Trying To Trace A Possible Illegitimate Birth 1834

[soapnumpty]

Hi.
I'm having trouble tracing the birth of one of my ancestors born I believe in 1834 in Hertfordshire. There appears to be no baptism record for him and I wonder if his older sister was actually his mother. In the 1841 census he is 7, living with a couple in ther late 60s and a woman in her late 20s. They all have the same surname so I wonder if these people are his grandparents and unmarried mother. It doesn't say what their relationship is.

Any idea what records i could search for an illegitimate birth in 1834? Is it unlikely that an illegitimate child would have been baptised? Were unmarried women sent away to give birth in those days?

I have his marriage certificate which gives a fathers name which is the same name as the man in his 60s that he was living with in the 1841 census. I think it's unlikely that this man is his father though because of his age.

Any ideas much appreciated

[Rose Maybud]

The 1841 Census didn't record relationship to head of the household - unfortunately! I would think most researchers have come across the setup you describe and this case looks very much as you suggest. It wasn't unusual for the grandparents to bring up a grandchild as their own child. The child may not even have known his true parentage and gave the name of his grandfather on the marriage certificate because to him that was his father.
As to baptism, in every parish register you find baptism entries with remarks such as 'natural son/daughter', 'base-born' or even worse depending on the whim of the incumbent, therefore illegitimate children were indeed baptised. If the mother was sent away, then the child could have been baptised in the parish of birth. I don't think all mothers were sent away - most of 'my' lot in that situation had the child baptised in their own parish! You could try widening the search to neighbouring parishes, or start looking for cousins and second cousins etc living away who might have been agreeable to care for the mother during childbirth. Also try looking for a baptism in adult life, particularly just before marriage.
Does the 1851 Census and beyond yield any clues? Who was the informant when the 'mother' died? Was there a Will?

[soapnumpty]

Thanks for your reply, that's given me a few things to try. On the 1851 census he is 17 and living with the older 'sister' her husband and their baby which makes me think even more that this is his mother. I have tried looking for his baptism under the 'sisters' husbands surname but nothing.

I haven't been able to find a will for any of them but I'll have another look and check the death informants too.

Thanks very much

[dotty.]

if you can give the name and location and date i can have a look for you too.

[soapnumpty]

Thanks dotty. His name is Edwin James Cato born 1834 Tring, Herts and died march 1909 Hampstead, London. Married to Emma Shere. I'm on Ancestry so I've done all the usual checks and have checked baptisms at local records office.

[dotty.]

I've found James and Harriet Hutchings on the 1851 with son edwin, b tring age 18, their daughter harriett aged 11,son edward, 8 daughter caroline 6 and baby mary ann 1, wife harriett aged 40 born tring but husband james born marylebone and all the children born st martins westminster, harriett cato married james bower hutchings Q3 1838, marylebone. Harriett's marriage certificate is on ancestry and gives the couples address as 10 little ditchfield street langham westminster, her father is given as james cato weaver. I guess you've looked at that, As James Hutchings was born in alondon borough, and harriett seems to have married him there in 1838, I can't quite see a reason that James Hutchings would have been the natural father of Edwin, even though he appears to have raised edwin as his own sometime between 1838 and at least 1851 when Edwin was 18. But there is of course enough to assume that harriett was the natural mother, as her parents do not seem to have had any other children, though the name Cato does show up in tring at that time they appear to be the cousins to harriett.

Basically, Harriett must have somehow met james hutchings and i am wondering if this might be through her mother's side as there is no apparent marriage for harrietts parents in tring but possibly one in london

[dotty.]

though none of that summary helps identifying a father for edwin and as he does revert to the name cato once he leaves home there's not enough info to link in any other potential father, no wills, baptisms showing anywhere.

[soapnumpty]

Thanks for all your time Dotty. It does seem most likely that Harriett is his mother but I don't think I'm going to get proof like I hoped.