Hello, Approximately two weeks ago some very helpful soul gave me a GRO Ref for Frederick MORTON. I sent for the certificate which arrived yesterday. The birth certificate shows only his mother's name - SELINA MORTON. He was born on 27th June 1843 at Four Lane Ends. As there is no father named am I right to assume it was an unplanned pregnancy,that Selina was probably young and in service with a family. The baby's father was probably the head of household!It is possible that Selina died young,although may have been too young to look after a child. Fred was living with his Grandmother Mary Morton aged 65yrs in 1851 still at Four Lane Ends. She is listed as a pauper widow and was born, I think in Hemsworth.Would the 1841 census be of any use to try and find her husband? I would like to extend a big thankyou to Angela Lee (Eckington) for her help, I just realised I saved the message. Lesley

Hi Lesley, First let me say that it is always wise to put on your messages where you are as it helps such as myself steer you in the right direction so you can do some of the legwork..... The GRO indexes are available for you to search at most major Libraries and Archives in England. They are also on line where you can search for a fee. If you live overseas the LDS will have them or if NOT will order them in for you........ >> The birth certificate shows only his mother's name - SELINA MORTON. He was born on 27th June 1843 at Four Lane Ends. As there is no father named am I right to assume it was an unplanned pregnancy,that Selina was probably young and in service with a family. The baby's father was probably the head of household!It is possible that Selina died young,although may have been too young to look after a child. Fred was living with his Grandmother Mary Morton aged 65yrs in 1851 still at Four Lane Ends. She is listed as a pauper widow and was born, I think in Hemsworth.Would the 1841 census be of any use to try and find her husband?<< The 1841 census index is on line have you tried looking for Selina????? http://www.sheff-indexers.thewholeshebang.org/1841census/ I think your leap that the head of the household was the father of her child is a bit of stretch but you can at least see where she was in 1841. Regards. Elaine in Ottawa. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.3 - Release Date: 5/3/2005