Genealogy Chat

I wonder if anyone can offer me a suggestion as to why my g g grandmother is recorded as married on the 1861 and 1871 census but on my g grandfather and his brothers have a blank space where there father's name should be? Their mother has registered the birth and is giving her 'married' name plus her maiden name. She is head of the family on both census records but I am unable to find her on 51 or 41 census. There is no husband at the address on the night of the censuses. However. on my g great grandfather's marriage certificate his father is named and his profession given.

Thanks, any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Perhaps they were illegitimate and she claimed to be married on the census to look more respectable? That might also be why a "father" was named on your great-great grandfather's marriage certificate - so that he looked more respectable to his new in-laws.

Have you got any names or areas I can search for?

Hi Victoria,

Do you mean you have 2 birth certificates that of your great-grandfather and also his brother with no named father on each.?
What year are the births for?

I have same thought Kate.}

I assume you are meaning their is no father named on your g grandfather or his brothers birth certs. Is that right? There is no record of a person's father on the census records. Please advise on what you meant.

What is the name given on your gg grandfather's marriage cert - or did you mean your g grandfather?

Why not give us the names and details that you have, and we'll have a look for you?

Hi
Thanks for the replies.
To confirm: I have three birth certificates, one for my great grandfather Joseph Gibson b. 1857 one for his older brother John Gibson b. 1855 and one for his younger brother Matthew also named as Gibson b. 1860. However, on all three birth certificates there is no name or occupation of father. For mother's name it says Mary Ann Gibson formerly Wake on all three birth certificates.

On the 1851 and 1861 census Mary Ann (their mother) is shown as the head of the household, but is recorded as being married. On the 1871 census she is recorded as widowed.

On Joseph Gibson's marriage certificate his father's name has been recorded as Joseph Gibson, occupation shoemaker.

This is all in the Hetton-le-Hole district of Co. Durham. Sorry if the original information was a bit hazy, I was feeling pretty worn out!.

Thanks a lot
Vicky

No idea if this might help - note there are lots of other names on the entry which i have deleted:

Marriages Mar 1842 (>99%)

GIBSON George S Shields 24 129
WAKE Mary Ann Sth Shields 24 129

I have looked at the 1861 census. Have you got the birth certificate for the older son who was born in Scotland to see if his father is named? Perhaps she left her husband in Scotland and had the other three children with someone else in Co. Durham ???

Kath. x

If a married woman registers the birth of illegitimate children and does not give the name of the father then she has to register them using the name she has at that time - i.e. her married name - even if her husband is not the father. She also has to give her maiden name - which she has done in your case.

Kath. x

Sadly general registration did not start in Scotland till 1855, compaired to 1837 in England, so there wont be a cert I'm afraid.

The only record (if it was made/survived) would be a baptism/christening.

Oh yes - I'd forgotten that Mhairi. That's a shame.

Kath. x

It is :(

If only Scotland had started the same time as England, and used the Scottish style certs, I'd imagine we'd be having a little more success with finding some of our rellies!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I haven't been able to find records for George Thomas born in Scotland but hadn't realised their records were different. Also, thanks brummiejean, I did consider that record myself so have sent off for a copy. I wondered if perhaps George Gibson was George Joseph or Joseph George, especially as I think George Thomas may appear later on as Thomas.
Fingers crossed. I am also trying to track down the marriage certs for the brothers to compare these.

Have also realised there is another younger brother William.

I agree that it's possible she married George Gibson, left him in Scotland and then had her sons with someone else - who knows? WIll keep you informed.
THANKS AGAIN!
Vicky