Ellingfords of Bocking, Essex

[Viery]

Mike, thanks for looking at this for me.

Its difficult, since I would  like to say with certainty that John Saward is my ancestor. But do I have enough evidence? I would like to say yes and then carry on looking at his line, but at the moment I feel stuck and don't know which way to take my research. Thanks again, Susanne

[essexpoet]

Susanne,

I do not think you can ever be 100% certain as baptism records of base born children very rarely give the name of the father - I have seen the odd instance where a note has been added to the Parish Register by the clerk along the lines of " purported father ......".
The facts you know are that John and Sarah were living in the same house in 1841 ; they married shortly after Harriet's birth in 1847 - I would say that is 99.9% conclusive.

We do not know why they did not marry earlier - it could be the same reasons why some people  do not marry or put off marrying today. 

Mike

[Viery]

Mike very many thanks for your help and clarification - I will keep my Saward line going. Susanne

[essexpoet]

Susanne,

I have found a bit more circumstantial evidence for you -

25/12/1860 marriage at St Mary Bocking between William Smith and Eliza Ellingford (one of Harriet's elder sisters )- father's name of Eliza is given as John Saward labourer

I think that 99.9% now becomes 99.99%

Mike

[rosie99]

I think that 99.9% now becomes 99.99%

Whilst I agree that it is possible that John Saward is the father of the first lot of children what would cause doubt in my mind is why were these children baptised after the marriage but he was not mentioned.

Rosie

[essexpoet]

Quote from Rosie "Whilst I agree that it is possible that John Saward is the father of the first lot of children what would cause doubt in my mind is why were these children baptised after the marriage but he was not mentioned."

Again we will never know but I guess that the Church is recording events to the letter of the law and with the younger children having a different name to those born after the marriage it may have been the "right" way to record it.

Sometimes you need to look at logic over the precise method of recording.

Mike

Mike

[rosie99]

I have a similar example in my own tree and the children were baptised after the marriage and the fathers name was included. 

We will never know unless of course there are bastardy orders or similar or as previously suggested notes in the register.  If it was my family I would be following John Sawards line and just noting that relationship had not been proved. 

[Viery]

A 'Thank You' to everyone that has looked into this for me. Susanne