Genealogy Chat

Thank you everyone for your imput on this subject.

My ggrandfather did the same as Von's relation, his father is shown as deceased on his marriage certificate in 1869 when in fact he died nearly 20 years later.

Ggrandad was a bit of a wild card, outwardly a respectable carpenter he left home to live with an uncle when he was 13, lied about his dad's death at 21 and lived using his mistresses surname from when he was 54 until he died at 83.

Gwyn

Before about 1880 (I probably have the wrong date) an unmarried mother could name anybody she wished as the father on a birth certificate. He did not need to be present or agree.

Margaret

Hi Sandra

My grandad put his uncle's name as his father on his marriage certificate because it was his uncle rather than his father who brought him up, so I presume he thought more of him as a dad.

Usually both names of both brides father and grooms father are on the certificate, if the fathers are known. It doesn't always say though whether or not they are deceased so one might be falsely led to think that they are still alive at the time of the marriage.

Also if either the bride or groom were born illegitimately they might make up a fictitious name for a father in order to save face.

I have found that it's best always not to assume anything without proof. You know the saying that to assume makes an ass out of u and me lol

ass-u-me.

Dianne xx

Hi
I have a certificate where it says grooms father was deceased when in fact he was very much alive.
Von

When my grandparents married in 1900, the bride's father and his occupation were clearly shown on the certificate, .....no mention of the fact that he had been dead nearly 25 years.

Illegitimate children didn't have their fathers shown on their birth certificate unless the father was present and signed at the registration. He could well be named later on that child's marriage certificate though..... or a fictious name may have been given, as Sylvia says.
Beware too of 'enhanced' occupations. One of my Ag. labs was shown as a farmer when his daughter married in London.... perhaps to impress the in-laws.

Gwyn

Sandra

you can't assume anything


Some father's names are on the certificate when they are in fact dead

Some of course don't even exist ..................... quite a few illegitimate brides and grooms put "a" name in the father box, presumably because it "looked better" for the in-laws. The name could be the name of the real father if they knew him, their grandfather, uncle, a neighbour, a personality or whatever



When a child was legitimate, I think a lot depended on how the vicar asked the question.

If he said "What is the name of your father?", many would just give the name without adding the fact that he was deceased.

If the question was "What is the name of your father, and is he still alive?" ... then you get the full answer.



The similar "don't assume" applies on censuses ..... I've seen cases where the wife said she was married, but her husband was most certainly dead.

I've also seen cases where she said she was married or widowed ...................... and the husband is found elsewhere, either in the same town or another part of the UK, often with another woman.



Have you tried to find him on the 1901 or 1911 censuses living apart from the family??


If you want, put his name up here, and we'll see if we can find him alive





sylvia

If the brides father's name is put on the marriage certificate does that mean that he is still alive? or is it included anyway?
Would appreciate any feed back on this.
This Great Grandfather of mine was absent on the 1901 census,his wife listed as married so asume he was still alive,his daughter;s marriage cert lists her father on it in 1908.
Kind regards