If only the mother is on baptism record, is the child illegitimate?

[Lambendsor (aka IGS)]

If only the mother is listed on the baptism record in a parish register, is the child NECESSARILY illegitimate? Or is there an alternative explanation that I'm unaware of?

I've always assumed that even if the mother HAD been married and the father had died between the conception and birth of the child, that the parish register entry would still give the name of the father, but modified with a "deceased" or the like.

I have such a record from Tamworth, Staffordshire, in 1796, but there is no marginalia stating "illegitimate" or "bastard" - just "James son of Elizabeth Endsor".

[MarieC]

IGS

I'm pretty sure that the father would always be named if he were known.  (Just thinking back on all the microfilms of parish records I've trawled through!)

Have you tried looking for a marriage of a man called ? Endsor and a woman called Elizabeth ?   Won't prove anything definite, I know, but if there was such a marriage, you might find it.

Have you searched for Elizabeth on the IGI?

MarieC

[Justanothersmith]

Hi

I've had a similar problem with a family by the name of Wade in Hipswell Yorkshire: 5 children all linked to a mother only. Still haven't found out the truth.

Doug

[loo]

I don't know about England, but German records do specify when the child was illegitimate, and, if the father is know, his identity is also stated;  if his identity is not certain, they still put it down and then say that so-and-so was said to be the father.

[meles]

In all the parish records I have trawled through, either they have the father's name or "base born", "illigitimate" or some such. I have not come across one with no father.

meles

[Lambendsor (aka IGS)]

Unfortunately, I only have a photocopy of part of the parish register page, so I haven't seen if there were any other baptisms with only the mothers listed. I guess I ought to get the Tamworth PR films and start trawling and comparing.

[meles]

I think you'd find that very helpful. If there are other blanks, and no references to "illegitimate", etc, I think you could make a reasonable assumption.

meles

[Guy Etchells]

First question to ask is - "Was Elizabeth Endsor a resident of the parish or not?"
If she was a resident then the parish register would normally show the father's name, if not then often the father's name would not be mentioned.
Cheers
Guy

[Comosus]

I don't know about parish records but on the IGI it could be that the father is away somewhere, or he could have died while his wife was pregnant.

Andrew