Genealogy Chat

Thanks everyone for your replies & info. Hopefully a look at the parish records will clear this up. Sarah :-)

I have heard that in the early days of Civil Registration, some vicars or registrars didn't bother asking for father's name if both parties getting married were over 21. If one father's name is given and the other isn't, it strongly suggests that that person was illegitimate, but if neither father's name is given, it could well be that they weren't asked for their father's names. If you could get a look at the parish register, then you could look at other marriage certificates around that time and see if a lot of them are missing fathers' names, which would suggest it is not significant. Kate.

Putting your father's details on a marriage cert is currently completely optional but don't know if this was always the case. If the bride or groom has chosen not to when asked by the registrar what they'd prefer, then a line is put in the register and on the cert to show that that particular piece of info wasn't missed accidentally. If you choose not to add the details, the registrar should add words to the effect 'Bride does not wish father's details to be entered' when notice is given on the back of the sheet. Jack

Thanks OC. Don't think he was under age - 23 by estimates on censuses and also the baptism (if it is in fact him). And she was also 23 according to censuses. If this is the right baptism, then the parents were still alive as of 1841 and 1851 census. Haven't found any possible sisters old enough to be his mother. So that leaves: family feud / hated their parents, lol! or he just wasn't part of that family at all. But although living in Potton in 1841, by the 1851 census George & Ann & family were living in Sutton (also where they were married), only 5 or 6 houses away from 2 of George's possible siblings and their families, plus his possible parents. And Giddings spelled as Giddens for all 3 households, not that that means anything - probably just down to local accent. Good idea about ordering PRs at a Family History Centre here in Holland! I've never been to one as none are that close to me, but then nothing's very far away in Holland. There goes that excuse for a trip to England! Fortunately I've got plenty more excuses to go there. :-)

Many reasons for not giving a father's name on a MC. Illegitimate. Underage but lying about age and didnt want the nosy Vicar making any enquiries. Hated their father and as far as they were concerned, they didnt have one. The Vicar/Registrar didnt ASK them who their fathers were and they didnt volunteer the information. The fathers were dead and as the above poster has pointed out, they said 'I havent got one'. But what I suspect here....does your man have an older 'sister', who could be his real mother? That might account for the slightly different birthplace. The Grandparents then bring him up as their own son. This still makes him illegitimate of course, but illegitimate in a different way! You do not need to come to England to see the PRs, you can order them to view through your nearest LDS Family History Centre. OC

I guess I just won't know until I get over to England and go to Bedford and look up the parish records themselves. The ages are just given as 'full age' for both. Under rank or profession it says what looks like 'Gentlemans' and then 'Servant' below it. So I can't be sure if Servant belongs with the groom or the bride. The couple were living in Sutton in 1841. The people I think may have been the groom's (George's) parents & siblings were living in Potton then, which is only a mile from Potton. And all those children were born in Sutton, as was George. If he was part of that family, then I think he would have been the youngest child. Also this possible match wasn't baptised in Sutton like the others, but 3 miles away in Biggleswade, which is where the mother was born. Same parents' names for Sutton baptisms and Biggleswade baptism, and I haven't found anyone else by those names in the 3 villages... So it's all a big 'if' at the moment, but hopefully I can clear it up this little mystery one day in the parish records.

On my parents marriage cert there is a line for my mother's father. There is no way she was illegitimate, she was the youngest of seven and her father died when she was eleven. I have all the certs. The only thing I can think of is that when asked her fathers name she replied that she didnt have one. She didn't, he was dead, if you want to take it literally. My mum is no longer with us so I can't ask her.

Hi Does it give there ages - mind you saying that they could have lied about that anyway - I think that maybe they were underage. When you say servants, were they away from their parents, this could be another reason. Debbie

Thanks Debbie, I had thought of that initially - that the fathers may have been deceased by then. But the people who I think may have been the groom's parents are on the 1841 and 1851 censuses. The marriage was in 1840. Do you think that may have been 'too early' and that that was why no fathers were mentioned? This cert is really confusing me. It's hard to make out but the groom's profession looks like 'Gentlemans Servant' - although it looks like Servant belongs with the bride's name. But from censuses I think he was an Agricultural Labourer. But it was only a small village so I'm pretty sure I've got the right cert as I can't find anyone else there by the same names - don't think I've got the wrong one for another couple with the same names or anything. I do realise that nothing on the IGI is 'confirmed', and plan to double check everything I've found on there when I am able to get over to England sometime and search in the parish records themselves.

Hi I have a few certs like that, I sometimes wonder if the fathers were deceased, so they thought they wouldn't have to give their names. Although some records are to early and onl register the bride and groom. Sorry, Forgot to add, all records on IGI are submitted and should be folowed up. Debbie

Are there any reasons, besides illegitimacy, that no fathers’ names would be given on a marriage cert.? I received a certificate yesterday with no father’s name given for either the groom or the bride. I have, however, found a likely match on IGI (extracted) for the groom’s baptism, which includes the father’s name. And there is also a submitted IGI entry for the wife’s baptism, but as that’s submitted I’m not putting too much faith in that one. So, just wondering if there would be any reason for no father's name on the cert other than not knowing who the father was. Thanks, Sarah

see below...