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Archiver > NIR-DOWN > 2002-06 > 1023658810


From:
Subject: [NIR-DOWN] Illegitimate Births
Date: Sun, 9 Jun 2002 17:40:10 EDT


I have nearly every Irish research book ever published. None of them mentions
this situation. In the early 19th century--I don't know when this began or
ended--when the birth was illegitimate, the child was given the mother's
surname.

I have a Peter Davidson b. to Peter Woods and Nancy Davidson. Peter married
and his children were b. in Co. Down with the surname Davidson. When the
family emigrated to the U.S., they assumed the name Woods. They became a
prominant family in Iowa and their biographies are published in a book. None
of the bios mention the name Davidson.

If you were a Peter Woods descendant, your research would be hampered once
you began your search in Co. Down. Peter Woods, and issue, do not exist in
any records.

If you find yourself at the proverbial brick wall--consider searching for
your ancestor under his mother's surname. Another approach is a marriage
record. If you know that your 2nd G-Grandmother, Agnes Walker, m. Peter
Woods, the record will show:
Agnes Walker, d/o Joseph Walker m. Peter Davidson, s/o Peter Woods.
This will tell you that you need to look for Peter's mother, a Davidson.
You will also be looking for Davidson birth records, not Woods.

I hope this helps someone! Sandra

P.S. Nancy Davidson had another illegitimate son, Francis Davidson, s/o
Thomas Forsythe. If he left Ireland and assumed the Forsythe name--another
researcher may be stymied.

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