Genealogy Chat

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Firstly I'll apologise in case all I end up doing is confusing everyone! My gt gt grandfather was George Buckett, he married Emma Beardmore at Kingsley, Staffs in 1891. For ages I was tracking back the wrong Emma Beardmore (but that's another story!) and I'm now back on the right track thanks to a distant relative. The confusion occured because Emma Beardmore wasn't registered as that, she was registered as Emma Pattinson, born in August 1868. Her mother, Elizabeth Pyatt, married a Thomas Pattinson in 1851. However, he had died by the 1861 census so he can't be Emma's father. I suppose she just got given the name of her Mother at the time of her birth. Elizabeth Pattinson then went on to marry John Beardmore in April 1869, when Emma was 8mths old. My question is this, on the 1871 and 1881, Emma is down as Pattinson/Pattison. I would have thought if John was her true father, she would be stated as a Beardmore? I have a feeling he wasn't her father and would just appreciate your views as well please. As already mentioned, when Emma married in 1891, she was then calling herself Beardmore. Sorry to waffle! Best Regards Helen x

Hi, I think if he had been her father she would have had his name on census. Illegitimate children or the children of widows often took their stepfather's names even when not related. Often illegitimate children gave the names of stepfathers, grandfathers, even brothers as names of fathers on marriage to avoid the shame of admitting illegitimacy. Gwynne.

I haven't seen the marriage cert for Emma yet, nor looked for her baptism. It will be interesting to see who she names her father as. I'm planning my next trip to Stafford Record Office again soon. Can't wait! Many Thanks Helen

I had a similar one a couple of days ago. My Gt Gt grandfather Richard Bradshaw born 1859 to Ellen Bradshaw, 1861 cenus he and Ellen are both 'Bradshaw'. 1871 Ellen has married William Frost, Richard listed as Frost 1881 Richard listed as Frost 1882 Richard married as Bradshaw, no father named 1891 and onwards he has gone back to Bradshaw! Had great difficulty working backwards once I had his marriage cert until someone on this board found him as Frost and can't understand why he took his stepfathers name on censuses but went back to his mothers maiden name when he got married! Just to confuse me I'm sure...

I just found the same thing with family I am searching about 1890 and I think by the time of her marriage the gal had changed surname twice due to remarriage of the mother - will be interesting to see who she names as father on the marriage cert. Not the first time I have seen this but it all suddenly clicked after I had been on phone to GRO and they assured me that the birth was non-existant.