How to trace the mother of an illegitimate person?

[yelkcub]

In 1844 in London the sister of an ancestor of mine married one Charles Douglas who, on the marriage certificate, names his father as a titled aristocrat. According to the noble father’s pedigree he had no male heirs … so I conclude that Charles must have been illegitimate. I do not know Charles’s date of birth – just that he was ‘full age’ on his marriage. I do not find him in the 1841 census; in 1851 he was overseas on a posting with the Royal Navy, and by 1861 he had died, his wife appearing in the census as ‘widow of an officer, RN’. Can any researcher more experienced than I am suggest any strategy for discovering Charles’s mother’s name?
Ian

[ChristineR]

Have you been able to find any Naval records for him?
Did he leave a Will?
Have you found his death certificate?

I would suggest searching the parish registers that cover this nobleman's domain. Hopefully you will get a hint if you find Charles' baptism.

[yelkcub]

Thanks for your reply, Christine
I found Charles in the Navy List of 1850, a commander in the Coast Guard, posted to Wexford in 1847, but so far nothing else. There are two possible Charles Douglas deaths in the right timeframe, between 1851 and 1861 (when his wife Elizabeth was recorded as a widow in the census): I may have to obtain the two death certificates, but it seems more likely that he died while in service in Ireland, after which his wife and two sons returned to London. Everything I have so far managed to find out about Charles's father suggests that he was London based during the likely years of Charles's birth ... with all the difficulties entailed in finding the christening of a Charles (surname and year of birth unknown) in the many churches of London. A search for his will has so far drawn a blank.

Once again, thanks for your input IAN

[Geoffers]

I found Charles in the Navy List of 1850, a commander in the Coast Guard, posted to Wexford in 1847, but so far nothing else.

You will need to use records held at The National Archives at Kew. You should find a record which includes his date and place of birth. This may help to narrow down the parish(es) you need to search for a baptism.

This TNA research guide will advise you as to documents relating to the Coastguard (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=54)

Have you tried the Probate Calendar for his will? - Or the Death Duty Registers?

[yelkcub]

May thanks for your reply and your suggestions: I was rather expecting that Kew might hold some of the answers, and I'll tack this task onto my Kew to-do list ... ever growing!
Ian