Hi List Wrong answers in official documents seem to me to fall into three classes: 1: Really not knowing the right answer, and guessing - wrongly. 2: Deliberate deception, for a variety of reasons. 3: My favourite, the inadvertent error or cock-up theory. May result from mishearing or misunderstanding the question. "Is your father no longer with us?" may seem a perfectly clear question to the euphemistic official, but not to the addressee whose father left the family home some years ago. Cheers, Dave Jacobs ================ At 23:36 25/08/2005, you wrote: >Hi Alan, >Not come across this before, but you are the 2nd person on the list who >has this in their family tree. Could the reason be family >estrangement? Perhaps a long separation and the bride or groom believing >they must be dead? I can't think of any other reason, can you? >Sandra > >Alan McGowan wrote: > >>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>From: "Sandra J Smith" <sandra.s@ntlworld.com> >>>> >> >> >> >>>>The father was only entered as deceased if the parties concerned were >>>> >>asked the question. If they werent asked then if the father was >>deceased would not be shown as such. The only thing you can be certain >>of is that if it states deceased then he should be dead. >> >> >> >>****** >>Not that certain. When my great-grandfather Robert McGowan married in >>Edinburgh in 1896, the entry stated that his father was deceased. His >>father was not deceased; he died in 1903. >> >>Alan McGowan >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>============================== >>View and search Historical Newspapers. Read about your ancestors, find >>marriage announcements and more. Learn more: >>http://www.ancestry.com/s13969/rd.ashx >> >> >> >> > > >============================== >Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the >last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > " Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it. -Mark Twain, author and humorist (1835-1910) Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit. -George Santayana, philosopher (1863-1952)

I think this probably more common than we realise. My parents married in 1932 and my father stated his father was dead. Infact my mother thought both his parents were dead. It wasn't until about six years ago when I started doing my family history I discovered his father hadn't died until 1959 - his mother left her husband and kids in 1918, no one knows what happened to her. Dad left behind his father and siblings in 1922 and never saw them again. So ten years later I guess it was just easier to say they were both deceased. Dad died in 1988 and mum never did know the truth until I found it some ten years later. Rather sad, but as you said estrangement, embarrassment etc. can make people say things that aren't necessarily true. On a happier note I was able to find and meet dad's sister who at that time was still alive, and I've met various cousins for the first time. All who were amazed at my existence! Linda At 23:36 25/08/2005, you wrote: >Hi Alan, >Not come across this before, but you are the 2nd person on the list who >has this in their family tree. Could the reason be family >estrangement?