Where is my Grandfather?

[Bellringer]

My paternal Grandfather, who I remember, always said he had the same birthday as my father, we know he didn't but it was in the same month. He also said he was orphaned at an early age & brought up by his Grandfather.The Church Records of the place he said he was born have no record, nor does the register office. The only similar named person is about 3 years early and his father is not named on the birth certificate or census and is in a different town. The name of the Grandfather matches with what we were told.Although he married lived, worked & died in that town. Any ideas anyone?

[spudqueen]

I presume your Grandfather was an elderly man when you knew him, and unfortunately elderly people can be prone to their memories playing tricks on them, or they can exagerate. My Great Aunt (who died about 10 years ago) announced one day that she was going to be 90 on her next birthday. People in the village where she lived organised a party, she even had a visit from the mayor. It was only when she died that we discovered she was still in her 80's!
Have you ordered a copy of your Grandfathers marriage certificate as that should give his age at the time of marriage and also his fathers name.

[Bellringer]

Thanks spudqueen. I have his marriage certificate but the person he put down as his father could have been anybody, in fact it is identical (apart from surname) to that of his bride. I knew him from an early age, I am now 67 and he even showed my children a house where he said he grew up, but that town has no record of him. I liked him but I am afraid he told porkies about his parentage. Hence the expression 'orphaned at an early age'.

[spudqueen]

Hi Bellringer, you've got a similar problem to myself. The baby my Great Grandfather claimed to be died at 30 minutes old. (Shades of The Jackel?) I think I've tracked him down, but trying to find a birth certificate is proving hard. I've spent a small fortune on wrong certificates! I think that either my Great Grandfather was illegitimate or that he was ashamed of his parents (an Irish labourer and washerwoman if I've got the right people). Perhaps it's the same for your Grandfather.
I don't suppose your Grandfather had any siblings did he, or possibly cousins? If you could track down any of their descendents they may be able to help. How about the witnesses at the wedding? Do either of them look as though they could be relatives of your Grandfather?
Also, do you go on www.genesreunited.co.uk ? You could always post his name up on there and see if you get any joy.
Another thought - do you know the name of the Grandfather who brought him up? You may be able to track him through the census's.
Good luck!

[Bellringer]

Thanks for that spudqueen. I've done all of those apart from the genesunited thing to no avail, I'll try that but with a name like Smith!!

[dot.hawkes]

could he possibly have been registered under an alternative surname, maybe the maiden name of the mother, sorry if that is what you have already explained. If no father is entered at the time of registartion then the mother was unmarried. If she was married or widowed the father would be put in there.
The baby may have been registered as the son of an aunt to avoid the stigma of a young girl being unmarried and pregnant, what other family surnames can you check?