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if there is not a name for the father on the birth certificate, then it is almost certain that the child was illegiimate.

And, the name of a father who was not married was rarely put on the birth certificate of the illegitimate child .... first of all he had to accompany the mother to the registrar's office. Secondly, if he did allow himself to be named then he became "responsible" for the mother, and the parish would force him to take care of her.

The most you can expect is if you can find the parish record of her baptism, then look at the actual register to see if the priest made a notation in the margin re the putative father ..... some did that!


The illegitimate child quite often puts a name as father on a marriage certificate .... that name could be grandfather's name, name of a family friend, made up, a combination of names, etc etc




sylvia

Just one more thing, did Lizzie give the name Silas on her marriage cert?

I was just curious as you said "I cam across Silas on Lizzie's husbands roll of honour on fmp.com. for the first time the other day and was extremely confused!"

Christine

Monk - "If the fathers name is blank on the certificate, then she obviously did`nt want to let on who he was."

Actually, unless he accompanied the mother to the birth rego, then his name COULD NOT be put down as the father.

see - what did I tell you - said something would turn up and it sure did!!!

Ann XX

Thanks you anyway Monk, I really appreciate the help :) Good luck finding your own ancestors!

Especially for back in the day!!

Hi Christine,

Silas Edward must be some name she picked out of thin air??
Tried every census even Scotland & Ireland, No Luck.

If the fathers name is blank on the certificate, then she obviously did`nt want to let on who he was.
Hope you find him one day!
I am having the same problem trying to find a marriage for my own in-laws, you would think it was pretty straightforward that one, but no such luck. we all seem to have those elusive skeletons, LOL:)

Thanks Lewella. It seems Sarah Ellen went by the name Ellen as an adult. Yep, think that Ann is her grandma. :)

Plus, if Lissie was Ann's daughter, Ann would have been very old when she had her!!!

Lizzie is never shown on the census with her mum sarah ellen-in 1871 she was not born, 1881 she was visiting/living with her maternal grandmother and in 1891 she was a servant in a house. I have presumed that Tom Pearce was Lizzie's step father or her father but with a different surname as her parents were not married when she was born, so would she not just say Tom was her dad and not make up a name in silas? I cam across Silas on Lizzie's husbands roll of honour on fmp.com. for the first time the other day and was extremely confused!

This Ann Houghton ties in with Sarah's mother in 1851. Although Lissie is noted as Ann's daughter, I believe she is probably Sarah's


1881 England Census
about Ann Houghton
Name: Ann Houghton
Age: 62
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1819
Relation: Lodger (Head) (Lodger)
Gender: Female
Where born: Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire, England

Civil Parish: Leamington
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street address: 49 Satchwell St
Condition as to marriage: Widower

Occupation: Housekeeper

Registration district: Warwick
Sub registration district: Leamington
ED, institution, or vessel: 11
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Houghton 62
Lissie Houghton 9

Ellen/Helen


1881 England Census
about Helen Pearce
Name: Helen Pearce
Age: 34
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Tom
Gender: Female
Where born: Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire, England

Civil Parish: Warwick St Mary
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street address: 43 Friar St
Condition as to marriage: Married
Education:

Employment status:

View Image

Registration district: Warwick
Sub registration district: Warwick
ED, institution, or vessel: 21
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Annie Pearce 3
Helen Pearce 34
Helen Pearce 1
Louisa Pearce 6
Rose Pearce 5
Tom Pearce 34
Tom Pearce

You say you have the marriage cert of Sarah Ellen. If she had been married before it should show that.

Do you have her on the census with Lizzie?

It seems highly likely that the name Silas was just invented if there is no father on the birth cert.

Christine

Thanks Shelley :) Good luck with your Elizabeth!

Okay, in 1901, Sarah appears to be calling herself Ellen:


1901 England Census
about Ellen Pearce
Name: Ellen Pearce
Age: 54
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1847
Relation: Wife
Spouse's Name: Tom
Gender: Female
Where born: Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire, England

Civil Parish: Warwick St Nicholas
Ecclesiastical parish: Warwick All Saints
Town: Warwick
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Registration district: Warwick
Sub registration district: Warwick
ED, institution, or vessel: 12
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 109
Household Members:
Name Age
Alice Pearce 15
Ellen Pearce 54
Ellen Pearce 21
Florence Pearce 10
Frank Pearce 12
Maria I G Pearce 6 months
Rose Pearce 25
Tom Pearce 54
Victor G Pearce 3
Walter Pearce 18

And this is appears to be her in 1851


1851 England Census
about Sarah E Houghton
Name: Sarah E Houghton
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire, England

Civil Parish: Stratford On Avon
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Registration district: Stratford On Avon
Sub registration district: Kineton
ED, institution, or vessel: 2b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 63
Household Members:
Name Age
Ann Houghton 34
Caroline Houghton 8
Charles Houghton 36
Mary Ann Houghton 14
Sarah E Houghton 2
Thomas M Houghton 5
William Houghton 10

Thanks Monk. That's the thing-trying to work out if they were married. If Houghton is Sarah married name then part of the family is wrong. If it is her maiden name I have been searching correct so far. What are the chances of them just having the same surname-obviously it happens, but that can't be it?! My head hurts!

Poss birth for Sarah if she was unmarried in Straford upon Avon Warwickshire//??

Births Jun 1849

HOUGHTON Sarah Ellen Stratford A 16 565

1861 England Census
about Sarah E Houghton
Name: Sarah E Houghton
Age: 12
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1849
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: Stratford On Avon, Warwickshire, England

Civil Parish: Leamington Priors
Town: Leamington
County/Island: Warwickshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View Image

Registration district: Warwick
Sub registration district: Leamington
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 148
Household Members: Name Age
James Benton 16
William Brewer 35
John Hancock 30
Ann Houghton 43
Charles Houghton 45
Charles Houghton 7
Eliza J Houghton 9
John Houghton 5
Sarah E Houghton 12
William Jeffery 20
John Russell 40

Thanks monk, came across him-will have to have a search round to see if he's a rellie :)

There is a Silas but not Edward and in Wellinborough? Maybe another relative??

For ref:/?

Births Dec 1869

Houghton Silas Ponting Wellingbro' 3b 141

Marriages Mar 1894

DARNELL Minnie Wellingbro' 3b 229
Houghton Silas Ponting Wellingbro' 3b 229

Deaths Sep 1921

Houghton Silas P 52 Wellingbro' 3b 140


Marriages Sep 1873

Houghton Sarah Ellen Warwick 6d 761
Pearce Tom Warwick 6d 761

Thanks guys-you're right I will keep trying :) Yep I have the marriage cert for Sarah Ellen and Tom. I have just found a silas houghton on fmp.com on the 1891 census, born 1841, but he does not appear on any of the other census's and i cannot find the birth-very odd. Quite sure about Warwrickshire-all the family seem to be from the brum area so far.