Genealogy Chat

I really don’t like to admit defeat but on one of my lines I fear I have reached the end of any meaningful research and only in the 1850s! I have got a bastard son of an illegitimate mother. She has no birth record that I can find and whilst she names her child’s father on the birth certificate, he is a “travelling hawker” and I cannot find him on any other record! Has anyone been able to crack one like this? With no BMDs or census returns to go on, I am struggling. Any advice would be much appreciated. Louise

Louise - perhaps if you add some details like names, places and dates we may be able to help. Kate.

Thanks Kate, I didn't mean to be vague but was in need of a moan and looking for general advice but if anyone fancies taking up a challenge ... I have a Peter Dillon born 1865 in Manchester. Mother Catherine Dillon, formerly O'Neill and nee Donohoe. Father Peter Dillon. It has been confirmed by a living relative that Catherine and Peter never married and she lied on the birth cert. Family legend is that he wouldn't marry an Irish Catholic! Catherine was born c.1924 in Ireland but other than that I have no facts. I have Catherine on the 1861 census onwards but am struggling before that. Cheers, Louise

It does look like a difficult one, especially the Irish part, and it is quite likely that Peter Dillon senior came from Ireland as well looking at the 1861 census where there are a few Peter Dillons in Lancashire who were born in Ireland. There are quite a few Catherine Donohues born in Ireland about the right year on the IGI. I wonder if you can find any registration of her first marriage, or was that not a real one either? Maybe you can work out which of the Peter Dillons on the census is the right one if only one is a travelling hawker or something similar? (Travelling salesman, perhaps). I haven't looked at their occupations so I don't know if that would do any good. You've probably tried that already anyway. Can't think of much else at the moment apart from trying to find Catherine's first marriage. Good luck! Kate.

Hi Louise It made me laugh!!! My Grandfather was illegitimate as was his mother, found both of their births luckily but the trail went cold from there as her mothers name was common and no father listed so census were no help. You do feel like some people just don't want to be found!!!! Keep looking you never know when the wall will fall! Best wishes Jenny :0)