One of my ancestors also had no father listed and yes, one thinks maybe he had died etc, etc so there is always some doubt. I was lucky to find a newspaper article “a singular affiliation case” where the mother had taken the father to the Petty Sessions to claim modern day maintenance. They first met when he came selling bibles and also promised her marriage. Quite a long story but the outcome was he had to pay 2s a week maintenance and court costs, this was in 1867, Glossop. My conclusions: 1. No father listed - most likely illegitimate 2. A promise of marriage perhaps did consent to intimate relationships 3. Although illegitimate the father may well be known, as in my case, I now know who the father was It has taken me a number of years to finally unravel this part of my family tree so to all those seeking an answer to their illegitimate ancestor - keep trying. New information if being added all the time. > On 05 Jun 2017, at 12:57 AM, Jennifer via DERBYSGEN <[email protected]> wrote: > > I have in my family where no father was listed on birth or his marriage certificate, his mother was married at the time of his birth He had her married name but no maiden name given on the birth certificate. Took a while to sort out who the mother really was > On the 1891 census he was living with a lady who said he was her grandson, but I have been unable to find a connection. However on the 1901 census he was living with the > sister of his mother. > I have come to the conclusion that I will never know his real father > Jen NSW > > > >> On 4 Jun 2017, at 10:30 PM, Nivard Ovington via DERBYSGEN <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Like you I have poured over many a parish register, and have seen all varieties from the whimsical to the downright vicious comments in the margin >> >> But when the father is known, and they are a couple I would say most mention that father, sometimes in both names, others as though they were married already >> >> But when the father isn't mentioned at all it suggests to me illegitimacy >> >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message