General tips re: illegitimate children

[jbml]

Right ... and your name isn't that common, and doctors probably did make rather longer migrations than the shoemakers and basket weavers and publicans who make up the bulk of my non-AgLab ancestors.

I'd still be minded to do some null hylothesis testing, though ... assume that your man in Hertfordshire was local, and see if you can find any trace of him in Hertfordshire BEFORE your Lancashire migrant disappears off the face of Lancashire. If you can't that should give you a lot more confidence.

[DianaCanada]

Yes, I certainly haven't accepted that he is the Thomas born in Hornby to Thomas Sr. and his wife Elizabeth (Varley).  Just a hypothesis.

[Rosinish]

I've come across a few people in my tree with a blank "Father" section of their birth certificate and I was wondering if any of you had had a similar situation and had some success in finding the father?

If so, would you be able to share your steps to success or any resources that might possibly help a person find unknown fathers?

My 'Tip' would be...

Please state which Date (era)/Area/County/Country you are referring to.

Your query is in the 'Common Room' with no details which doesn't tell people anything i.e. giving advice may be incorrect as different Counties/Countries may differ

Annie

[Rosinish]

I mentioned earlier that my illegitimate ancestor's father's name was included when he married in 1842. Were there any rules about that?

Absolutely not...Regardless whether registered 'illegitimate'/no father in attendance at registration, there's nothing to prevent anyone given/using their 'legitimate' father's surname in life...

Or any name for that matter as long as it wasn't/isn't for fraudulent purposes

Annie

[coombs]

Also I think my 3xgreat gran was illegitimate and her parents were her grandparents as her mum was 51 when she had her last child, and the previous one was 8 years earlier. As the "last child" had her older sister's middle name, that is a clue plus her older sister later had 4 more illegitimate children.

[Rosinish]

I have a relative who mentions an illegitimate daughter in his will.  Unfortunately I cannot make out her surname, though am quite sure I found her baptism.  Another brickwall I hope to knock down!

Why not post on the "Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition" board, there's always good eyes there to help...

It's surprising what others can see which we can't!

Annie

[coombs]

You may even be able to find illegitimate ancestors mentioned in local newspapers, although most online date from 1800 onwards and not sure about 1798 mentions of cases of illegitimate children.

[Trevor Smith]

My dad was born in December 1929. There is no father's name on the birth certificate so he was given his mother's surname.
I know his mother received a monthly postal order that stopped when he was 16 so I think there was a good chance that it there will be a bastardy bond in the record offices.
I recently made an enquiry at the records office and was told if they search and find something, they have to go before a JOP to ask if it can be released to me. They said the JOP usually say no. Which means waiting another 8 years before it is released into the public domain!
Not sure what to do next.

[jbml]

Well ... I'd ask the record office to do the search, whilst providing them with a copy of your birth certificate and your dad's death certificate (assuming that he IS dead ... ) so that should they find something to take before the JP they can demonstrate that it relates to someone who is dead, and that the applicant is that person's son or daughter.

This should greatly increase your chances of a favourable outcome ... forewarned is forearmed, as they say ...