Genealogy Chat

A birth can only be legitimized if the natural parents subsequently marry, regardless of if they were both listed on the original registration. For it to happen, the father must have declared at some point that the child was his. He could have been lying of course! Jack

Hi According to a gedcom that has been very kindly sent to me, my 2x gr gr aunt was born illegitimately in 1848. According to the notes contained in this gedcom her birth was legitimised on 01/01/1927 even though both her catholic parents had died over 40 years earlier. I say parents, but although she took his name, for some reason none of my oldedr relatives believe that she was his. Is this even remotely possible. Regards Half Pint

From a catholic point of view, the defect of illegitimate birth may be cured in four ways: (1) By the subsequent marriage of the parents; (2) By a rescript of the pope; (3) By religious profession; (4) By a dispensation. More information can be found on the website below. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02579b.htm

Hi Thanks for this. Is there anyway of finding any documentation for this. Again, many thanks Half Pint

You could look for the re-registration of her birth in 1927. It sounds as if the marriage of her parents would be the reason, as the registration of legitimisation occurred in 1927, just after the Act was passed. OC