Establish my father's father

[Ceedeem]

Through a DNA search I can trace my family on my mother's side and that of my father's mother. However, I cannot find who my father's father was as he was not recorded on his birth certificate and he took his mothers surname. I have found my father was a Border in  the 1911 census at  the age of 4  in the home of another family with a different name .  Is there any way I can find out how Borders were housed in a family; how adoption was managed in the early 1900's and  if local records would show more substantial information about Borders?  The area is Surrey.

[PaulineJ]

There was no formal adoption until late 1920s (1927?).

Theres no Avenue that way, unfortunately.

[CaroleW]

Welcome to Rootschat

In the absence of a fathers name on his birth cert you have no starting point.

Sometimes an illegitimate child did know who their father was and were in contact.  If your grandfather named a father on his marriage cert with a different surname to his own then you have your answer.  If he named a father with the same surname - then he made him up to appear “respectable” .  Be aware that he may have used a relatives name or his stepfathers name if his mother later married

However - it’s not a common occurrence so buying a copy of his marriage cert may be a waste of money

[Ceedeem]

Thank you.  I thought as much and will now further inspect  what documentation I have. I am still interested to discover the classification  of Border, and if any records exist for illegitimate children in the 1900's and what became of them.

[cath151]

Hi,
Welcome to Rootschat.
Is he with his mother in 1911?
The family he is with might (or might not be ) extended family of his mother, even though he is classed as a boarder, that might be worth investigating.Of course it could just be a neighbour , friend or new adoptive family.


Cathy

[brigidmac]

His mother may have obtained an affiliation order to obtain payments
From the father .

Have you triangulated or colour coded your highest DNA matches ? You need to look for matches which don't match your mother's family paternal grandmother
And see if any names come up as 2nd or 3rd cousins which could actually beyourhalf cousins or half second cousins look to find thei mutual grandparents of these shared matches. ...and youmat at least get a family name /region
It may be worth checking ethnicity too .

[CaroleW]

I am still interested to discover the classification  of Border,

I think you mean Boarder - another term is Lodger.  It's possible his mother had to work so was unable to care for him.  She may have been making a contribution towards his keep. 

Prior to 1927 - people made informal arrangements with friends/relatives/neighbours to care for children

In 1911 in Surrey there were 66 x 4yr old males classified as boarders

[brigidmac]

Boarder does imply payment food and lodgings
When family members were taken in they were often listed as neice nephew grandchild ..relation

Visitor if the stay was temporary

Do you want to give names so we can help you look ?

[PVMLaneFox]

Have you triangulated or colour coded your highest DNA matches ? You need to look for matches which don't match your mother's family paternal grandmother
And see if any names come up as 2nd or 3rd cousins which could actually beyourhalf cousins or half second cousins look to find thei mutual grandparents of these shared matches. ...and youmat at least get a family name /region
It may be worth checking ethnicity too .

Hi Ceedeem,

I think Brigidmac is on the money here. Of course your father being a boarder at that early age may be a clue, and is very important genealogical information, but may also be a red herring. If you are searching for your biological roots, DNA is definitely the answer.

I believe there is a DNA board on here (I'm new myself), but I am also very happy to assist you with this; I've gained quite a lot of experience in DNA genealogy research over the years. I'm pretty confident you will be able to at very least locate your paternal grandfather's family, if not the man himself (eg if there are several brothers).

If interested, please get in touch or post on the DNA board and I might see you there! Good luck!