I think what I can take from this discussion is that sometimes the death certificates of unmarried woman did record who their father was and his rank or occupation and this would not be an unusual or questionable thing to happen. However it would be subject to how the Registrar proceeded in carrying out his duties and how much the informant knew or was willing to impart.
I had hoped there might have been a few more examples that I could cite to strengthen my case that there was nothing unusual about the certificate in question though, as I stated in my first post, spinster's certificates are not what most people spend their money on. I obtained this particular certificate because of the questions raised by other researchers and the fact that this spinster did have children and her parentage has not been satisfactorily established.
The certificate from the 1950s was in bundle of family papers that I was given.
If anyone has seen examples of such death certificates for an unmarried woman I would be grateful if they contacted me by PM.
Many thanks.
Venelow
Canada
I have checked the many death certificates of females I have but still cannot answer your question. They certs I have are either for a wife or widow or for a minor.
In the case of the wife or widow the husband's name and often his occupation is shown and for minors the father's name and occupation is shown.
It is not too much of a leap to think the father's name & occupation would be shown on death certificates of females until they married but I cannot confirm that.
Cheers
Guy
Update, I received two DCs I applied for on the 16th July delivered today (1 day early).
One for a 88 year old in 1931 states-
Spinster of Independent Means daughter of William Guy of Independent Means (deceased)
The second for a 82 year old in 1913 states simply-
Spinster of Independent Means.
The only conclusion I can draw is it depended on the Registrar &/or informant what was written
Cheers
Guy
