>> ----- 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

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 > > > > >

Robert's mother had three illegitimate children by three different fathers. She then married a Presbyterian Missionary! It is possible that Robert never knew his father. He may have been told that he was dead. Alan McGowan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sandra J Smith" <sandra.s@ntlworld.com> 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: > 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