Family History (Real Names Changed To Protect The Guilty)

[10ClarionSt]

We haven't had any posts in this section of AB for quite some time - the haunted wing of AB! However, I received a file recently about one part of my family history. It's not something I would get involved in usually. One part of it has me completely baffled. 

My great grandmother, Mary White, married John Black in 1881, so they were Mr & Mrs Black. They had a son, Thomas, in 1886. Mary was the person who registered the birth and gave her name as Mary Black, her married name, but registered Thomas as Thomas White, her maiden name, not Thomas Black. In 1893, they had a son, my granddad, and once again Mary registered the birth under her married name of Black, but my granddad under her maiden name of White. This means that my name should be Black, but because my great grandmother registered my granddad as White, I am now a White when I should have been a Black. 

I can't figure out why this should be or what was going on back then. It's not black and white at all, is it? Are there similar mysteries in your family?

[wiltsman]

Seems to be a bit of a GREY area ........ Sorry

[Peter Pedant]

This is usually the father isnt  the father. - Big deal for kids in those days. Perhaps the "father" was darn da Boozer protesting.

Did my uncle Roland have three or two wives? His children insist on two - but WE think he didnt  bother to divorce no 2 before marrying no  3 - so the children wd not inherit if that were the case- unless ONE marriage didnt occur.

 

 

[Canary42]

I only found out after my Mum died that my stepfather had never married her although she took his name.  He died years before her. 

[jno]

just looking at an 1898 birth certificate. First box is for the date and place. Second is for the baby's Christian names (Amelia Matilda). Third is for sex (girl). Fourth is for father's full name (George Henry Smith). Fifth is for mother's name, including maiden name (Mary Jane Smith formerly Jones). Sixth is for father's occupation (Billiard Table Maker's Manager.)

Does that match what you've got?

[zebo]

Did Mary Black include John Black as the father on the birth certificates?  

[zebo]

As Jno points out there is no surname recorded for a baby on a birth certificate.  If a baby was named Thomas White then it maybe that the intention was for the baby to be Thomas White Black, using the mother's surname as a middle name isn't unknown.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks for the replies folks. I don't have a copy of the birth certificate(s). I only have the details on plain paper. Looking more closely, at some time, John Black is showing as resident in the USA. Maybe PP is correct. Sheesh! 

[jno]

Clarion, if you have time on your hands you might like to sign up to the official records department

https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/login.asp

It's free and they don't bombard you with ads - the only time you have to pay is if you want an official certificate. They cover births and deaths but not marriages.

You can go through birth records in five-year chunks, check both Whites and Blacks, and it should tell you exactly what names they were given and the surname of the mother. So it might tell you what exactly your grandad's official name

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks jno. That would be useful.

[jno]

ah, where's Dot Hawkes when you need her. Run off with Garth Brooks I suppose.

[carrot99]

Exactly jno and still wearing the Jasper Conran boots I bet!

[10ClarionSt]

I wouldn't be at all surprised, jno! She actually lives not far from here, in Mytholmroyd. And I used to have her mobile number but I don't know how, when or why I deleted it. 😡