can find a christening for a William whose mother was named Halsall but whose father John was noted as having a different surname, but he is too old to be my William.)

So at the moment, given that the name John is quite common and that there were probably many labourers around in all areas, I suspect that William invented his father. I think a lot of people who knew they were illegitimate might have made up a name for their father and said that he was dead to avoid further nosy questions from their in-laws . . .

Paul,

The converse may also be true: if the father is in fact is unknown to the son or daughter then he may be given a fictitious name. His absence may be explained by his status as deceased whereas the actual father may still be alive.

Peter

It would depend on how the registrar phrased his question(s) about the fathers........

On my own marriage cert, my father is not recorded as being 'deceased'.........he died 13 years before I married

On my gr grandfathers marriage cert. both his and the brides father are written down as though they are alive...... though still not definetly located death for grooms father, the brides father had been dead for 14 years., and I have the cert. as confirmation.


Nicky

I have a cert where it reads as if the father is still alive, but I know for certain he died four years previously. I have his death cert to prove it. I think when they were asked the fathers name and profession, they just gave the answer. Presumably they were not asked if he was still alive,so they didn't volunteer that information

Linda

Why would that be ?

Would depend on whether the bride or groom was actually asked the question if the father was deceased

I have a marriage certificate which shows father's name and occupation but does this definitely mean the father is alive or could he be deceased and these simply be who he was and what he once did ?