Genealogy Chat

Hope someone can give me some advice please.

I have twins born in 1944 and have found their births registered twice in the same quarter (same Volume and page number). Once under the mother's married surname and the second under a different surname (the father named on the birth certificate)! The mother's maiden name is the same in both cases.

Has anyone else come accross a double entry using different surnames before?

David

Hi David.
Yes the reason being is that the mother and natural father wasnt married at the time,but the natural father declared and was present at the registration of the births..

Its not unusual,and perfectly legal.

It's the same now days too..that's how my 2 children show

But there is only one B/C for them under their given surname which in my case is their Dads

Yes my mothers birth in 1919 is registered under her mothers name and fathers surname.

Her actually birth cert has both parents names living at different addresses. The parents married 14 months later

Thanks folks I was baffled! The twins were adopted shortly after birth and I found them registered under one surname but then the surviving twin told me her birth cert showed a different father's surname to the one I had found in the register. Thanks for the clarification folks much appreciated.

David

The next query is the fathers name for the twins was shown as
Herbert James XXXXXXXX

The mother went on to have 15 (yes 15) more children between 1944 and 1962 all with the same surname ........ but the christian names of the father on further registrations was

Edward James XXXXXXXX

So was this different fathers, maybe brothers, or just wrong info given at the time of the twins registration?


Your thoughts and advice welcomed as before!

David

It would be unusal for 2 brothers to carry James as a middle name,,not unprobale but unusual,,,

I would say Herbet may have been his name,but prefered to be called Edward?or there was a trancript error ?

Did the parents eventually marry.if so then a copy of the marriage certificate could shed light on the change of name..

Could he have been ,Herbert Edwad James,or Edward Herbert James?
These quirks happen,

Hi Kay

No the parents never married in spite of the large family - and the father's death in 1994 is shown as Edward XXXXXXXX, no middle name or initial.

You are right though he could have had three christian names but liked to be known/called by one name initially but by a different one later in life. I am pretty sure it's the same dad though. I have found a birth in 1914 for an Edward J XXXXXXXX which is think would be him but can not be sure.

To further complicate matters the twins were adopted and they took on the surnames of their adoptive parents! Mum had 18 children in total.

I looked at the next born to see if she was registered under 2 surnames but no - she was registered in her mum's married name only. I think mum had a relationship with Mr XXXXXXX and had the twins and then had the next child with her husband.

The following 14 were all registered under the surname of Mr XXXXXXXX and all born in differnt UK locations to the first born.

Obviously I am protecting the surname as all 18 are living with the exception of one of the twins.

David x

David.

If you have an address for any of the childrens births you might be able to look up the electoral register for that year to see who is living at the address

Thanks Quinsgran

I do have an address what is the best way of looking up the electoral register for 1944 please?

Regards

David

I don't think there were any taken during WW2. They resumed in 1945.
Only recent Rolls are on-line. For earlier ones you will need to visit the local records centre or main library for the area concerned.

There is some useful info on Electoral Rolls this site,

http://www.croydononline.org/history/genealogy/electoral.asp

Hawkwind

Many thanks for your advice

David