Genealogy Chat

Hi all,

I *think* I have illegitimate children born to Eliza Adams, b. 1827, Feltwell, Norfolk. At no point on ANY census, is there a father with them. She changes between unmarried, to widowed, to single etc, but always living with son George. This suggests to me that both of her sons were born out of wedlock.

Is there any way to check (other than ordering BC's) whether I'm right in my suspicions?

Cheers!
Heidi

Are their baptisms on the IGI? Can you find a baptism or a marriage for Eliza?

Sam x

Hi Sam,

No baptisms for either of Eliza's sons, John & George on igi, and can't find a marriage for Eliza either.

I know who Eliza's parents were, but no idea on a baptism for her.

Best wishes
Heidi

Who were her parents? Was their surname Adams?

1861 census...she's with her mother...surname Adams

Name: Eliza Adams
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1827
Relation: Daughter
Mother's Name: Frances
Gender: Female
Where born: Feltwell, Norfolk, England

Civil Parish: Feltwell
Town: Norfolk
County/Island: Norfolk
Country: England


Registration district: Thetford
Sub registration district: Methwold
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 49
Household Members: Name Age
Eliza Adams 34
Frances Adams 59
George Adams 14
Jacob Adams 23
John Adams 15

Hi Reggie,

Yes, that is the family. I have all those details already, it's more about finding out who the father of Eliza's children was, and if they were born out of wedlock.

Thanks anyway
Heidi

As she certainly wasn't married, her children were illegitimate. The chances of finding who fathered them are small................

Hi Heidi,

Is this Eliza's baptism 1/5/1826.
at Feltwell.
Parents Frances & John Adams

Found on FreeReg

George Adams Bapt.24/9/1848 Feltwell.Mother's name Eliza,a single woman

There is John Bapt 31/10/1846 Feltwell
Mother a single woman ,but named as Frances
Notes state "Forname hard to read"

LOL

My 3x great granny Eliza Coles had 6 illegitimate children. No fathers named for any of them.

On each census and when her children were baptised she is a single woman.
I ordered a birth certificate for one of her later children who was born after 1837 and no father named.

Oddly my 2x great grandmother said her father was called John Coles when she married. I checked the original records and censuses and there is one in the right place and his wife is an Eliza Coles (also maiden name Coles). BUT they live in a different house and have a different set of children.....all legitimate.

So I am thoroughly muddled about mine.

When 2x great grandmother died and had an inquest her husband claimed her father had heart problems too........so she knew who her father was.

I don't suppose I will ever know the truth......I've looked at every document I could find for the village in the Records Office.

Good luck with yours!

Sue
x

My 2 x great aunt had at least 5 children without ever being married


....... and her mother seems to have helped to take care of them.

Hi Una,

THANKS!! That's brilliant information, you're a total star ;o)

Reggie, I kinda guessed that - but thanks anyway.

Sue & Sylvia - they didn't want to make things easy for us did they?!

Thanks again everyone for all your help.

Best wishes
Heidi