Genealogy Chat

Thanks for those suggestions. Had not thought about the 'formally' part. Have got the sons bapt. mother just recorded as Emily. Have found a marriage record in the free to view section of ancestry.co of an emily simpson atkins in 1874. Its in Chelsea which does not seem right but she was the only one with the middle name Simpson. Think she may be the mother, have sent for the marriage cert. to look for clues, this is an expensive hobby!! Regards Jeanie

A few thoughts - 1. In 1867 there was no official adoption, any arrangments were made privately 2. The birth was supposed to be registered in the natural parent's name. Though I suppose Emily might have taken him in as soon as he was born and lied on the registration it seems fairly unlikely that she would have done this and so allowed people to think she had an illegitimate son. 3. If Emily's name is given without any reference to 'formerly' then the name on the birth certificate should be her maiden name 4. Could it be that he was her natural child but in later years she let people believe she had adopted him rather than admit to having an illegitimate son? 5. It may be worth looking for his baptism in parish registers for parishes around where he was born as more details of his parents may have been given then - often people felt they shouldn't lie to the priest, or the priest knew the truth anyway if it was a small community.

Not sure how to trace the following. Family history has it that husbands grandfather was adopted by an Emily Simpson Atkins. Received birth cert and it has mother, Emily no father. This was 1867.Have put £10 into 1837 but then realise dont know where to search. If Atkins is her married name, maybe a widow who took in child, its pointless looking for her in either birth or marriage. I supose the death cert is the only answer? Cant find her on LDS unfortunately. Should it have had adopted written on the cert?