Genealogy Chat

Morning Smiley Sorry yes 1861 - blasted keyboard. I think it's an option whether the father's name is on the birth cert ie he's taking the responsibility for his son. I have another baseborn in the family 1857 and it states father unknown - that's because the family did not want him acknowledged - found out that he was a very and I mean very close relation to the family. I have put out a message for a 1861 census look-up for Peter McGregor (the father) in the Camden Town/St Pancras area but no luck at the moment. Do you get the feeling that all the clues are there staring you in the face, but you're not quite getting it right - frustrating! Linda

Hi Linda, sorry just got in from work, and I've got to shoot out again in a mo, I thought if a child was illegitimate that the father would not appear on the birth certificate, that's why I asked how you knew how his father was, also the first date you've got in your original post in 1961, I assume that should be 1861, am I right? Sam

Hello Julie I could not find Peter McGregor in the 1851 although Georgiana was living with her parents and Grandmother in Gravesend, Kent. Her mother was a Maria Rebecca Hall b 1818 Camberwell who married a George Chantler in 1868 St Pancras, but Georgiana was born in 1837 Kennington and always used the name Georgiana Chantler until 1861 for some reason the Campbell name came in. Linda

Have you been able to find him in the 1851 census? or other census's. Are you sure he's the same one as the railway shunter and piano tuner? There's a chance he became a piano tuner if he became blind. Heard that the best piano tuners were blind so perhaps this may have happened - therefore he may be located in an institution? Which could possibly be another reason they didn't marry. I had a widow with several children who had another child after her husband died. Managed to trace the father who died single - residing in the widow's house. The widow recorded the death and said she was an acquaintance?!!!!!

Sorry Smiley I found out that Georgiana was born in Kennington and her mother was born in Camberwell. Linda

Hello Smiley Let's see, first of all it stated on Peter's birth cert 1861 his father was Peter McGregor - on Peter's 1861 marriage cert it states his father was Peter McGregor Chantler yes Chantler because - wait for it - Peter 1861 changed his surname from McGregor Campbell to Chantler. Are you confused? Linda

Hiya Linda Am I right in thinking baseborn means illegitimate? What makes you think he was? If so, how have you established a father? Was he on a marriage certificate? Sorry Linda, just trying to sort it out in my head ;) Sam P.S. They sound Scottish, have you tried there?

I have my GG Grandfather's birth cert Peter McGregor Campbell b 1961 Camden Town. His parents were Peter McGregor and Georgiana Campbell nee Chantler - presume Peter b 1861 was baseborn. In the 1851 census Georgiana was living with her parents. In the 1861 unable to find her and in 1871 she married a John Hill and living in St Pancras. Anyway Georgiana's a long story, but how do I find this Peter McGregor the father when I know nothing about him apart from he work as a railway shunter, but on Peter's his son's marriage cert it states pianoforte tuner? Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated as I have been trying to solve this blip for over two years and I'm about to close the chapter with no success. Linda