Can't find this birth registration

[Silvercup]

Birth of Beatrice Matilda Briggs McCarthy SAWYER Kensington district 3rd Q 1880 born to a single woman is probably relevant.

Oh wow!

Ok, so I don't understand it...at the time of registration clearly both Matilda Briggs and the mccarthy family were significant to include those names...at the time of the census she's with the mccarthys but grows up with the briggs...and she looks identical to Matilda's niece...

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I assume Edward McCarthy and Elizabeth J weren't married - there's an Elizabeth J Sawyer born in the right place and time (Lee, Kent c1858) who could be mother

Her mother's maiden name appears to be Cook, although I can;t find her birth (unlike the siblings)

[Silvercup]

I assume Edward McCarthy and Elizabeth J weren't married - there's an Elizabeth J Sawyer born in the right place and time (Lee, Kent c1858) who could be mother

Her mother's maiden name appears to be Cook, although I can;t find her birth (unlike the siblings)

Thank you, this is fascinating!

[Ladyhawk]

I assume Edward McCarthy and Elizabeth J weren't married - there's an Elizabeth J Sawyer born in the right place and time (Lee, Kent c1858) who could be mother

Her mother's maiden name appears to be Cook, although I can;t find her birth (unlike the siblings)

Mabel the Elizabeth you mention above  is this her on census?

1861 census https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2MG-PXTR
Johnson Thos Sawyer   Head   44   Deptford, Kent
Louisa Sawyer   Wife   42   London, Middlesex
John Thos Sawyer   Son 16   Spitalfields, Middlesex
Louisa Ann Sawyer   Daughter   13   Lewisham, Kent
Mary Ann Sawyer   Daughter   11   Deptford, Kent
Ellen Jane Sawyer   Daughter   8   Greenwich, Kent
Emily Wright Sawyer   Daughter   6   Lee, Kent
Elizabeth A Sawyer   Daughter   4   Lee, Kent

SAWYER, EMILY  WRIGHT  mmn    COOK 
1855  M Quarter in LEWISHAM UNION  Volume 01D  Page 647

1871c https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB67-MYK

There is this 1857 Baptism https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JWQL-C38

Elizabeth Amelia Sawyer
15 Feb 1857 Saint Margaret, Lee, Kent
Birth 29 Dec 1856
Father' John Thomas Sawyer Mother Louisa

[heywood]

There is a marriage for Elizabeth Amelia Sawyer to  William Knapp - September quarter 1897 , St Saviour.

[Ladyhawk]

There is a marriage for Elizabeth Amelia Sawyer to  William Knapp - September quarter 1897 , St Saviour.

He dies 1904 Probate to Elizabeth https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLW-2PYT

1901 census shows Elizabeth pob Lee

William Knapp Head Gas Inspector    b Shrivenham, Wiltshire,
Elizabeth Knapp Wife b Lee, Kent
Lucy Knapp Daughter b Deptford, Kent
Eric Knapp Son   b Deptford, Kent

KNAPP, ERIC  FRANCIS     Mmn SAWYER 
 1899  J Quarter in GREENWICH  Volume 01D  Page 1089

Lucy is the daughter of his previous wife Charlotte

Added

1911 Widowed Elizabeth born Lee son Eric
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW5Q-Q21

Edit her death

KNAPP, ELIZABETH  AMELIA  age   59 
1919  D Quarter in LAMBETH  Volume 01D  Page 405

[Silvercup]

If Beatrice/Birdie's birth was registered with Elizabeth Sawyer as a single woman, would there be a father on the birth certificate?

Is it safe to assume that if the baby had been Edward McArthy's, that they would have been given McArthy as a surname rather than Sawyer?

I've seen a scenario before where a baby who was adopted was registered with the adopted parents name as a middle name. Was that common practice if it was known who would adopt?

[Galium]

Birth certificates before 1969 don't show a surname for the child. The GRO birth index shows the child's forename/s with the surname of the parent/s.

If someone registers the birth of a child born to an unmarried woman, the father's name can only be included if he is present to agree to that.

Occasionally you may come across a birth to unmarried parents where the father's name is on the register. In these cases when the index is compiled, the child's name is shown twice, once under each surname, so it is easy to check if you are using FreeBMD, by looking at the list of all the births on the same page of the register. So it doesn't look likely that Edward is included, as Beatrice isn't listed under McCarthy

It wasn't unusual for people to get around this problem, either by giving details as if they were married, or by including the father's name with the child's forenames, which is what appears to be the case with Beatrice.

[Silvercup]

Thanks.

This is guesswork but I don't think Edward McCarthy was the father anyway. If Beatrice/Birdie wasn't Matilda's daughter then why would she resemble Matilda's niece so much...but we'll never know for sure!