Jacquie,   You exactly described the feeling I had when I discovered these facts. I can only imagine the embarrassment of going to announce 4 illegitimate children over a 5 year period. It is this thinking that brings about the question of why this arrangement existed. I also feel your sentiment regarding not knowing the name of the father. As I said before the eventual husband in this relationship was also illegitimate. His father's name was never mentioned, the mother never married and he was an only child.  Therefore, as far as my research goes, I will never know anything more about that line. However, you did give me an idea in looking through the death records for any possible mentions or links. Manfred, I have also thought about the possibility of the reason having to do with lack of money. I read in "Our Daily Bread" that couples often didn't marry right away due to the lack of money for a home. Having had so many children in the interm leads me to believe this was not the reason. Even so, it may still have been for monetary reasons. I would love to to see their living arrangements in the Census. That could provide clues as to what was going on at the time. Thank You Steve  ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sun, July 17, 2011 10:59:30 AM Subject: Re: [A-L] Illegitimate births? Stephan,  it may also have had to do with money.  My researcher Rinehart Hofer from Bavaria told me that if you didn't have a certain amount of money back in the 1800's you couldn't get married.  So, a lot of people were born out of wedlock.  Manfred Russell.