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From: Perrin Larton <>
Subject: Re: [CHS] Social History not Genealogy
Date: Sat, 22 Oct 2005 08:12:23 -0700


Malcolm,

I could have written the exact same letter with a few adjustments. My
husband's GGrandfather was born in the 1870's. I have his birth
certificate and there is no father listed. He took his mother's
surname...but...he has a middle name that could also be a surname and
seemed to always live near a family that has his middle name as their
surname (am I making any sense?). His mother was always listed in the
census' as a maid. I've made a VAST number of suppositions and you can
probably guess what they are!

To complicate the whole matter my husbands GGrandfather died at age 30 and
his only child was my husbands grandfather, who was only one year old when
his father died. His mother re-married within a year and although her
infant son kept the surname of his biological father, he was given no
information about the man. Consequently my husband, when giving me
information about his family...told me his GGrandfather had 'run off to
Australia' since that is what his grandfather told his father!

I've spent a MINT on death/birth/marriage certs and have poured over census
documents so I think my information is correct and documented. I too would
like to know what society thought about these situations. As far as I can
find out, my husbands GGrandmother never married anyone...perhaps the
father of her son was the love of her life...or he 'kept' her in good style!

Perrin Larton
Morgan Hill, California


At 07:56 AM 10/22/05 -0600, Malcolm Shaw wrote:
>Hi Listers;
>
>This question has to do with social history rather than family search.
>My wife's maternal great-grandfather was apparently born in the 1850's
>"on the wrong side of the sheets". His mother was unmarried. The father
>of the child is not known although speculation exists as to who this
>person could be.
>
>I am interested in finding out what the social climate was like in the
>mid-Victorian era. How would society generally treat an unmarried woman
>and her child? Could such a situation be covered up by an appearance of
>never being short of money etc?
>
>These are but two of the questions which come to mind. Consequently, I
>would appreciate any help that you good and very knowledgeable people
>can give me incldung the title of any books on this subject.
>
>If the List Administrator agrees, I suggest that all replies be made
>directly to the Cheshire List as I think other people could be interested.
>
>Many thanks for all you help.
>
>Malcolm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
>
>
>
>
>
>==== CHESHIRE Mailing List ====
>Cheshire online BMD records
>http://www.cheshirebmd.org.uk/
>
>
>

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