Genealogy Chat

I have been trying to trace the mother of my gt gt grandfather Richard Hincks, who was born in 1856. According to the 1851 his father (Richard Hincks- unmarried) was living in a pub with the widowed landlady (Anne Bonsor nee Staniforth). 1861: Father still unmarried, living with his Father (w), sister Elizabeth Staniforth (nee Hincks - m), sister Ann (u), Elizabeths son, and his own son Richard (who is the one whos mother I am trying to trace. 1871: Not indexed yet, so don't know 1881: No trace of the father, but Richard the son is living with his dads two sisters - Elizabeth (w) and Ann (u) (plus Elizabeths son) 1891 - No trace of father, son Richard is now married himself. So, onwards. I have just received Richards birth certificate, which makes it more confusing! It has father unknown, mother Ann Hincks. I have no other Ann Hincks in my tree, so do you think that brother and sister Richard and Ann Hincks had a son together? As you can see, the census may back my theory up.... Does anyone know where I may find more info re a birth? How much do Parish records tell you? Advice as to where to go or alternative possibilities please??? Sarah

Where did you get the information that Richard was his father? If it was from his marriage cert it is possible that he was Ann's son, father unknown (except of course to Ann!) but named a fictitious father, borrowing his uncles name, rather than admit to being illegitimate. Judith PS Baptism record might name a father, especially if it ws a small community and the priest was of a mind to record what he knew.

Don't hold me to it but I guess this may be the answer. Richard is Ann's son and to save embarrassment on the 1861 census they put son instead of nephew as the relationship to Richard senior. Basically, Ann had a baseborn child. Looks like you may never Know who the father was unless Ann got a bastardy bond. (Bit like modern Maintenence but don't know where you find out about these) Hope this helps Janet

Bastardy bonds or orders and the examination of the mother to find out about the father, are kept in parish records, so should be in the local record office. Some of them are indexed in a2a (Access to Archives) by parish name. nell

I have several bastards and have looked for Bastardy Bonds with no luck. I also have two cases of grandparents saying that the illegitimate child of a daughter is theirs. In addition I have my great-grandmother giving birth to a first child in the workhouse, marrying my great-grandfather when pregnant with her second child. Family legend has it that both the child born in the workhouse and the child in her tum on the way to the altar were both the product of my great-grandfather but I don't believe it! I also have the same family lying about the names and ages of children to conceal their illegitimacy in census returns! People were devious and probably still are. So, advice. What you have to do is put yourself in that real life situation having something you're ashamed of, and wanted to hide. That way you will never be sure that you're right but you will construct a wonderful narrative!