Genealogy Chat

Sorry Linda I got cut off and had to reboot. I think Suzanne has the right idea, perhaps Mary was illegitmate, mum married and Mary is on the census with stepfathers surname? I must go now but I'll check back tomorrow to see if you've made any progress. Good luck, Heather

If you buy the cert and there is no father at least you will have the mother and a checking point in itself would be the absence of a father on the cert. Suzanne

thanks all, Will just order the cert and hopefully mother will match one of the family Linda x

Hi Linda Although it is more usual that the lack of a father on the marriage certificate indicates illegitimacy, it is not a certainty. I have a marriage cert for my husband's g grandparents in 1865 where there is a line through the space for the name of the wife's father. But we know she was not illegitimate and that she was brought up by her parents. However, her parent's both died when she was 15, some 7 years before she married, and after that she lived with her maternal uncle. I suspect it depends on how the clergyman phrases the question. Clergyman: 'Now dear, I see you are being given away by your mother's brother. Do you not have a father?' Bride (somewhat overawed by the occasion): 'No' Et voila - no father named on marriage certificate. Tina

Thanks Tina, if only they got married a bit closer to census date! I've tried looking for the witnesses to their marriage but of course with being SMITH! not much chance Linda x