Any ideas on this one?

[Loretogirl47]

I have a copy of the birth cert of Selina Taylor born 24 Nov 1850, she is a sister to my 3x great grandmother.  Only Sarah Taylor, Selinas mother is named on the cert.   No father named on the certificate, would we assume that father is deceased prior to the birth, I have another certificate and the father is named and deceased is in brackets.  Sarah was married to John Taylor in 1830 in Middleton, Lancashire.  Any ideas!!!!

[Manchester Rambler]

Usually, no father's name on the birth cert means the child is illegitimate, although I'm sure there are exceptions!  For a posthumous child, the cert usually gives the parents as something like "Fred Smith (deceased)" and "Mary Smith, formerly Jones" like the other case you mention.

Rambler

[Gaie]

Well, it seemed easier to look at the census for 1851 than the death of a John Taylor....

HO107 2242 583 18
Rochdale Road, Middleton, Lancashire
Sarah TAYLOR Head Widow 39 Innkeeper, b Gt Leaven, Lancs
Elizabeth Dau 20 House Servant b Hopwood Lancs
James Son 18 Warper of Silk
Fanny Dau 16 Winder of Silk
Alice Dau 13 Scholar
Sarah Dau 12 Scholar
Mary Dau 7 Scholar
Selina Dau 4mths
All the children born Hopwood

So Sarah calls herself a widow in this census.

Kind regards
Gaie

[Loretogirl47]

Yes, I find it odd, as the gap between Selina and the other children is quite large.  Hmm.  I wonder when John died!!!!

[Loretogirl47]

Does anyone have access to the 1841 census were they inn -keepers on it. 

[Gaie]

From FreeBMD:

Deaths, Both Oldham
Mar Qtr 1850 Vol 20 516 John Taylor
Jun Qtr 1850 Vol 20 544 John Lees Taylor

Gaie

Added:  Looked between 1841-1849 in Oldham, 7 deaths 1848, 5 deaths 1849.

[Gaie]

Have I got the right family in the 1851?  I can't find a Sarah with a John!

There's this one:
Modified 1841HO107 547 15 18 30
? Henshaw St, Oldham below town
James Taylor 30 Cot? Lab
Sarah 29
Mary 8
James 7
Alice 2
Joseph 27 Cot? Lab
All born county.
Some of the children fit.....

Gaie

[Loretogirl47]

Don't think this is the right family, not sure, as you say some of the children would fit but wheres Fanny, shes my 3x great grandmother.  Pretty sure fathers name is John.

[Loretogirl47]

This gets more curious as I delve deeper.  Whos Joseph and where are Elizabeth and Fanny.