Absent Father - Best Search Protocol?

[ABC1876]

We're looking for advice on suggested search protocols to help us to discover more information on my husband's grandfather.

My father-in-law never knew his biological father as he deserted his mother either before he was born, or shortly after. All we have to go on is a 1929 bastardy court order for maintenance. This has the absent man's name, his profession, and an address where the court order was served, which we believe was the address of his place of work. If the absent father was about the same age as the mother, then this gives his birth year range as 1900 - 1910. Realistically this means he's not going to be on the 1911 census with a name/profession. We're hoping he'll appear on the 1921 census, but that won't be out for a while yet.

We have my father-in-law's short form birth certificate, and have applied to GRO for a copy of his entry of birth. We're hoping this might give us more information on the absent father; perhaps to confirm his occupation and the spelling of his family name.

Other than the above, we're not sure where to go or what to do next. Some advice, please?

[BumbleB]

If this was England or Wales, then I would suggest that you look at the 1939 Register.

[ABC1876]

Thankyou BumbleB.  Yes we've tried that, but we have such limited information - not even a year of birth, just guessed at an age range.

[Spidermonkey]

Have you checked newspapers around the time of the bastardy court order - perhaps it might have been reported in the local press?

[bearkat]

You are not getting anywhere with available records then it might be worth considering a DNA test.

[ABC1876]

Have you checked newspapers around the time of the bastardy court order - perhaps it might have been reported in the local press?

No, but we'll do this now. Thank you.

[Girl Guide]

Be prepared for the possibility that no father's name will be on there.

When you looked for the father in the 1939 did you put in the occupation that appeared on the bastardy order?

[ABC1876]

Be prepared for the possibility that no father's name will be on there.

When you looked for the father in the 1939 did you put in the occupation that appeared on the bastardy order?

Yes, we did, and found one name that matched. Now we need additional confirmation this might be something to follow up.
You are right that the father's name will probably not be on the birth entry, but we won't know for a for a few more days yet. We have the FIL's marriage entry and his father's name/occupation is blank.

Thanks for your advice.