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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Nisi on Saturday 24 June 06 18:29 BST (UK)
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Hi
I have received 2 birth certificates for twin babies. The mother sadly died as a result of the birth. The husband registered the death but the babies birth certificates have no fathers name or occupation. The informant looks to have been a neighbour who had been present at the birth. The birth date was 25/08/1934 but they weren't registered until 03/10/1934.
Does anyone know whether the lack of fathers name is because they would have been available for adoption or would it be that he denied being the father? Two older boys were put into an orphanage. I have found no trace of the father since then (1934).
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The usual reason for not putting the father's name on a birth certificate is that the father was unknown, or the mother declined to name him. Are you sure the parents were married?
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Yes, I have their marriage certificate and birth certificates of their previous 2 children. ???
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Could it be that the father just cracked and simply walked away. Presumably the twins would have been in hospital at the beginning and when it became obvious that a, their birth had not been registered and b, the father as not going to do it the authorities had to get them registered and as the neighbour must have been present at the birth she had to register them and it was decided that as the father was not present at the registration in the circumstances he could not be named.
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I think it could be something along the lines jaywit suggests too.
The neighbour maybe had evidence of the mother's death with her but not of the parent's marriage. Without either parent being present and no evidence of the marriage the Registrar may have refused to put the father's name on the certificate.
This is a bit of a morbid thought but have you looked for a possible death of the father as well around the sametime :(
Pinetree
Isn't the rule that a birth should be registered within 6 weeks - looks as if someone spotted the deadline
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The neighbour maybe had evidence of the mother's death with her but not of the parent's marriage. Without either parent being present and no evidence of the marriage the Registrar may have refused to put the father's name on the certificate.
Yes that's a very sensible suggestion as the neighbour would not have thought of asking for a marriage certificate. I have looked extensively for the father but I have had no luck so far. He has quite an unusual first name but he's proving very elusive. It is possible that he might have been too distraught at his wifes death to cope. As far as I know the 2 boys who were put into a childrens home never saw their father.