Find Ancestors

Unless Ian has infortmation to help, I really would go down the route I suggested and contact the Colchester records office. What is stopping you from doing that?

I will do just that.
If it comes up trumps I'll let you know.
Thanks for the push !

Well, I've always been pushy!

The very helpful people at Colchester registry office have found William's birth certificate under the name of FISHER> No Father. It means I can't go any further back on the GOODY line as there is no proof of paternity.
Thanks to all who took the time to reply.

Were they able to tell you when he was born? If you had bought the certificate it would give the exact date and you could then decide whether William Goody may or may not have been his father.

On the 1871 census he is stated as being 11 so a birth in 1859 or 1860 is possible. His parents married in early 1861, his little sister being born about the same time, so they had known each other since early 1860. Therefore it is quite possible that he was William's father - especially as his own name is William.

Much depends on why you are carrying out this research. If it's to determine the blood line of your family then it can't be done without DNA testing. You simply don't know for certain who your own father is, let alone grandparents and any earlier on. If the Register Office had told you the father was William Goody (and I do have a relative registered in the unmarried mother's name but the father is also named on it), you would have gone away quite happy that it was true - and it may not have been.

I take the view that if this chappy brought him up as his own son (and he probably is his own son), then he and his ancestors are worthy of being included in the family tree, perhaps more so than a biological father who dies or clears off.

Yes I have bought the certificate but it hasn't arrived yet. Birthdate is 28th Dec 1859.
I am quite confident that William is the father .
This "Trying to find" board is excellent. Wish I'd found it years ago.
Thanks to everybody