Genealogy Chat

My gg grandmother, Catherine MITCHELL, never married and yet she had 5 children all in the same area and all without fathers being named on their baptismal records (I don't think she registered their births either, cos I can't find them). This was in county Fermanagh, N Ireland. At least three of the children were baptised in Irvinestown in 1885, 1887 and 1890. She's not living with any males (apart from her one son) on the 1901 and the 1911. On Catherine's (her daughter, my g grandmother) marriage entry she does not give the name of her father. Is it possible that these children, Sarah, Annie, Alice, Catherine and Frederick all had the same father? Is there any way of find out who he was? Any suggestions on where to look? Pleeeease!

Did she have an occupation?

Yes, sorry I forogt it. Housekeeper.

Often women who were registered on census returns as charwoman etc were actually prostitutes, I hope this doesnt offend, there are some threads about it have a look, obviously not all of them were prostitutes.

I don't think you'll offend anyone Ciara..Not judging by the title of this thread. Were all the children Mitchell's too. Sam

Without DNA I don't see how you will find out who these children were fathered by. I suppose you could try the relevant records office to see if there were any records relating to maintenance for them, but as she worked as a housekeeper its unlikely. Was she employed in a big house - could one of the male employers be the father? nell

Sorry about the title. I thought it would catch people's eyes! Obviously she was sleeping with somebody, they're not miraculous conceptions! Yes they were all born Mitchell too, so no hints there either.

Irvinestown is a tiny place do you know where she worked?

might be that her employer was the childrens dad :~) George

She wasn't employed in a big house. I've seen where she lived and it was just a small house, surely if she was a housekeeper of a big house, she'd live there. Her house is now a pub, interestingly enough. If only my g grandmother spoke about things like that (she died in 1975). But I suppose it just wasn't talked about then. Thanks for the suggestions. Why might there not be any maintenance records if she was a housekeeper?? Curious...

Do you know anyone living in the area? someone may have heard the story or know something about it. Her situation was probably unusual so some one may remember?

I don't know where she worked. I know that she lived in Church Street in 1901 and 1911 which is right in the centre of Irvinestown.

No Ciara, all of the family either emigrated to America or were like my grandfather and moved to England. I've asked the relatives over in the states and they didn't even know that their grandparents etc were illegitimate! There is one man that we're still in contact with but he only knew my g grandmother and I don't think his mother would have told him stories if there were any. Is this making sense?

Guess were some of my family live?

Chloe I only meant that if she was working to earn her living, she obviously wasn't getting much in the way of maintenance, though clearly she wasn't going without in other ways!!! nell

Hi You could try and get hold of a copy of My Ancestor Was A Bastard by Ruth Paley( cost about £6 or see if your local library can get hold of a copy). If gives you tips and sources you can try to find out the childs paternity. Good luck with your search Julie

I have family living in Irvinestown and they have lived there forever, I can ask if you like?

Thanks Julie. Will ask about the book on Monday. And Nell, I know you weren't being horrible.... too true, at least she had her fun while she could!! LOL. I tell my mum that she was the 'town bicycle', but she doesn't like my saying that! She likes to think that she had a common law marriage, well it that was the case, why didn't the bloke write his name down as the father on the baptism records? Chloe

Chloe I assume like today if you are not married then you can not put the childs father on the birth cert without them present. Maybe she went to regiester them without him present. Julie

She didn't register any of them! I've looked, their not there. On the baptism record, that's all I've seen, and surely you can say who the father is on a baptism record? Chloe