Birth Mother

MissMoneypenny

candjsmum wrote: »

We think my great gran may have either "given herself" to her loved one before he went off into WW1 and never came home, or as she was in service at the time, it was someone where she worked.

Have you checked the WW1 pensions? When I was doing my family tree, I discovered my great uncle (who was killed in WW1) left his war pension to a female, who none of my elderly relatives had heard of. We can't trace her, depsite having her name and address from the pension records, and we assumed she was a sweetheart who he kept bunking off (and getting a charge) to see. It never occured to me (until I read your post) to check for a birth about that time!

So glad to hear your news SDW.

RAS

candjsmum wrote: »

My gran, 94 in November, was illegitimate when born in 1918. My great gran was only 17 when she had her and she kept my gran and her family stood by her, very unusual I would think for that era. As far as we are aware, my gran was never told who her father was, and me and my mum have often wondered about it, especially as I do family history and my grans line looks very bear. We think my great gran may have either "given herself" to her loved one before he went off into WW1 and never came home, or as she was in service at the time, it was someone where she worked. Either way we will never know, but I truly admire my great gran as it must have been a very difficult time even with her family beside her.
So glad it has worked out for you SDW XX

Having done a lot of family history, I find that it was the norm for women to marry pregnant, or sometimes not marry.

One of my ancestors is described rather charmingly by the census taker as "concubine" in 1851.

Her grandson married in the 1880s before getting his spouse pregnant - their Methodism may have had something to do with their attitude to life and self advancement.

On the other hand my GM on the other side was pregnant when she married as was her DM. Her MIL was one of three sisters who had 7 illegitimate children between them, all living with their parents.

It seems only to have been at the end of 19C and into the middle of 20C that society expected women not to get pregnant when single.

Fosterdog

Is there any update on this?

I haven't posted before but have been watching with interest how things would progress for you. I've had my fingers crossed that things go well for you.

seven-day-weekend

I have written to her and sent her some photos. I also said I would not be available until today if she were to ring as I was working all last week until Sunday, so wasn't expecting to hear anything yet. I have suggested a date for meeting and asked her to confirm if the date is OK. So still waiting.

I will keep the thread updated.

paddy's_mum

My husband's family (in rural, deepest, darkest, secretive Fen country) have a huge number of children born to a g-g-grandmother, (and her sisters!) and all registered in the local church as being the progeny of the girls' own father!

That was not the truth at all (as several censuses show) but apparently, some ignorant (and therefore stuck in out of the way places where lack of skills in the pastor wouldn't matter) priest thought that was the best way to record births that were subseqently legitimated by the real father!

No doubt, by the priest's thinking, at least the kids had a genuine claim on the surname they were given even if it was only their grandfather's.

seven-day-weekend

UPDATE:

Had a phone call from the aunt, they want to postpone the meeting as the aunt has not been well and birth mother wants her there (quite understand). They are going to let me know a more convenient time. I will write to birth mother in the meantime.

Aunt was very friendly and called me 'love'.

RAS

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

aunt was very friendly and called me 'love'.

aaahhh.............

System

I've just stumbled across this thread, and although I have no experience of this, I welled up when I read your first update after making contact. I'm so pleased for you, and your BM must feel so lucky to have this opportunity to get to know you after all this time. Such a heartwarming story, please keep us updated!

candjsmum

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Have you checked the WW1 pensions? When I was doing my family tree, I discovered my great uncle (who was killed in WW1) left his war pension to a female, who none of my elderly relatives had heard of. We can't trace her, depsite having her name and address from the pension records, and we assumed she was a sweetheart who he kept bunking off (and getting a charge) to see. It never occured to me (until I read your post) to check for a birth about that time!

That wouldn't help as I would need to trace the name of the person on the pension and we don't know the fathers name.
Thanks though xx:beer:

vl2588

Hope the first meeting goes well, lovely story, really heart-warming!