Genealogy Chat

I would be grateful for any tips on this. All I know is that he was in the area of Plymouth when my mother was in the Wrens around 1946 and could be called John my mother was Deidre Betty Ellis Jenny Abbott As my new message shows I FOUND HIM! sINCE THE fREEDOM OF iNFORMATION aCT i WAS ABLE TO GET HOLD OF MY aDOPTION fILE AND MY MOTHER HAD WRITTEN MANY OF THE DETAILS IN THERE!

Hi Jacky, I have the same problem with one of my great grandmothers. Her mother was Ann Pearson and she was named Phoebe Page Pearson but there was no father's name on her certificate. I think maybe there is a clue in Page and may find a Page living nearby but that would not be enough evidence to risk hanging a family tree from. I might suggest we look at possible court paternity proceedings at the appropriate period?

The middle names usually do give a clue to the fathers name. my g grandmother was born 1897, her middle name was Dewick on her birth certificate, and there was no fathers name. lo and behold in 1901 the Dewick family were living next door!! but as there were 4 sons, it didn't really help as to which was her father. then in 1920 on her marriage certificate her father was named as one of these brothers......... but she had always claimed she didn't know who her father was. so don't let it get to you, the clues are there, you just have to fit the puzzle together. good luck Jane

Hi Jane I read your story with interest as I have a g grandmother born illegitimate no father mentioned etc, Her middle name was Ethel and Ive no idea where it or her first name of Daisy came from. It made me chuckle though to think of a father called Ethel! Oh the silliness of it all. Regards all Penny

My gran was born illegitimately too ,her middle name was louise lol.As she was born in the workhouse,i dont think i will ever find out her fathers identity. I have a couple of leads but I dont seem to be getting anywhere! We think her mum married later,to a man much older than herself but I dont know if this man was my nans father. I cant seem to find anyone else with the same name though!

My grandad was illegitimate and his middle name was Stevenson, which was probably his fathers name. He had no fathers name on his marriage or birth certificate, but I have found out that he had a brother, who was 2 years older, and had the same middle name. I will send for his birth certificate with my fingers crossed! Maggy, West Yorkshire

There was no father on my g grandmothers birth certificate, her name was Mary Esther McGuire Drinkwater. Her grand-mother actually signed her birth certificate has being her mother but i know this was not true. I always suspected that my great grandmothers father was called McGuire. With this happening quite alot at that time I do now believe that it was a very strong possibility. Roseanne

hi,jackie. jim's case is the same as mine.my great grandfather was illegitimate.his middle name was fancy and i found out that was his father's surname.however if there are no clues like that i think it must be very difficult. yvonne

Hello all. There is a very good article on this theme in the November edition of Family Tree Magazine, an object lesson in what can be done in a case like these. Keith May