how do I find a father of a child born in a workhouse

[innerspark]

Hi,

I am researching a man called Stephen Rose, he was born in Chippenham union workhouse in 1871. He appears on the 1871 Census as an inmate alongside his mother (Caroline) and sister (Rosa).

In the 1891 census he is living with Caroline (his mother) and her husband - Holland Hayward.

How do I find out who is father is? Is it best to order a birth certificate? and would that have the father's name on?

Thank you

[avm228]

Birth reg is Mar qtr 1871 Chippenham as Stephen Henry Rose, no separate mother’s maiden name, which implies a birth out of wedlock and no father recorded (the birth is not alternatively indexed under another surname) - sorry.

[avm228]

They are enumerated as Kite in 1881 - Caroline R 37, Rosena M 13 and Stephen Hy Kite 10, in the household of a widowed Eleanor Kite in Bath.

Eleanor was nee Rose and it looks like she and Caroline were sisters - both daughters of Robert snd Sarah Rose of Corsham.  The “Kite” ditto for Caroline and her children is likely to be an error in the 1881 census.

[avm228]

Caroline’s daughter was registered as Rosina Maria Rose, Dec qtr 1868 Bath.

[rosie99]

Sorry, not what you were after

Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette 24 March 1870
Corsham Petty Sessions
...& Mary Rose, inmates of Chippenham workhouse were summoned by the master for disobedience & refusing to work... Rose was committed for 10 days

Have you tried to see if Bastardy records exist 

[Thornwood]

I found a father of an illegitimate child by finding the baptism record. He was not recorded on the child's birth certificate but the vicar had obviously insisted on a father's name so that the parish would not become responsible for the child if anything happened to the mother.

[innerspark]

Thank you for your suggestions.

I just saw the 1881 Census - yes, I imagine that the 'Kite' surname is an error. I will look up Rosina Maria Rose.

I don't think he was baptised, so I can't check that one out! It's a bit sad not knowing who his father is, but at least I am a bit clearer on his mother's side.