Genealogy Chat

Norfolk was ahead of its time: both parents' names on burials of men and children, maiden names for married women

I've found Scottish records much more revealing too. On one of my Scottish rellies certs, it told me 'illegitimate' as well as Mother, Father and Grandparents names - maybe I was just lucky and the person recording the info was very conscientious. Jan

Mind you I must say when I got my gt grandmother Ruth's wedding cert. In place of father's name and occupation it had 'illegitimate daughter of Susan Barnes', so at least I had her mother's name to go on when tracing her roots. Mind you it neglected to mention that her mother had been dead 16 years at the time of the marriage! nell

I agree Ellen - Scotland is so much easier to trace people. However, I have found that they can be a bit slap dash at peoples names, i.e. at birth we are given one name but come their marriage they have gained a middle name. I have also found a lot of marriages where the names they are known by are used rather than their actual name, i.e. my GG Aunt Helen Armour is down on her marriage cert as Nellie - which is what everyone used to call her. So if you are having trouble finding people, look for their nicknames to.

Maybe the Scots appreciated their mums a bit more! On all Scots certs, BM & D, we get mum's name and maiden name (where its known by the person giving the info anyway). Makes our life a bit easier than yours when researching I think. Ellen.

On some early baptism registers you see things like John Smith son of John. Did the men give birth in those days then? Margaret

It seems as though too many people in my family feel differently - too many certificates don't have fathers!!

In the burial registers you see Susan Brown wife of John Brown, you very rarely see John Brown husband of Susan Brown. Heather

It still is Nell have you noted how meny women to men there on this site. So Shhhh keep it quiet and We will continue to Work our A**es off for you. It is you lot that Rule us (Or so My wife keeps telling me) But yes it was. Thank God for the Suffrogette movement. And womens Lib

Not just in Victorian times, either. A divorced female ancestor who died while serving in the army was described, under Occupation, as...'divorced wife of.....' I was/am furious on her behalf! This was in 1952.

and so say all of us Helen (well the women on here anyway ) lol Linda

On marriage and birth certs in Victorian times the mothers/wives never worked. Brides and grooms didn't have mothers at all. Wives and widows were defined by what their husbands did for an occupation. Women weren't listed in street directories, electoral registers etc. But without all that childbearing, none of us would be here today. nell

Well, to look at the info you used to get on certs, you'd think so - see below nell