Marriage Certificate Description

[Megan Roberts]

I thought that the forum might be interested in the way an absent father was described on an 1858 marriage certificate:

"could give no account of his father"

[sandiep]

It must have been a difficult question to answer!.......must admit havent seen that answer before

[christanel]

Sounds as if an official was using a little bit of diplomacy and empathy. Much gentler than some of the words that could have been used.

Thanks for taking the time to tell us Megan.

Christanel

[Guy Etchells]

It would be a leap of faith to imagine the phrase proved the groom was a bastard.
The phrase simply means the father was not around during the period of memory of the groom.

It could also be he was the result of a posthumous birth or a failed marriage.
Cheers
Guy