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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:10 BST (UK)

Title: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:10 BST (UK)

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help me.  I am interested to know if there are any places I could look to find out if the father of my great-grandfather is named anywhere.  He was born in Amble Northumberland 1877.  I have the birth certificate and there is a blank space where the father's name is put.

Would there be any record anywhere else - such as Church records/poor law records? If so, where would I go to find them?

All help appreciated.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: stanmapstone on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:20 BST (UK)

After 1834, bastardy cases were mainly dealt with at the Quarter Sessions.

Stan

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:27 BST (UK)

Thank you Stan.  I don't know what quarter sessions are, but I will try to investigate.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: stanmapstone on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:36 BST (UK)

Sorry, the Quarter Sessions were the meetings of the county justices held four times a year. They were replaced by Crown Courts  in 1972.

Stan

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:46 BST (UK)

Thanks for explaining.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: stanmapstone on Tuesday 29 June 10 16:48 BST (UK)

See History of child support in the UK http://www.childsupportanalysis.co.uk/information_and_explanation/world/history_uk.htm

Stan

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 17:06 BST (UK)

Thank you again.  I will read this.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: staceyk84 on Tuesday 29 June 10 21:17 BST (UK)

Some baptisms also name the father of illegitimate children, not always but it is worth a look if you haven't already checked.  I came across one from Northumberland today that said son of singlewoman and then underneath the name of the father, although admittedly i haven't come across it very often.

 :)

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Tuesday 29 June 10 21:44 BST (UK)

Thank you very much indeed for this lead - I will look in to this too as it is certainly worth investigating.

Thanks!

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: Trillium62 on Tuesday 29 June 10 22:47 BST (UK)

I was going through one parish in Norfolk where the rector at the time had recorded the name of the reputed father (and his abode and occupation) for each illegitimate birth.  Only one was silent altogether and another one had the father's name and occupation (soldier) but no abode as it wasn't known.  Not always that lucky though.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Wednesday 30 June 10 09:09 BST (UK)

Thank you for your reply - I will definitely investigate the parish baptism record.  It is certainly worth a look to see if anything is recorded.

Many thanks

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: AngelFish on Sunday 28 November 10 19:51 GMT (UK)

Another thing that might possibly help... did your person ever use an unusual middle name?  One of mine used the middle name of Francis... it turned out to be his fathers last name.

Title: Re: Illegitimate birth - any chance of finding name of father?
Post by: ambleetc on Monday 29 November 10 08:33 GMT (UK)

Thank you for that additional lead - will definitely investigate - the middle name of William could link to a father, yes! I will follow this lead now - really wish I could solve this mystery after all these years - and thanks for your interest and taking the trouble to reply.