What was my Mother ? Who am I ? what am I ?

[jupiter1]

What was my Mother  ?    Who am I ?   what am I ?   

A few surviving relations are still around so this post is couched in careful terms.

I am a 77 year old male.

My maternal grand mother born 1887 married in 1905 to Man no 1.
It is believed that this marriage was the result of a un wanted pregnancy.
The girl child died "very" young" and no records have been found.
She then conceived a daughter number 2 born 1909/Q4 by Man no 1.

However, they separated about 1907-8 when she returned to live at her mothers house with Man no 2, for this birth.

In the 1911 census they declared them selves as "married 4 years" presumably to cover for the daughter born in 1909/Q4 who they listed under Man no 2 surname. 
This is not so as she was still married to Man no 1 and divorce was not available to "the working class" until about 1927.

She had another child by Man no 2 in 1911/Q1, (my mother).

She went on to marry Man no 2 in 1919/Q2 bigamously as Man no 1 was still living. He lived until 1943/Q3.
Searching the Divorce registers reveal no divorce was ever granted or issued.

All the above details have been verified by many family stories and the appropriate certificates and documents.

So, in genealogical / legal terms,  What was my Mother  ?    Who am I ?    What am I  ?     

[Blue70]

What does your mother's birth certificate say about her parentage?


Blue

[pinefamily]

In legal terms, your mother, being the product of a bigamous de facto relationship, was illegitimate. You are the product of your mother and father; if they were married, then all is straight forward. If they were not married, then you too are illegitimate (legally). In this day and age however, it all gets a bit grey. 

[jupiter1]

What does your mother's birth certificate say about her parentage?

Father Man no 2: mother maternal grand mother born 1887
She was born   1911/Q1


Blue

[jupiter1]

In legal terms, your mother, being the product of a bigamous de facto relationship, was illegitimate. You are the product of your mother and father; if they were married, then all is straight forward. If they were not married, then you too are illegitimate (legally). In this day and age however, it all gets a bit grey. 

My mother and father were legally and properly married.
 

[Blue70]

What does your mother's birth certificate say about her parentage?

Father Man no 2: mother maternal grand mother born 1887
She was born   1911/Q1


Blue

That refers to the birth index do you have your mother's birth certificate?


Blue

[KGarrad]

My mother and father were legally and properly married.

This is not so as she was still married to Man no 1 and divorce was not available to "the working class" until about 1927.

She had another child by Man no 2 in 1911/Q1, (my mother).

She went on to marry Man no 2 in 1919/Q2 bigamously as Man no 1 was still living. He lived until 1943/Q3.

Any bigamous marriage is not "legal and proper". It is technically illegal!
However, these things happened, as it was cheaper than divorce

[pinefamily]

I think the OP was referring to his parents' marriage as legal and proper. His mother was born out of a bigamous relationship, which doesn't affect her marriage or offspring (I think).

[Blue70]

If you don't have the birth certificate of your mother, can you tell us if the birth index that you think is your mother's has man number one's surname, man number two's surname or your mother's surname?

If the father on the birth certificate is man number two and you believe that he was the real father although not married at the time then regardless of them being married or not, regardless of the fact that the birth is illegitimate, you have evidence of your mother's parentage in that birth certificate. 


Blue