Iain wrote: > I am interested in a James Harrold born 6th Feb 1873. On his birth > certificate his mother is listed as Mary Ann Harrold. Would it be > unusual for a illegitimate child to take his mothers surname? No. That was the normal convention. If his father's identity was proved, then the child would generally take the father's surname - although that sometimes happened even when the father's identity was only supposed. > In the margin of the birth certificate is something like "Paternity > of child found by dea of court see reg of ? vol I.P 164 August 4th > 1873" That will be: "by dec. [=decree] of Court. See Reg. of Corr. Entries [= Register of Corrected Entries]". In other words, the mother went to the court, which ruled that XY was the father. I can't remember the procedure for consulting the "Reg. of Corr. Entries", but I'm sure some other Lister will keep you right. Gavin Bell