Genealogy Chat

was this an actual planned occurance? on my great grandfathers birth certificate it says he was born at 20 bell street southampton and registered at 20 bell street southampton. as far as my local knowledge goes there wasnt a ospital in that area around the time he was born...as he was illigitamate could it have a hostal of some sort (tho she was a dressmaker...wernt hostals for young pregnant girls?)

Most babies were born at home right up until the National Health Service started in 1948. I think 'dressmaker' was what a lot of 'ladies of the night' called themselves. Kath. x

Home birth was the norm,medical care was not free,and few could afford to pay for it. It is only a fairly recent thing to have a child in a hospital or maternity home. The NHS only started in the middle of the last century. Glen

What year was he born? Maybe we could look at the address on a census and see how many people were living there etc? Merry

To be fair not all dressmakers were 'ladies of the night' My great grandmother was a master tailoress who made a suit of clothes for royalty and she certainly wasn't a lady of the night. - I think!!!! LOL Snowdrops

In 1881 there was only one person at that address..... John Butler abt 1809 Southampton Head Southampton All Sts Hampshire He was a bricklayer. Merry

if she was a lady of the night that would explain the illigitamate child thing. ive tried to search on bell street about that time but not coming up with any information ...its not a red light district these days he was born in 1891

Sorry Snowdrops - didn't mean to offend your ancestors. I know that some dressmakers did actually make dresses, lol. Kath. x

I've said this before -- I AM a dressmaker, really I am. LOLOL Anne

Kath Absolutely no offence taken - I thought it was hilarious. Snowdrops

1891 census for 20 Bell St: Robert Carter abt 1846 South Stoneham; Southampton Head All Saints Hampshire Mabel Carter abt 1890 Southampton Daughter All Saints Hampshire Ellen Pearce abt 1879 Southampton Adopted All Saints Hampshire Eliz Anna Davies abt 1855 Upwey, Dorset, England Lodger All Saints Hampshire John G Carter abt 1880 Upwey, Dorset, England Son All Saints Hampshire John Moore abt 1841 Ireland Lodger All Saints Hampshire Wm Ainsworth abt 1869 Southampton Lodger All Saints Hampshire Alice Carter abt 1870 Southampton Wife All Saints Hampshire There are two errors in the above transcripts......Alice Carter is Alice Ainsworth and John Carter is John Davies (In my opinion, anyway!) The head is a dock labourer Merry

Even when I was a child/young teenager in the 1960s - no one ever went to hospital when they had a baby - unless they had particular health problems - the midwife would call, and your neighbour would go in to help. And dont forget up to the NHS was formed you had to pay for medical treatment, so you managed without it!

There was something on TV the other day - about Singer sewing machines - and apparently these were used to encourage 'ladies of the night' to come off the streets and take up a 'proper' profession, they were given or loaned the machines, I believe.

says on there she was married tho there are only three married people in the house and shes not listed as the wife. would that mean she told them she was married when she wasnt just because she was pregnant?

I was born at home in 1967 my Godmother delivered me as the ambulance wasn't quick enough.Have yet to find one of my rellies born in hosppital Linda

Almost all women were pregnant when they married anyway, it was no big deal. In fact most men wouldn't marry unless the girl was pregnant, they wanted to make sure she wasn't 'barren'. It's funny how men never (supposedly) had fertility problems back then, it was always the woman's fault LOL As for hospitals, they were avoided at all costs, they were mainly somewhere you went to die.

my dad was born in hospital in 1956 tho my nan had been very ill and dad did almost die...i just find it weird that there are only four married people in the house and shes not the wife or either (at least its not on the form ) the other married is ainsworth tho she would have taken his name if he were her husband(?)

Speaking of home births I wonder if any of you remember or had a baby delivered by the wonderful midwives from Myddleton Square, Finsbury, especially Sister Bartle & Nurse Campbell, they were 'on the District' as we called it from the early 30's up until my son was born in 1958. They were attached to St.Batholomews Hospital and were also assisted by nurses doing their midwifery training at Barts. Two wonderful ladies who were well known in the area who with their assistants did a wonderful job.

Christine - What was your g-grandfather's dob? Have you found him in 1891, or his mum, if she was still pregnant? If not, what was their/her name(s)? Merry

his date of birth was third december 1891. i found her in the 1891 census but not robert. ive been trying to find her birth record but cant seem to find her (born 1855 in upwey) im assuming she was pregnant at the time of the census