Genealogy Chat

I have an ancestor who had an illegitimate child in 1895 (grandmother's sister). I knew the child's mother's name, but not the Christian name of the father. Sent off for the birth certificate which arrived today only to find the father's name isn't even on there - just left blank !! The child was given the father's surname as a middle name (Wigglesworth). I am so gutted !! Stella

Hi Stella Be grateful that you have the fathers surname, all my illegits have either no middle name at all or one that seems to be quite random. I cant even connect my rellies to surname. best wishes Jo

My nan her brother (actually a nephew) so we thought had his father's name as a middle name told his children it was his mother's maiden name which it wasn't found a person with name a few doors down in the 1901 he wasn't born until a few years later but stayed in same road and with a cousin found address which had been put on cert where mother stayed to be a retired midwife house a few streets away. Jeanette

Now that you have the date/place of birth, have you looked for a baptism for the child? It is always possible (but by no means guaranteed!) that the father could be named in the baptism register. Richard

And there might be a Maintenance order for the child, lurking in the Magistrates Records at the County Records Office. OC

Stella Have you tried searching for any male Wigglesworth's on the 1891 Census living in the same area? You never know, with such an unusual name you might just get lucky!

Thanks everyone - had to leave the pc as visitors arrived - will try a few of your suggestions. Richard - where do I look for baptisms please? Stella

Thank you Ann for all the information -very kind of you. Will give it a try. Stella

Have now discovered by trawling through the marriages of siblings that one of the mother's sisters married a Joseph Wigglesworth. The family rumour was that she got pregnant by a brother-in-law - so I may have solved it, but will have to make sure. Stella