Genealogy Chat

Is there anyway of finding out the real fathers name if a child was born out of wedlock? My Grandma would still have used her maiden name when the child was born. The child was adopted by my Grandma's new husband when she got married and took his name. The birth of the child was Jun/July 1939 a girl called Wendy Elizabeth.

Sarah, if the father acknowledged the child and went along to the register office with the mother to register the birth, then his name could be on the birth certificate. But if not, then unless somebody in your family knows his name, I don't really think there is any way you could find out. Kate.

Hi Sarah I have this with my partners mother. It is an 'open' secret within the family that she is not his grandad's child, although to all intents and purposes he brought her up that way. She is the oldest of six children, but nobody speaks openly about it and it is never mentioned in front of his grandma - who, we believe, is the only one who knows her true parentage - and no-one would even dare to try and question this wonderful 85 year old about it - seems we will probably never know the secret unless she tells it on her death bed (which we hope won't be for a very long time yet!!!!!) Would suggest you tread carefully around any living older rellies, they may not be willing to give it up, even if they know it, easily. good luck Looby

Hi Looby, My family 'secret' goes a lot deeper. From what I can gather my Grandma has 1 child out of wedlock, she then married and her husband took on the child. My Grandma and her husband then had 2 legitimate children. This is where it gets complicated. I'm not sure what happened to their marriage but with the next child (child4) rumour has it an african-american soldier then stayed as a lodger at my Grandma's house. My Grandma gave birth to my uncle who is half cast (sorry if that's not pc) and after him was my Dad who is white. So all in all I have 5 children with 4 different Dad's and no clue where to start!