Genealogy Chat

Thanks for clarifying that. 1840 was a very inconvenient year for the dad to die though, before 1st census, because now I can't find his wife & family. However, thanks to your replies, at least I can stop searching for another David

You can't believe all they said on marriage certs; you do need to check.

My granddad gave his father's name and occupation when, in fact, he never knew his father. I have researched this for hours/months/years to be reasonably certain of this.

I am sure that to cover up the shame of his illegitimacy he used his landlord's/stepfather's first name (George for both) his surname, Cookson, which was his mother's maiden name and his landlord's occupation (Groom). As his mother, stepfather and landlord were all dead I don't know why he didn't just say 'father; George Cookson; deceased' !

Birdi

No they didnt always indicate if the father was deceased ,depended on how the question was asked when arranging the marriage. if the question was "Fathers name & occupation? then thats what was given .if known.
For instance my maternal grandad married in 1898 and his cert shows his dads name & occupation. His wife died in 1905 and in 1909 he married my Nan. on their cert the same info is given for his dad plus deceased so I looked for a death between 1898 & 1909 and bought a couple of certs that weren't him.The last time the family showed was on the 1881 census no clues there. it was only on a FreeBMD update that i found a remarriage of grt gran in 1898 so a further look for a death found him as died in 1884!!

On 1854 marriage cert for William Sumner & Mary Ann Andrews, William's dad is David Sumner, Husbandman. Will born White Colne, Essex 1818-1824 & assuming his dad came from Essex only David I can find died in 1840. In 1854 did they always put deceased after dad's name?