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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ayrshire => Topic started by: aston34 on Tuesday 27 April 10 20:26 BST (UK)
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Hi,
can somebody please help me out.
my ggm Elizabeth Aitken was born at Annick Lodge on 19th July 1900, she gave birth to my grandmother Hannah Aitken in 1917 at East Lodge Girgente Ayrshire but my grandmother is registered as illigitamate
What are the chances of finding the father? Im assuming my ggm worked there and from what i read it was a hotel/pub it could easily of been a one night stand. my gt grandmother married in 1920 to a Dryesdale, but im presuming had he been the father then my gm would of automatically taken his name from day 1.
Any thoughts or suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Do people ever have any success in finding fathers names when children are registered as illigitimate?
Aston :)
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It is almost impossible to trace an unnamed father of an illegitimate child. A child can be registered under either mother or father's name and it is not necessary to identify the father. If it was before 1855, then there would be a good chance the couple would be brought before the kirk session to answer to their sins but when compulsory registration of events started, the churches did not pursue the practice for long. Perhaps close friends or family knew at the time but unless the information was passed on then there isn't much can be done. I have tried on one or two occasions and the only success was the report in the kirk session records. The last remaining member of another family died a couple of years ago, taking her secret with her - as did her brothers and sisters, nothing could have persuaded her to tell - we did try! My friend's mother was born in a hotel but we think it was a case of keeping things quiet, we don't think her g/mo worked in the hotel unless just to pay for her keep until the child was born. Parents often sent pregnant girls away from home who were then often forced into having their baby adopted as they had no means of supporting them. They would also find it difficult to get work.
You could be lucky if someone has passed the information on, do you know any family or friends who would have known and passed the information on to their families. Answers quite often come from the least likely places, so good luck with your search.
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thanks Agnes, no i think your right and it will be a near impossibility finding him. Afterall whos to say the father even knew he was going to be a father?
i sincerely hope that word did get passed on down the line (you know "your great grandfather fatherered a child in may 1917 all he knew was that she was called hannah and the mother was called Elizabeth - but he knew nothing else as he was shut out" etc etc, then its a case of an ancestor coming across one of my threads by sheer chance.
secrets, dont you just hate them lol ;D
thank you
Aston
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by the way if anyone does have any knowledge of annick lodge and its history id be very interested to hear about it.
Thanks !
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by the way if anyone does have any knowledge of annick lodge and its history id be very interested to hear about it.
Thanks !
Probably best to try the local library
http://www.ers.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/localandfamily.cfm
They will have local history books, newspapers etc which might be of help
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Hi. I'm not really into this family tree stuff however came across your query about Annick Lodge when doing a google search. I know a little bit about Annick Lodge and have some lovely photos. If it is allowed please send me your email address and I will be happy to correspond with you with the little that I know. Carolyn