Ivy Donovan = birth information

[Lindon]

Hello all
I have just received a copy of Ivy Donovan's birth cert. which states she is the daughter of her 15 year old sister and her father in 1888.  All names and dates seem to match including her mother's maiden name so I think it is correct.

I am horrified because her father is also my Grandfather by his first marriage.

Is there any other way apart from this certificate I can find out any more information. From that date on census etc. the child is referred to as her sister.

Thanks for any help.

[CaroleW]

Hi

I am ok with it naming Ida M Donovan as her mother (who was then 15yrs old)  but are you saying that the certificate actually names Nicholas Donovan as the father of the child in column 4 of the cert?

Are you possibly misunderstanding column 7 - signature/residence/description of informant

Did her father register the child's birth which would show him as the father of Ida  not of Ivy Gladys

[Lindon]

Hi

The mother is definitely named as Ada Maud (sorry typing error it first message) and she registered the birth herself five weeks later in column 7.  Nicholas James Donovan is reg. as father of the child in column 4.

Thanks for your help

[CaroleW]

I am amazed at that as it is an indirect allegation of incest. 

The only thing I can think of is that Ada was confused and thought the registrar meant her own fathers name rather than the name of the father of her baby.

In 1881 they are Donnaven and dad is James N but daughter Ada M is with her grandmother Mary Ann ? Smith

[km1971]

You should try and find a baptism record. Vicars and priests would often record additional information in the margins. And if this is from the GRO you could also get the same certificate from the register office. The GRO certificates are copies of the local record, so there may be a transcription error.

I am also confused why a 15 year old would have a maiden name.

Ken

[Lindon]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I am hoping it is a trancript error and am now going to try and find the baptism records and local records to check and hope for the best.  Not sure how to do this though because I live a long way from birth place but will make telephone and Email enquiries.

Thanks a lot for all your help, it has been much appreciated.

Lindon

[inchamore]

Hope you can solve that one, sounds a bit weird but I suspect its an error.