Genealogy Chat

My Greatgranmothers birth was never registered but it didn't stop her marrying in the 20's, and my grandmother didn't have a copy of her birth certificate until she retired but she married in 49 with out it. I would guess if you said that you didn't know who your father was and that your mother had died then the minister couldn't add the fathers name to the certificate, but the marriage would have to be by licence - or you could get an older woman to say she is your mother and giver her consent - you couldn't prove or disprove either situation.

Do you know when your nanna died? (have you got the death cert?) If she died after 1969 the informant will have been asked her date and place of birth. The date given (be it correct or not....they were not checked) will be on the GRO index. The place of birth (again not checked) will be on the death cert. Obviusly the death informant may well have known both these facts..........or that may not! Merry

No, you have never had to show your birth cert, but at under 21 she would have needed parental consent! If she said she was illegitimate, that would save anyone asking for her father's permission (she could have said he was dead and got the same result, though) but they would then be after her mother. If her mother was not alive then the couple would have had to go to a court to get permission (not sure if a magistrate can give the permission??). So this is what they may have done if mum wouldn't give permission either. Have you tried the overseas birth registrations available through 1837online? Merry

As far as i know you have never had to show your birth cert to get married, I have been married 3 times now the first in the late 1960, and the last in 2004 and was never asked for my birth cert. Roy

After having a heart to heart with my dad this afternoon he says that the reason his grandads name is not on his mum and dads marriage certificate is that her parents did not approve of the wedding she married out of her clan as dad puts it and that is the reason her father is not named on it!!!!!!!! he still says she was born in spain and he doesnt think her birth was registered!!!!!!!! :( but I always thought you had to show a birth certificate when you married or am I wrong? Angie

Hi x Havnt got any details of my nannas mother cant find any trace of a birth for my nanna dont know anything apart from that her name was Ethel Frances Mabel Dodd she married my grandad John Henry Arthur Webb in Nottingham in feb 1930 and she was a spinster and was aged 18 yrs at time of marriage there are no other details on the certificate for her. ive searched births from 1911/1912 in fact went right back to 1900 before got her certificate. cant find a thing! Im thinking maybe she wasnt born in this country but ive also searched all countries and still nothing comin up! What sort of information would I be able to gain from the witnesses on the certificate? are they relevent? i feel so thick this morning lol. Thank u for all your help Angie x

what are the details of her birth, Roy

The absence of a father's name would certainly suggest that she was illegitimate. Did she have the same surname as her mother, and have you found a marriage yet for her mother? Mandy :)

Hi Everyone its me again !!!!!!!! lol ive recieved my nanna and grandads marriage certificate this morning, and im mega dissapointed to see that there is no fathers name for my nanna!!!!!!!!!! why is this? maybe illegitimate? so still no idea where my nanna came from she did marry at 18 yrs so her birth was either 1911 1912 (first quarter) but still cant find her birth? what do I do now? This is so hard any help so very greatly appreciated. Angie x

Hi Pat my dad (my grandparents first born although a miscarriage is a possibility) wasnt born untill the following august of 1931 just cant get my brain to figure this out as to why I cant find any trace of her at all Angie x