Hi I have just obtained a birth certificate for a Catherine POWELL born St. Weonards May 28th1842 father Peter PREECE(although her surname was registered as POWELL),living at Penrose. Her mother was Elizabeth POWELL.The registration district was Ross sub-district Saint Weonards(Hereford) Could someone answer the following questions? 1.Why might the child have been registered in her mother`s name and not her father`s. He was the informant so must have been around after the birth? 2.Does anyone know anything further about this family? 3Could someone please look up the 1851 census for the district for a catherine POWELL(or PREECE)aged about 9 father Peter mother Elizabeth thank you Sylvia _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with cool new emoticons http://www.msn.co.uk/specials/myemo

Hi Sylvia There could be several reasons, but the most likely is that the father and mother were not married. Since the father appears to acknowledge the child, it is possible they were not in a position to get married (one already married, etc.). In those days the child had to carry the mother's name if the parents were not married, nowadays it can optionally be registered in the father's name provided *both* parents agree to this, but the default is still the mother's name. David in Hertford, England ----- Original Message ----- From: "sylvia morgan" <sylviamorgan213@hotmail.com> To: <ENG-GLOS-FOREST-DEAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:43 AM Subject: [FoD] Catherine POWELL > Hi I have just obtained a birth certificate for a Catherine POWELL born St. > Weonards May 28th1842 father Peter PREECE(although her surname was > registered as POWELL),living at Penrose. Her mother was Elizabeth > POWELL.The registration district was Ross sub-district Saint > Weonards(Hereford) > > Could someone answer the following questions? > 1.Why might the child have been registered in her mother`s name and not her > father`s. He was the informant so must have been around after the birth? > 2.Does anyone know anything further about this family? > 3Could someone please look up the 1851 census for the district for a > catherine POWELL(or PREECE)aged about 9 father Peter mother Elizabeth > > thank you Sylvia