Genealogy Chat

Assuming this isn't recent, I would have thought they would be named Jacka. I have a similar situation where the couple were together for 30 years in the late 1800's but never married. All the children were given their mother's surname.

Even more recently, (the 1950's) the children were all given their mother's surname from her first marriage. They were all re-registered with their father's name when the eldest of 9 children was 17, and their parents eventually married......!

Taking the risk of posting Martin's Pm to me as it clarifies situation

"No, sorry, I got it written down without enough detail, The father was named Allen, the mother was named Jacka, I have a baptism record (water stained) that says Bas child, from that generation onwards we are all called Jacka. They were not married. I thought that we should have all been named after the father, is that not right....."

Martin is going to re-read my advice!

Of course, the other word which Martin may be referring to is 'bastard' - another very common term found in parish registers.

Bastardy Bonds/Agreements determined which adult male was to support a child. Where a child was without parents, the parish would try and find an apprenticeship for them to relieve the burden on the parish funds. These can date from 1601 to 1834.



I do wish he could find his way back though! Cx

My gt grandfather was illegitimate (base born) although my possible 2x gt grandfather was named on both my gt grandfather's birth and marriage certs. I have an inkling who my 2x gt grandfather was...sadly died of TB at the age of 25 but unable to prove parentage at the moment...one lives in hope! However my gt grandfather kept his name on his maternal side.

However on another line...my gt grandmother was born illegitimate along with 3 other siblings...each carried the middle name of my 3x gt grandmother's maiden name. On their marriage certs and all further documentation they take on the name of their father....my 2x gt grandfather.

Confusing...don't I know it lol. My 2x gt grandparents then married and had another 5 children.

Linda

As mgnv so succintly said - it's up to the mother, or child - not just then, but now too!
I had a Smith who had an illegitimate child by a Jones in the 1820's - the family has been Smith ever since.
Another ancestor born out of wedlock used whichever name was most useful - mother's name one year, father's name the next.
My own grand daughter has her father's name - mother's name (ie Smith-Jones) and now uses her stepfather's name - so she's triple barreled! (ie Smith-Jones-Brown). Her brother has his mother's maiden name as a second name - ie John Jones Brown - they can use any name they like as long as they aren't using them for a criminal purpose - they're all their names!!!

It's really up to her (or maybe the couple) what they call their kids. My ggg gran was in Cornish's situation, and she called one son Jacka and the 2nd one Allen. She wed Jacka 16y later, and their younger son changed his name to Alexander Allen Jacka. I'm not descended from either, but from her daughter Cornish Smith who was born in fornication, as the parish registers of the time were wont to say (and thus avoiding the base child name that Cheryl doesn't like) .
[Names are adapted, but not the circumstances]

Had another pm from Martin. Am really hoping to get him back here. Can't say I don't try :)))

Have sent another help message to him.


Martin, if you put the name Jacka into the search trees box above, you will see there are quite a lot of members on this site who have that name in their tree. It may be worth browsing through to see if you can find a connection. You can then contact the tree owner. Cx.

Illegitimate children were often referred to as 'Base born' in old parish registers. A very commonly used expression in times gone by. Can also mean born of humble parents.

Martin, you need to acknowledge your other thread re old records too.

I know from a pm that Martin is having problems using this site. I will go back and help him again. Cx

What is a BAS child. If you mean one born out of marriage then I do not like you expression.

I assume the child of Miss Allen ( father Jacka)?

As to what they called themselves, it was then as it is now, up to the individual...ie you don't need to have the 'rights' to a name to use it. Presumably the child used his father's name.

Is this what you mean?

dont understand. which is the female ?

If a Cornish Allen had a bas child with a Jacka surely all the next generations should be called Allen and not Jacka as happened, can anyone please explain.