Genealogy Chat

I've discovered my mum has a whole load of unknown aunts and uncles who were from her grandfather's first marriage. I've found 3 as they are listed in the 1901 census and I have another b. 1909 because my mum remembers him. I'm sure there are probably others born between 1901 and 1911 when the first wife died. Problem is, how do I find out? Mother's maiden names aren't listed on the 1837 birth records until 1911. Short of ordering every birth certifcate for the surname Riddle in Portsmouth what can I do? Suggestions please. Crista

Depends how many Riddles there are from Portsmouth, but try going back from the one you know in 1909. If you know which quarter, then try back a year, or 3 quarters at a push. It did tend to be like shelling peas back then, but even they had to wait for one baby to be born before they could make another. Also, 2 names on the same page could be twins. So, if you find a possible in 1908, get that certificate. If it matches then go back to 1907 or 3 quarters before the 1908 one, and so on. There will be quite a lot you can eliminate in this way. Also, see if there seems to be a pattern in the names. Do they all begin with the same initial or something like that.

Carol, There's no naming convention that I can see and no family names that were reused. From the 1901 censuses there are about 3 other couples who would be popping out children around that time. Crista

If you have found your family on the 1901, you can eliminate the children from the other families. Just a thought.

Incidentally, what time is it over there?

Carol, It's UK - 8 hours so it's 5:30 pm here. I have the family from the 1901 census with the 3 children then. If I assume a spacing of a child every 30-33 months (people breastfed in those days and that surpressed ovulation) then there are probably 3 others between the youngest listed in 1901 and the one born in 1909. Could be another born in 1911 when the mother died too. Crista

It is a matter of guess work, then prove it. I think there could have been another when mother died, it was common for women to die in childbirth, it was a risky business then. Also check for the child dying too. Also, a lot of children died young. You only have to look at early death indexes and see all those zeros in the age column. Its nearly 2am here, and I really should go to bed soon.

Thanks for your help Carol. Goodnight. Crista

Hope you find them all Carol

Crista I hate to spoil the party, but the notion that breastfeeding suppresses ovulation is not something upon which one should rely, as many unlooked-for pregnancies testify. I also suggest that the length of the breastfeeding period is so variable - for example, dependent upon the mother's own nutritional status - as to be a matter for mere conjecture. The average length of gestation, calculated from the LMP, fortunately appears to be immutable! Mike

Mike, Unfortunately, I don't have the LMP for my relatives so I based my calculation on the spacing of the first 3 children and the next birth listed with a matching surname. That, plus I've never come across any children in my tree that are less than 18 months apart. Crista

It is 3am now, so I really am going to bed On second thoughts, I will have a cup of tea first.

Crista, I know exactly what you're going through - my great-grandfather re-married sometime after 1901 and had four more children. The worst prognosis is that we have to wait until 2011 for the next census release!

Lois, I'm wondering if there are school records or other parish records that might have the family listed. I refuse to order certificates at 8.50 pounds a pop plus postage to the US. Most of the certificates won't be the right ones anyway. Crista

I think this is a problem for many of us. More present day history we can't confirm as the census is not available. I have just been lucky meeting up with a second cousin on here. He is related to the Greens I have left alone so far as its such a common name. He has given me a little bit of information that will edge me along. If you can't get that you really are in the dark. I read somewhere the 1911 wasn't done under the same restrictions as usual and it should be available now. It would make such a difference to my research. I have families all over the place I can't complete. You expect that further back but not 20th century