puzzle

[leonardpiggin]

I have found a case of the mother not being registered on the baptism register.Has anyone any ideas why this should be?
I assume this was to avoid the child being put down as illegitimate but would it be illegitimate?
place Castle Acre nfk 12th Oct 1824
parish St James prs
reg no.443
father Robert Piggin
abode Otp
fathers occ,Shoemaker
note No mothers details on record
file no.1121
Any ideas?
Len Piggin

[Peter Goodey]

I don't think I would assume that. More likely just a simple omission.

Any siblings? Marriage? Death of a possible wife?

[Jan1954]

Maybe the mother had died and the parish clerk was not sure how to record that.

I have seen that before, where the mother had died and the child is recorded as just having a father. This was also after 1813 (http://www.british-genealogy.com/resources/registers/3baptpost1813.htm).

[leonardpiggin]

I cant find anything in Castle Acre and I,m not sure he,s mineI but think he was living in Norwich and took the baby there because he was married and his wife was not the mother.Although you say nothing unusual ,have you ever come across this before.I did broach this on another thread . There is a marriage in st Johns Timberhill Norwich for a Robert Piggin to a Mary Tungate
A birth for a Robert Piggin 1818 and ab. for Benjamin Piggin St johns T.father Robert Piggin But mother. Susan .There is also a birth reg.in st Julians for Richard Piggin but I only have this from the 1851 census where he was living with inlaws but had a visitor Mary Piggin from Upton the birthplace of Mary Tungate

[leonardpiggin]

My apologies Peter Goodey and Jan1954 I did not give you acknowledgement.Leonard Piggin

[Browneyes]

I wonder if some mother's weren't shown because the baby was a foundling. The omission error sounds more likely though. It might be worth checking to see if other surname entries on that baptism register also omitted the mother.

[leonardpiggin]

Hi Browneyes
Wil try to check register but I think in a small village everyone would know everybody elses business,very hard to keep secrets when eveerybody is living on top of each other.Len

[MarkJ]

Personally, I think it will just be the case that the priest listed the fathers only - unless the child was illegitimate, in which case he would list the mother and may even add the reputed fathers name.

In many of the parish records for my own parish for example, no mother is listed - it was common practice. Sometimes, with later children, both parents are listed - even though only father was shown for the eldest child. It seems to vary between priests.

I certainly wouldn't read anything into an entry with just the father listed.

Mark

[Browneyes]

The reason I said to look at other surname entries was that it might show consistency in only (like Mark said) noting father's names. :)

[leonardpiggin]

Hi The birth of Robert is given 1786
st James bts father Benjamin mother Anne Blythe
brothers John ,James ,Richard ,William and Joseph all with mothers name Anne Blythe although the incumbent could have changed meanwhile.Len

[leonardpiggin]

Hello again
further to my last comment ,it does say no mothers name given.Len

[Nicolina]

the occupation of Robert as a Shoemaker on the birth record and as a Cordwainer on the marriage to Mary TUNGATE are very similar.
I have seen many Parish Records, especially early ones, where the mother's name is not given so keep an open mind.

[leonardpiggin]

the occupation of Robert as a Shoemaker on the birth record and as a Cordwainer on the marriage to Mary TUNGATE are very similar.
I have seen many Parish Records, especially early ones, where the mother's name is not given so keep an open mind.
Hi Nicolina
The other children given as father Robert Piggin
Benjamin mother Susan baptised St john the Baptist Timberhill on marriage occ. shoemaker
Richard baptised St Julian1823..1851 census also shoemaker also visitor Mary Piggin [Upton] The birthplace of Mary Tungate.
The Thomas baptised in Castle Acre not mentioned again as far as I know.

Another thing that ties them together is the will of Benjamin Piggin Toll bar keeper of Thorpe St andrews who leaves is money and effects to his sons John James Robert and Richard no mention of William ,and Joseph died the same month he was born.
Also Ann Piggin died in Thorpe 1821
All circumstantial ,I know but men have been hung for less.Len