Genealogy Chat

Hi Tara, I'm in the same situation my grandmother never knew who her father was. It wasn't kept a secret just it was never spoken about. Her mother was working in a big house in Cornwall Truo. I don't think the name of the father is on the birth certifcate. I don't think there is any way to find out who the father could be which is very anoying becasue I would like to know who my great grandfather was. I'm glad things are talked about openly these days. Ever been interested in visiting a meduim (person who talks to spirits). Might be worth a try.

Sometimes you can find a surname as a middle name which leads in the right direction.

Maternity is a matter of fact, PATERNATY is a matter of opinion. The lack of a father usualy points to a birth outside wed lock. The law is and was that without a marriage cert the chap can not be named on the cert unless he consents in person at the registration office. Errant fathers can be found but it is very hard work. Barstardy bonds are the best source. (ancient CSA payments.) or poor records from churches. Sometimes the children were given away to be looked after by others so try to look at the cencus to see if he appears in a different family in 1901. The alledged fathers family often took the kid in. Hope this helps Martyn Good luck.

Afraid you'll never know for sure but... Is there an address for her on the birth certificate? If that is where she was working you could check the address on the census to see if there is a likely father living there - a male servant or member of family. Did your gt grandad have a middle name? sometimes illegitimate babies were given the name of their father in this way Although they worked long hours servants had time off - commonly a day a month when they could go home so of course she may have had a beau back home. Finally surely the father could have been her later husband, you say they were living near each other just before the marriage but could have known each other much longer.

Hi Tara As I understand it....If there's no name on the birth certificate then unfortunately there's no way of finding out, other than locating any baptism records that may exist and seeing whether the father is named on those. Lou

I'm trying to find out who the father was of my great grandad. My nan knew that her dad and her grandad had different surnames but assumed that is was the grandmothers maiden name and they weren't married when he was born. I found their marriage three years later and the year before that on the 1891 census living in the same street but different houses (obviously where they met). From that we realised that my nan's grandad wasn't the real father. I've sent for the birth certificate, but there are no father details. The mother was working as a domestic servant, is it reasonable to assume, since the hours they worked, that it was someone from this household that was the father? Does anyone know where I go from here, where was she a domestic servant? Who was the father? Or am I at a dead end? Regards Tara