Genealogy Chat

Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

Welcome to the Genes Reunited community boards!

  • The Genes Reunited community is made up of millions of people with similar interests. Discover your family history and make life long friends along the way.
  • You will find a close knit but welcoming group of keen genealogists all prepared to offer advice and help to new members.
  • And it's not all serious business. The boards are often a place to relax and be entertained by all kinds of subjects.
  • The Genes community will go out of their way to help you, so don’t be shy about asking for help.

Boards

Quick Search

Single word search

Tools

Findmypast DNA Banner

Icons

  • New posts
  • No new posts
  • Thread closed
  • Stickied, new posts
  • Stickied, no new posts

Stepfather named on Marriage Certificate?

Login to Add Reply Watch This
ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Living

Living Report 18 Apr 2005 11:33

Hi, wonder if this has happened to anyone else? My ancestor, William Wrightson married in 1841 in Great Amwell in Herts. Under father, there is a James Staples listed! After much hunting, I found a marriage reference for Ann Wrightson and James Staples in the right area, 12 years after his birth, so presume that his father died and Ann remarried? This is confirmed later on in the census records where James Staples is living with William's sister. However, I am intrigued why the father is not named on the marriage certificate? Any thoughts? Best wishes.

Sam

Sam Report 18 Apr 2005 11:39

Perhaps he was illegitimate and didn't know his real father. I had one who was illegitimate with no father named on marriage or birth certifictae. On 1 census he was a Bradshaw, the next two his mother had married so he took his stepfather's surname and became Frost and then he married as Bradshaw! Sam

Guinevere

Guinevere Report 18 Apr 2005 11:56

Hi, It was common for illegitimate children to put the step father's name on the marriage cert. I've also seen the grandfather's name as well. Gwynne

Researching:
Lowestoft and North Suffolk, Monmouthshire, Breconshire, Somerset

An Olde Crone

An Olde Crone Report 18 Apr 2005 18:39

Are you quite sure James Staples wasn't his real father? Marjorie