MASTERCLASS: finding birth certificates - birth not registered

As you said in #13 above. And as I have made clear, I am not disputing this aspect of the Act.

I think we should call it a day on this discussion now.

 

This debate is interesting but I would still like to find the birth registration or even christening for my husband's ancestor Selina Fricker. She is well documented on the census records and I think her birth would be early 1850s. She was brought up by her grandparents, although some family trees record them as being parents. Her father was Mark Fricker but he didn't marry until some years later, having nipped off to the army about the time Selina was born and been discharged in Scotland , well away from Camberwell, his home. As there is no evidence of a marriage before Selina's birth, my theory is that he diappeared when he realised the girl was expecting, possibly the mother died and Selina was given to her grand parents to raise. If there was a birth registration or christening, it could be in any name you like! There is a Selina born about the right time and place but on checking, that was someone else.

 

If I knew the mother's name it would help but I haven't a clue! I might find something using DNA and by buying possible death certificates for potential mothers but it's all a bit airy fairy and not worth the cost. I may never know.

 

Yes she was brought up by her paternal grandparents.I accepted that because they refer to the relationship on the census, when she married she named her father and he was the son of her grandparents according to his christening record. I hadn't thought about it being unusual for paternal grandparents to help out but they must've been confident that the baby was his to have done so. Of course there could be a marriage that I haven't yet found but other trees do not include a marriage so it can't be obvious.

 

Thanks, I will have to sort it out and post it.

 

I did have a quick look a few days ago using the information you've already posted, but I didn't find anything that seemed likely to be useful. I did notice that Selina's presumed* grandfather appeared to have married twice to women with the same forename, but I expect you are already aware of that.

* I say 'presumed' because it was not unusual for people born illegitimate to invent a father when they married, and sometimes they 'borrowed' the name of someone they knew.

 

Thanks, I did know about the two Sarahs. In the census he says they are Selina's grandparents. Obviously they may not have been; maybe they just adopted her and when she married she gave their son as her father? Another possibility that I hadn't considered. When hher daughter married she gave the names of two different fathers for each marriage, one being Selina's father in law! Perhaps I shouldn't trust a word they said! (As grand parents they were older people so I don't know if they would have wanted to adopt a child that wasn't related?) I think DNA is the only chance, but it would have to be one of my children.