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Author Topic: All illegitimate ??  (Read 726 times)
bjo
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 469
All illegitimate ??
« on: Thursday 22 June 06 21:30 UTC (UK) »
Hi Folks,
My research has come to a halt in Suffolk.
I have no idea how (or if) I can track down a Father for the following children.  I am presuming that the children are in fact siblings. The descendants have a few different spellings on the surname.
It is extremely unusual for a woman to have this number of illegitimate children and it suggests that she was probably in some form of stable relationship but not legally married. To support this, there is no indication that she was on Parish relief. Who was the man concerned and why they did not marry remains a mystery at present. It could be that the man was already married or that their relationship contravened the kindred of affinity table established by the Church.


Bedfield where my family seems to derive from a series of illegitimate children born to Elizabeth from 1788 onwards.
These were detailed as
Elijah (base) born son of Elizabeth Horsley  baptised 30th August 1778
Sarah daughter (base) of Elizabeth Hostler baptised 4th February 1781
Robert son (base) of Elizabeth Hostler baptised 4th December 1782
Mary daughter of Elizabeth Ostler base born baptised 13th March 1785
Jeremiah son of Elizabeth Ostler base born 20th April 1788
Joseph son of Elizabeth Ostler base born was born 26th January 1790 and publicly baptised 14th February 1790
Samuel son of Elizabeth Ostly base born was privately baptised 25th December 1791
Charles son of Elizabeth Orstly base born public baptism 4th August 1793
Elizabeth Orsly base born privately baptised 25th February 1798

Any help very much appreciated.

Brenda (Orsler)
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indiapaleale
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1401



WWW
Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 22 June 06 22:07 UTC (UK) »
Hi Brenda,
While it is unusual to have so many illegitimate children it is not totally unheard of. In my husband's tree, he has a female rellie who had 7 illegitimate children. Sometimes these children were born in the workhouse and sometimes not and it would seem that the mother may have been what they called "A lady of the Night."
Have you looked for bastardy orders?
I'm afraid you may have to just accept the fact that no father can be found....sad.
Indi
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bjo
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 469
Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 22 June 06 23:03 UTC (UK) »
Thanks for the suggestions Indi,
As my Elizabeth was not claiming any sort of Parish relief I doubt if there were any bastardy notices. as prior to 1834 any money received from an absent Father would have gone to the Parish and not to the Mother.
The 'lady of the night' sounds an interesting scenario though !!
I think that as some of the childrens baptisms were 'private' suggests that the workhouse was not involved.
So as you say not a big chance of finding the Father unfortunately.
Brenda
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indiapaleale
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1401



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Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 22 June 06 23:24 UTC (UK) »
Brenda,
A private baptism was usually done when the child was not expected to survive....very sad. I think the vicar came and did the honors wherever the child happened to be..so it could have been in a private home..a workhouse...wherever.
Have you found any burial records for any of the children,
Best Wishes
Indi
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bjo
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 469
Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #4 on: Friday 23 June 06 19:10 UTC (UK) »
Hi Indi,
Of the two children that were 'privately baptised' Elizabeth baptised privately 1798 did live to marry and nothing is known of Samuel who was the other child privately baptised on 25th Dec 1791.
I have heard of cases where the vicar came out to the home where the family had
some influence.  I think this unlikely.  The baptism of Samuel on Xmas Day sounds as if it may have been an emergency in case he died.   
I think that the search goes on !!
Thanks for your input.
Brenda
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Josephine
RootsChat Aristocrat
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Posts: 1292
Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 10 September 06 15:53 UTC (UK) »
Brenda,

My suggestions would be to:

-  Find the marriage records for these children, if possible, to see who was listed as their father and see if any of the names match up.

-  Track the children forward in the census to see if any "father" is listed with any of them in any year.

-  Find burial records for any children who died young, if possible, then contact the cemeteries (or whoever is in charge now) to find out if there is any information available (just in case the father was involved with the family and might have paid for a cemetery plot).

-  Get the mother's death / burial records, if available, to see if they offer any clues.

-  See if any of the males in the family have a recurring given name and search for a man about the right age with that name, just in case.  If you find one (or more), see what you can learn about him.  This is totally a long-shot kind of search but who knows?

-  If any of the sons served in the military, would the forms list the father's name?


Good luck!
Josephine
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bjo
RootsChat Senior
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Posts: 469
Re: All illegitimate ??
« Reply #6 on: Monday 18 September 06 21:29 UTC (UK) »
Thank you Josephine,
I shall certainly try some of the very useful tips you have provided
Regards
Brenda
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