Genealogy Chat

Anyone have tips how to find a father not on a birth certificate Marjorie

Not really... Check the marriage certificate or christening, otherwise it's a dead end, my friend!

You could check the baptism in parish records - some vicars pushed the mother to name the father. You could check at the record office for the area to see if there was a bastardy order made against the father. If neither of these come up with a name, then I'm afraid you have probably come to a dead end with this branch. I think an aweful lot of us come up against this in our trees. My grandmother was illegitimate so cant go back on her father's side. Kath. x

I've been told sometimes a middle name could be an unknown fathers surname. I'm hoping this could be correct for my grandfather. He is called John Holmes Boyd.

I would check that persons marriage cert. I have several relations with no fathers name on the birth cert but one appears on the marriage cert!! Marilyn

Hi , Very little chance,,,,or none at all,but>>> Depends on what time we are talking of,they may have been an order made against him for upkeep of the child,,,,records could be held at Kew--Now National Archives,,,,try a search on their site,,,,or there may have been a Bastardy Bond made which then that local RO or Archive may have info....where the birth took place,,,but usually its a needle in a haystack;;;belive there may be 100year closure???? kay.

Marilyn, I would be wary of any father's name on a marriage certificate if there isn't one on the birth certificate. People often named a step-father as father on marriage certificates, or just made up a name if they didn't want the 'in-laws' to know they were illegitimate. Kath. x