Genealogy Chat

Hi Kathleen, Posted on "Trying To Find" as you suggested. From what I gather from surviving sister to dad, that he was quite devastated when plans went awry re family in UK, that he met my husband's mother here in Canada sometime in 1947, sort of on the rebound one would guess. Yes would have been a very big step to come out & leave family behind in those days. Thought it was bad enough when I came out in 1966 when 17, what a culture shock! Thanks for your help. Buttercup x

Perhaps the UK mum changed her mind about going out to Canada (a big step in those days) and couldn't keep the baby on her own, or perhaps, as there is only three years between the half brothers births, your father-in-law met hubby's mother when he got back to Canada and decided he didn't want the UK family to go to Canada after all. I think I'm just being nosey now, so I'll just wish you luck in finding out about him. All facinating stuff though. Kath. x

Hi Kathleen, Husband's Dads name appears on both. From family info that I've been able to glean, is that Dad came back to prepare a home ready for his UK family, after that have no idea what happened. Buttercup xx

Hi again, On the copy of B/Cert I have, it says,Previously registered 9th February 1945 @ entry no.187 in Kingston "Adopted". #8 When Registered column on b/cert, 13th March 1946 on the Authority of the Registrar General, entry no. 283 Buttercup.

Perhaps you could put a message on the Trying to Find board. Maybe the half-brother was born after a 'fling' between his mother and hubby's father, and she hoped her husband would bring him up, and he did this, giving the boy his own name on the second registration. Or perhaps when he came back from war he insisted on the baby being adopted. Don't think you will know unless you can find him. We found out just last year that my husband has two half-sisters from his father's first marriage, which we hadn't known anything about. It wasn't mentioned when my husbands parents were alive. Kath. x

Hi Kathleen, See info I just sent to Jenny. My husband was born Oct 1948 in Canada of same father, different mum. Half brother born in UK Kingston Surrey. Buttercup.

Hi Jenny, Thanks for your info. I only have the B/Cert for 1946, didn't send for the one for 1945 when he was actually born. Perhaps I should? Info from both read the same, no name changes on either. Mother was married to another during this time, which was quite common during those turbulent years. Perhaps he was kept by mother & took on her legal married name & not adopted out. The second B/Cert issued & registered in March of 1946 was over a year after his birth in Jan 1945 & that was registered in Feb 1945. Husbands father's name appears on both. The second done before he came back to Canada after the war in 1946. Buttercup.

I was going to suggest that the half brother was born before his mother married and was registered in mothers maiden name and then adopted by her husband when they married, but if that was the case the two brothers would have been brought up together and you wouldn't have just 'discovered' him. Perhaps he was born whilst your husbands father was away in the war and although first registered as his, was later adopted so as not to cause trouble in the family!! Sorry, I know this is all speculation. Kath. x

Half brother was born before my husband, who was born here in Canada, both have same father.

Was the half brother born before or after your husband?

Discovered that my husband has a half brother, born in UK Jan 23/1945. Have copy of B/Cert, he was registered twice Feb 1945 & Mar 1946.B/Cert for 1946 shows he was Adopted. Have no idea when. Does anyone have any ideas on this? Would really like to know. The info checks out okay with BDM Index via 1837.Wonder if the last registration is a clue to his Adoption? All very puzzling to me..... Thank you.