RootsChat.Com
Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Ceedeem on Wednesday 04 December 19 15:49 GMT (UK)
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Through a DNA search I can trace my family on my mother's side and that of my father's mother. However, I cannot find who my father's father was as he was not recorded on his birth certificate and he took his mothers surname. I have found my father was a Border in the 1911 census at the age of 4 in the home of another family with a different name . Is there any way I can find out how Borders were housed in a family; how adoption was managed in the early 1900's and if local records would show more substantial information about Borders? The area is Surrey.
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There was no formal adoption until late 1920s (1927?).
Theres no Avenue that way, unfortunately.
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Welcome to Rootschat
In the absence of a fathers name on his birth cert you have no starting point.
Sometimes an illegitimate child did know who their father was and were in contact. If your grandfather named a father on his marriage cert with a different surname to his own then you have your answer. If he named a father with the same surname - then he made him up to appear “respectable” . Be aware that he may have used a relatives name or his stepfathers name if his mother later married
However - it’s not a common occurrence so buying a copy of his marriage cert may be a waste of money
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Thank you. I thought as much and will now further inspect what documentation I have. I am still interested to discover the classification of Border, and if any records exist for illegitimate children in the 1900's and what became of them.
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Hi,
Welcome to Rootschat.
Is he with his mother in 1911?
The family he is with might (or might not be ) extended family of his mother, even though he is classed as a boarder, that might be worth investigating.Of course it could just be a neighbour , friend or new adoptive family.
Cathy
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His mother may have obtained an affiliation order to obtain payments
From the father .
Have you triangulated or colour coded your highest DNA matches ? You need to look for matches which don't match your mother's family paternal grandmother
And see if any names come up as 2nd or 3rd cousins which could actually beyourhalf cousins or half second cousins look to find thei mutual grandparents of these shared matches. ...and youmat at least get a family name /region
It may be worth checking ethnicity too .
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I am still interested to discover the classification of Border,
I think you mean Boarder - another term is Lodger. It's possible his mother had to work so was unable to care for him. She may have been making a contribution towards his keep.
Prior to 1927 - people made informal arrangements with friends/relatives/neighbours to care for children
In 1911 in Surrey there were 66 x 4yr old males classified as boarders
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Boarder does imply payment food and lodgings
When family members were taken in they were often listed as neice nephew grandchild ..relation
Visitor if the stay was temporary
Do you want to give names so we can help you look ?
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Have you triangulated or colour coded your highest DNA matches ? You need to look for matches which don't match your mother's family paternal grandmother
And see if any names come up as 2nd or 3rd cousins which could actually beyourhalf cousins or half second cousins look to find thei mutual grandparents of these shared matches. ...and youmat at least get a family name /region
It may be worth checking ethnicity too .
Hi Ceedeem,
I think Brigidmac is on the money here. Of course your father being a boarder at that early age may be a clue, and is very important genealogical information, but may also be a red herring. If you are searching for your biological roots, DNA is definitely the answer.
I believe there is a DNA board on here (I'm new myself), but I am also very happy to assist you with this; I've gained quite a lot of experience in DNA genealogy research over the years. I'm pretty confident you will be able to at very least locate your paternal grandfather's family, if not the man himself (eg if there are several brothers).
If interested, please get in touch or post on the DNA board and I might see you there! Good luck! :)
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My great grandmother used to take in boarded children; there are 2 there with her in the 1911 census, and elderly relatives who knew her tell of others (some lived with her themselves intermittently). One of the waifs was illegitimate and then orphaned apparently and became a permanent member of the family. She lived in a large house with plenty of space and I've been told that she did this as a source of income. I suspect that was the case for most children boarded out outside their families.
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There was no formal adoption until late 1920s (1927?).
Theres no Avenue that way, unfortunately.
Although there was no formal adoption there was a procedure for guardianship. There may be a paper trail in the parish chest or through poor law paperwork.
For example
http://anguline.co.uk/cert/gc.jpg
Cheers
Guy
PS lodgers simply stay with the family and provide their own meals
Boarders eat with the family and have their meals provided (sometimes a clue to a close connection with the family).
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"Boarding out" was a type of foster care for orphaned and deserted children:
http://www.workhouses.org.uk/boardingout/
In this case you might find some local records (survival of records is very area-dependant though).
There also might be earlier records if he was born in a workhouse infirmary and/or he and his mother moved through the system together before he was boarded out.
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Thanks Cathy
There is a linkage somewhere, if I can find it! My Dad boarded in Camberley and his mother lived only 5 miles away. Still looking! Clive
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Hi Jorose
That's fascinating information. Thanks you.
Clive
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Have a look through the Petty Session records.
If the Mother sought financial support from the Father the PS is a route to gain said support.
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Hi Clive,
There is some information about poor law records in Surrey including a few online records (might not cover your area/dates) here:
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/poor-law-records
If his mother was still in the picture it might be that she had to board him out in order to work. For example live-in domestic servants usually lost their employment if found to be pregnant and would not be able to get a similar position with a child in tow. In this case she might have been paying his room and board while she worked so he could stay relatively near her.
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If you haven’t already done so, you could try something like the My Heritage auto cluster tool to group your matches. In theory, you should/may be able to find matches who do not fit with your known branches therefore should/may be from your grandfather’s line.