Top Family Secrets

[Windsor87]

Just an observation on this subject – I’m currently transcribing the Non-Conformist Baptismal records (pre-1900) onto computer for my local Records Office.  Occasionally only the mother is listed. 
It’s interesting to note that in the C of E equivalent records beneath the mother’s name it states: “Unmarried” or “Unmarried Mother” (usually in capital letters).  Seems as though the C of E really liked to “rub salt into the wound”.

The Presbyterian Church of Scotland went one step further allowing the congregation to insult the unmarried mother when the baby was being baptised. She had to walk from the back of the church to the alter with the congregation calling her every name under the sun. I don't know if this was widespread, or just the experience of my great great great grandmother.

[MarieC]

This is boring!  I have 4 and 7 and suspect 2 for at least one ancestor but can't prove it.  I have a couple of bankrupt gggrandfathers.  Did think I had a bigamist, but that proved not to be the case.  Suicide of a great-aunt - no-one in the direct line.

MarieC

[aghadowey]

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland was just as bad. There's usually a pulpit at the 'front' of the church with communion table and baptismal font (no altar).
Baptisms were usually listed with mother's name and 'illegitimate' in box for father's name.
But here's 2 examples:
(1807) 'charged with the sin of fornication came this day and being spoken to in the session admitted to publick satisfaction and so restored to the privileges of the Church.' No mention of the woman involved.
(17 Jan.1809- same surname) '--- and his wife of --- charged with the sin of antenuptial fornication, came this day before the session and being there spoken to and admonished were restored to the privileges of the congregation.'

[Willow 4873]

Lots of number 1 - including my Grandmother Roberts and GGGrandfather Colley who was one of 5 illigitimate children (they all appear to have the same father from what I can find out - their father was living with his mother until his death)

Lots of number 4 lol - but thats just normal

Willow x

[lizdb]

I think we ALL have lots of Number 4!!!

in fact - the whole tree is made up of them until we get searching, and then hopefully the number gets less, but there is always an infinite number going further back....

[Musicman]

G'day Musicman,

What are you about to do to change that boring perfection???

Too late m8 - I've already done it! 

As the song in "Mary Poppins" says: "I'm practically perfect - in every way".

(Edited by Musicman)

[Musicman]

Thanks for the info re: the Scots & Irish Churches – most interesting. 

Makes you wonder if those congregation members had ever heard the line from the Bible: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”.

[rancegal]

And, as Dave Allen told it:
    "Mummy! Put that stone down!"

[Musicman]

Just a final comment (well, from me anyway!) regarding entries in a baptismal register for Non-Conformist churches starting from the late 1840s – see my posting #7 on the previous page.  I have now reached page 50 (yippee!) – with 10 entries per page -  in the register and on that and the previous page, interestingly, are a couple of new phrases which have not been used previously – where the parents are not married, or the father not named.

On page 49 is an entry (April 1851), for a Samuel, where both parents are named but have different surnames – and underneath is written: “Not married”.  A few entries later Samuel appears again – (the rector must have had a senior moment!) all details match except that this time he father is not named – and underneath Samuel’s name is “Illegitimate”.

On page 50 is an entry for James who is stated to be: Illegitimate.  Both parents are named – different surnames, and the mother’s occupation is given as “Servant Girl”.

John

PS This is my 10th posting - oh the excitement – think I’ll have a glass of Sarsaparilla to celebrate!