Illegitemate child born 1894

[Yorkshire Rose]

My Grandfather was born in Leeds Union Infirmary (Workhouse)  illegitimately in 1894. There is no father's name on his birth certificate, but on his bastardy record it name's a Punitive Father. Does anyone know what a Punitive Father is and could this be his real father.

[Tati]

Hi Voltor,

Could it be putative (=alleged) instead? 

[Maggott]

Sure it's not putative father -ie thought to be the father?
Maggott

[Yorkshire Rose]

Yes that's correct. I never was any good at spelling. Why would his name be on a bastardy record and not his birth certificate though

[aghadowey]

It was probably very easy to register an illegitimate child but the Workhouse would have wanted to know the father's name in connection with support of the child. The name in the Workhouse records is probably the name that the mother provided to the authorities there.

[Yorkshire Rose]

Thanks very much for that.

[DJH]

Putative is the word normally used. There is also a strong posibility that the child was Christened as the Union Workhouses tended to insist. This would take place at a local church or a church where the mother lived. You could try this for confirmation of the father's name.

[DJH]

The fathers name would be written on the bastardy record as the Parish was responsible for paying towards the Union Workhouse costs and they liked to be able to claim this back from the father where possible.

[Yorkshire Rose]

He was baptised but there is no mention of his fathers name. Do you think I should assume that the name on his Bastardy record in his father??