Pepper and Richardson

[maxitup1966]

Is there anyway of knowing who fathered the 6 Pepper kids ... lol
I see Fanny lived alone with Mary J, James and newborn Joseph in the 1881 census ... perhaps he was at sea, is that a possible answer ?
They obviously never married yet they had 3 more children and I can't find her in the 1891 census
Horrible to say but is it possible she was a prostitute  The fishing quarter of Hastings known as the Old Town was not the nicest of places in Victorian times ... lots of rough fishermen, lots of ale houses and lots of 'female entertainment' ... oh dear who am I

[lizdb]

Looks like Omega has found a 7th illegit child of Fanny's

Birth
Jul/Aug/Sep 1877
George William L Pepper
Hastings

Death
Ap/May/Jun 1878
George William L Pepper age 0
Hastings

Perhaps she had this one christened if he was a sickly baby, just in case.

maxitup - you will only be able to find the father of the children if Fanny left any written evidence of who it / they was / were.
So only if he /they is/are named on a birth cert, or a chr record, or a bastardy bond. Otherwise (and most likely) there will be no way of knowing.

[groom]

Hate to say this, but you could be looking for 7 different fathers. 

Jan

[maxitup1966]

Hate to say this, but you could be looking for 7 different fathers. 

Jan

Oh nooooooooo ...    Blimey what's my real surname 

[omega 1]

Hi Dave

Husbands Greatgrandfather was a Fisherman  from Hastings Old Town.
He lived with a woman has husband & wife.I could`nt find a marriage,payed Hastings Register Office £25 for a search,nothing.
After 5 years & lot of money spent i have finally had the Brick Wall knock down .Said Wife had changed her name but before dying must have told the kids her proper name & that was the name her Death was registered in,all proved with certs.They had 12 kids.They still had`nt married under her proper name.Why she did this we will never know.

I should`nt think to harshly of Fanny,life was very tough.

omega

[lizdb]

Your descended from Frederick George?

Apart from one census when he was recorded as Larkin, then he consistantly uses Pepper - his birth, his marriage, and then his descendents.
So, Pepper it is - no issues there. Just when you go back from Fanny there will just be the Pepper line to follow.

Nothing unusual.

When I first started family History many many many years ago, a person who had been doing it forever told me that eventually you are bound to find illegitimacy (usually find that very soon), someone in prison, and a suicide.
And often it is quite hard to see these things in your family, albeit a long time ago.

Yes, 30 or more years or research later I have indeed found lots of illegitimacy, and found a prisoner and a suicide (sadly the same person)

You have just found your first illegitimacy - and wow you have started with large dose!
Dont take it to heart.  We will never know the full story of our ancestors. The facts we find out never tell the human story completely.

[groom]

I can't find her in the 1891 census

Liz found her - see reply 4, married to George Larkin

Jan

[omega 1]

Doing Husband direct male line i hit a brick wall with his Grandfather.Greatgranmother told lies when she registered him, gave him a fictitous Father,all proved with certs .Our surname should`nt be what it is.

I`ve yet to find a line with no Baseborns in it,including mine .

So your not alone Dave

omega

[omega 1]

Fanny,baptised at Battle,2 Jan 1853 daughter of Stephen & Ann

omega