Genealogy Chat

Just in case anyone is interested in the conclusion to this saga: The certificate was for the actual birth. Both parents died whilst the child was young and he was adopted by an aunt He retained his birth name. He ended up living with the grandaughter of my Gt.Gt Aunt and when he died, she arranged for his ashes to go into the family grave. The 6 year old girl was this lady's grand daughter. She died of cancer in 1986. Mystery solved and another living relative discovered. Back to tracing Naval ancestors! Thank you everyone for your help. Jill

Thanks, Tyne. I'll let you know. Jill

Hi Jill Yes it sounds like you need to consult the funeral directors to try and trace the records of who requested that particular interment. And yes, in my roundabout way I was trying to say I think you have the certificate of the birth parents - if he used that same name even after adoption, it could mean either a) he reverted to that name of this own choice or b) he was adopted by family, as someone else in the thread suggested. Would be very interested to know how you get on ! Will keep my thinking cap on for you. Tyne

Whitby Library has micro-films of the local paper. I have a week booked up there after Easter so will give that one a try. Many thanks for the idea. Jill

Someone made the decision to put him in that grave with family. Have you an address of informant of 1980 death that you could follow up, or maybe contact funeral directors of that area?. Would there have been an obituary in the paper, which would gives clues of relationship? Having said that, I know graves can be re-used by the authorities, - but this doesn't sound like that sort of situation.

Sorry, I should have added that I know nothing about my Mum's parents - only that my Gran came from Whitby. My Mum fell out with her family and I never met any of them. My Gran married in 1900 and I have her marriage cert. That's all I started with. I've now got back to the late 1700s but it would be so nice to be able to come forward!

Hi Gwyneth, The short answer is "No". I haven't got a clue who he was. found out about him during a 'phone call to Scarborough Crematorium. A very nice man there gave me the grave number at Whitby for my Gt Grandfather's brother who died in 1894 and then went on to tell me who else was in the same grave. That included 2 of his sisters who died in 1893 and 1925 respectively and this other chap who died in 1980. I found his birth & death on 1837 - neither cert gives a hint of how he is connected! To add to the complication, there are also the cremated remains of a 6 year old girl who died in London. Her name means nothing either! I am finding it very difficult to come forward in time. It makes Parish records seem a doddle! I spent about £12 on 1837 last night and found nothing. Thanks for your interest. Jill

Yes, Jill, I too have bought certificates which have posed more questions than they answered! Did you know of the chap, who died in 1980 before you found out about his burial with family? It's not that long ago. Is there nobody who could tell you more about him? Who registered his death, - a relative of yours? Was he old? Did he live a long time in one area? Could previous work mates tell you anything? Clutching straws at how to help! You may be surprised at who might hold the answers for you. Hope you are lucky.

Thank you everyone for your comments. I appreciate your time. This chap is a bit of a mystery. I discovered that he was buried in a family grave with 3 of my gt grandfather's siblings. They all died before 1900. This guy died in 1980 and I haven't got a clue how he fits in with the family. I thought that his birth cert might provide a clue but it has only thrown up more questions! Jill

In my case, both my mother and her husband were on my original birth certificate. However, my father wasn't her husband (he'd upped and offed several years before leaving her with his two children). When his permission to have me adopted was requested by the adoption society, he said he had nothing to do with me, despite mother having put him on the certificate. In the far right hand column it says to remove ..........(his name) plus his occupation from the certificate. And the word "adopted", signed by the Registrar. I only knew who my father was because my mother had told the adoption society exactly who he was (very easy name to trace, too!!), but whether he was ever contacted I don't know, as he was married to someone else two months before I was born! I imagine it could have been rather a sticky moment if he'd opened that letter in front of his new bride!!!!

It sounds as if you have a certificate showing the birth parents. Was the person then adopted within the family perhaps, by an aunt or grandparents, maybe?

Thank you both. I'm still a little confused. It sounds as though you are both saying that the certificate is the original birth cert and then he was adopted. The problem is that he retained that name throughout his life - if he had been adopted after the birth was registered, would his name not have changed to that of his adoptive parents? I think I might be being a bit thick - sorry! Jill

My original birth certificate shows the name of my birth mother, not my adoptive parents, and the legend "adopted" in the far right hand margin. Viv Bennion (born Glenys Owen)

Hi An ancestor of mine had her certificate like that - and I do know that she was adopted by someone other than the birth father. On my ancestor's certificate it didn't give a father's name, just the mother's - and then 'adopted' just as you say was written on it. I know that she was adopted by someone who later married her mother, so perhaps yours is something similar? Or with yours, if the father was named then it seems like the child was adopted by different parents altogether. Hope this helps Tyne

Apologies if this question has been asked before. On a birth certificate in the 1930s the names of parents appear as usual. To the right hand side of the certificate after the signature of the registrar is a diagonal line and the word "adopted" underlined. Then another signature underlined and Supt Registrar. Does this mean that the child was born to the parents named on the cert. and then adopted by someone else? Or was he adopted by the folk on the cert (& therefore had different parents)? Any thoughts on the matter would be welcomed. Jill