Genealogy Chat

Pls see below.

I have a family who were in and out of the workhouse from at least 1890 - 1901 and maybe longer. However, there is never a father with the family and it says the mother is single - and all the children have her maiden name. Is it normal for a couple to be together and have children together, but not to marry. And also, that the family went into the workhouse but the father never did?? Has anyone else had this? It seems really strange to me that this woman would have more children with a guy that isn't her husband and doesn't go into the workhouse with them. And the confusing part is that 2 of the children have the same father's details on their marriage certificate - but he has the same surname as the mother (her maiden name). Is it just a name they made up for appearances sake or what??? I can't get my head round it and just wondered what you lot thought pls.

Hi Andrea I had a similar thing, concerning names, with one of my family members. In 1899 she had 2 young children who had her maiden name, they all lodged with a man, about 10 years older than her not stated as their father, then in 1901 they arrived at a port in USA, but they all then had her maiden name, even her 'landlord' who seemed to have moved across with them. Confusing Vaughny x

I have something similar and i would say father is unknown. Marriage certs cannot be relied on for father's name.

Oh well, I guess we'll never know for sure. Just wish I could pin them down to something and know for a fact that it's true and can be guaranteed. The whole genealogy thing is so much harder as it's very rare you find something that you know for definite you can trust!! Thanks for your replies.

Do you have any/all of their birth certs? They may share a father, they may all have different fathers, they may have no father named at all. when it came to getting married , they maybe either invented a name as a father , or used the name of an Uncle

I don't have any birth certificates as yet because I can't pinpoint exactly where or when they were born. I can't find the family at all on the census. All I have is the workhouse info and that is different every time!! Never mind. I'm sure they'll turn up eventually.

I have one female in a remote twig of my tree who had five children, at least, before she got married. Heaven alone knows who fathered them............ Reg

do you want to throw out some names and suggestions- maybe someone will come up with something for you

Thanks Jess but I've posted the info on here many times and unfortunatley you've all come up with the same as me - nada!!! They must be mistranscribed seriously badly and it's going to take some stupid mistake to throw them up. I've been looking for them for 3 years or so now and it's more a personal vendetta than just tracing my family tree!! Thanks for the offer anyway. Andrea.