Suffolk Bastardy Files

[Rick]

Hi JenniG

You raise a lot of interesting questions!  Firstly, what is your surname? I am unsure of the  Legalities, but I suppose it would be the surname of Clara’s legal husband and Laurence’s adoptive father, if indeed he was legally adopted, but I think that you may be more interested in your bloodline than legalities.

Here is a useful link which gives information about the type of records that existed with regard to illegitimacy.  The link is specifically for Lincolnshire, but is also  true for Suffolk, and you may well find useful information about Clara and Laurence at the Suffolk Record Office.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/poorbastard.html

http://www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/sro/

Rick

[Dimps]

It is my understanding that, until 1927, there was no legal form of adoption.  Up until that time, an illegitimate child took his mother's surname, even if she subsequently married the father.  The father's name could be used as an "AKA" in subsequent records (marriage, death, etc).  There are cases where the couples married between the date of the child's birth and the child's christening and/or registration and thereby 'hoodwinked' the authorities.

Deborah

[JenniG]

Thanks for that. 

I have a vague recollection that when my grandfather needed to provide his birth certificate and couldn't, he had to swear in front of a solicitor or someone similar (Commissioner of Oaths?) as to who he was and as to the details of his birth (that's what makes me certain he was unaware of the real circumstances).

Is this likely or possible or have I lost the plot somewhere?

[Dimps]

I think my grandmother had to do something like that in order to get a pension.  She did not know that the man she thought was her father was not until she reached retirement age.  Her mother had always told her that when she was born registration of births was not compulsory.  Back then, in the early sixties, tracing your family history was much more difficult than it is now and her mother was not forthcoming.

We now have her birth certificate, and found that no father was recorded and she was born in the workhouse.

Deborah

[JenniG]

That raises another question!  My GF's birth was in early November but he wasn't registered until the end of December.  The birth cert simply gives his place of birth as the registration sub district and no actual address.  Was this normal?

[Dimps]

I've just checked with my mother.  Her mother had to provide details of schools attended, employers, etc.  These were all checked and she was then issued a birth certificate that just gave her parents' names (including the father that turned out not to be hers - but she did not know that at the time) and stated that she was British.  My mother can't remember accurately, but thinks that she may also have had to swear that she was who she said she was.

Of course, we now have a copy of the real birth certificate.

[JenniG]

Sorry - I didn't make myself clear.  The lack of actual place of birth is on the real certificate which I located which shows GF's real mother and father unnamed.

[judyjay]

Hi Valerie

Just reading through the old posts and noticed that you are researching Rowes in Suffolk - as am I. Until last week  I thought they came from Chelmondiston but I have now found a will that links them to Henley, Grundisburgh and Witnesham. Anne Rowe who is probably an xtimes aunt [born in Henley] married Robert Mortimer and they lived in Ashfield cum Thorpe.
Just wondered if we fit anywhere.
Regards
Judy

[valerie kehoe]

Hi Judy,

Thanks for getting in touch,  Yes - Anne Rowe was my (several times) great grandmother.  As you probably have read  -from my earlier posts - Anne had 2 sons -after her husband had died. I haven't managed to make any headway re 'bastardy files' to learn who the 'new' partner was.  I will 'pm' you re my Mortimer tree. Thanks again - Valerie