Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone, Has anyone seen this on a death cert? The cert is for Joan Robertson who married Alexander Burley 3 June 1904. They had a son, William born live 10 Sept 1904. Joan died 12 June 1909. In a box it reads Joan Burley married to Alexander Burley Fishworker (Illigitimates). What do you suppose that means??? James :-)

You could ring the Register office that issued the cert and ask them about it?...... Joan

Was Mr B the informant? Merry

Are you sure it says illegitimates? I'm thinking it might be referring to his occupation as its after Fishworker and not his name. Fishworker is a bit vague as an occupation. Does it mean fisherman, or fish gutter, filletter, fishmonger? It it meant Mr B was illegitimate it wouldn't have an s on the end and it seems odd to mention it at all. nell

Have you got Alexander's occupation from his marriage cert (which might reveal whether or not he was illegitimate in the father's name column) or his occupation on 1901 census? nell

Just to check: Is this an English death certificate? The wording you would expect is Joan, wife (or widow) of XX, fishmonger Was there any problem with the marriage? Might one of them have married bigamously?

Hi everyone, Thanks for your replies. Firstly, I was viewing a copy of the statutory register for deaths on scotlandspeople. The informant was Alexander Burley (i guess, as he wrote his name in the collumn - this was the only part of the entry that looked like someone else wrote it). The handwriting can be hard to read at times but I can clearly make out fishworker and illegitimates in brackets. They had one son (born about three months after the wedding) whether that classes as illigitimate. Perhaps Joan was illegitimate - she does have about three other surnames. I was wandering if the authorities would put illegitimate on a death cert - implying that the dead person was illegitimate??? The wedding cert (or should I say statutory register for marriages) states that Joan was 17 and Alexander 26 perhaps that was frowned upon??? Just wandering :-) James

Hello again, I have just viewed the marriage cert for Joan and Alexander (statutory register) and both of them have a mother and father listed. Really odd ae :-s

James send an email to scotlands people they are really helpful, and when you get an answer please post it on here for all us nosey people. Georgina.

Oh Scotland is different!!!! Even if the children are illegitimate they have mothers and fathers listed. Just another example of how Scotland is better than England. Pippa who wishes her ancestors were Scottish not just her hubbys!

Hi everyone, Good idea - I will email the scotlandspeople later tonight (going out shortly) and ask for clarification (didn't know that you could) and will let you know of any feedback. Thanks :-) James