Born out of Wedlock 1920's

[MrsHodges]

I have been researching my mothers side of my family tree in Manchester North, Blackley area. I already Knew that my Nana was born in July 1925 and my Aunty (Mothers sister) told me the names of her parents, however I have discovered a Marriage record for William Crompton and Emma Walker online saying they were married in April 1929, my Nana Elsie Walker never used the surname Crompton and was registered as a Walker.

At first I thought my aunty had got the surnames mixed up...but now I am starting to think that my nana was born out of Wedlock and that William Crompton was not her biological father..

Am I right in thinking that in the 1920's birth out of Wedlock was still socially unacceptable? And that if indeed William Crompton was her father then he would have married Emma Walker before my Nana was born? I have sent off for her Birth Certificate...

[Half Pint]

Hi

My dad was born in 1933 and his best friend until the 1980's was his cousin who was 5 years older.  It was only after his cousins death that my dad discovered that they were in fact, half brothers.  It was very sad for both of them.

Even in the 50's and 60's it was still "socially" awkward.

Regards

Half Pint

[CaroleW]

Hi

It is more than likely that your grandmothers birth cert will not have a fathers name shown.

IF - William Crompton was her biological father, they would not have been forced to marry out of "shame" as even in those days there were many single parents

The situation is much like todays - the man takes on the wife's child/children when they marry

[Mr. MIGKY]

Hello & welcome to rootschat mrshodges. There are a lot of folk from around the area your family came from and i am sure like myself would be only to happy to help you on your family search.
I think you have to give credit to any mother who for what every reason manages to hold on to there children back then. It must have been so hard with every eye upon you.
Migky 

[Suki 1]

My mother was born out of wedlock in 1928. Apparently her father wouldnt marry my Gran because Gran wore a wig after losing all her hair due to a childhood illness and he said he couldnt afford to keep her in wigs! 
Mum spent all her young life pining for a father. Although Gran married later when Mum was about 7 she never looked on Grandad as her father.
I think it coloured all her life really being illegitimate.

[emmsthheight]

Hi Mr Hodges

There is an entry in 1925 on free bmd for an Elsie Crompton with mother's maiden name given as Crompton.  So I guess the child was born before they married.  I guess you'll never know but there might be clues in the birth certificate as to the circumstances.

The birth's in Warrington.

By the way, welcome to Rootschat!  You'll get loads of help on here.

Best wishes

Emms

[emmsthheight]

PS

This is from the web site Free bmd listing birth  registrations.

http://freebmd.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl
Code to send for a certificate at Southport ONS is 8c 244, or you could get in touch with Warrington.

Of course you say they were a Manchester family, but the child could have born away from home to keep it private.

The other thing is, with a mother Crompton, that's William's name not Emma's.  Could be she gave that name, or that she was a much younger sister of William's or a child of one of his family they took on, all sorts of explanations.

See wgat you think.

I'm posting with slight trepidation as it's only84 years ago and we don't post details for people who may still be alive.  As you've already mentioned details I hope it's okay, but feel free to remove anyone, or ask me to. 

With one more post you'll be able to use the personal messages (pm) to send extra details privately.

Best wishes

Emms

[hazel82]

Thank you Emms, I have found that my Nana was indeed born before her mother married William, her mother passed her self off as a widow on her marriage certificate to William, so either my Nana's father died or there were circumstances where her mother could not marry the father! Both my Nana and her mother have passed away so its frustrating not being able to find out exactly what happened! : s