My paternal grandmother, Florence Annie Jury, was born 4th May 1887 at Brentor, obviously illegitimate as there is no father named on the birth certificate. Her mother was Laura Jury Would there be any records for this time, such as Bastardy Bonds, available to look at to see if there is any further information
Laura married John Balkwell Sept qtr 1889, had another daughter Beatrice 1890, both girls with grandfather John Jury in 1901,suggest that John Balkwell was also father of Florence.Do you have the marriage cert for Florence? if it says her fathers name was John, and perhaps same occupation as John Balkwell,? might add weight to the theory. Quite rare to have a blank in that column. No bastardy orders on National archives site. Hope that helps.
Have just found florence on census for 1891 known as Annie, described as wifes daughter by John Balkwell. 1901 she is living with her grandmother Harriett and uncle John, census transcription shows her as granddaughter, and Beatrice is Beatty granddaughter. So looks as if John B might not be the father. Marriage cert might give a clue especially if it says deceased. Sorry cant get any nearer.
FindMyPast has the marriage certificate for Florence Annie JURY and Sydney James MURRIAN of 24, Bryan Terrace, Victoria, Monmouthshire on 10 August 1908 at Brentor Church by banns. Her Father is specified as John JURY, labourer who was present as a witness. In view of the other information I suspect this relationship is doubtful.
I agree with Peter, may be that after grandmother died she was brought up by her uncle, who was John and was on the census living with her and his mother. Or her father was a John,(different surname) perhaps died in an accident, and her mother married his best friend?!!!! ones imagination can go into overdrive!!!! Sorry we cant do better than that! At least you can go back further on the maternal side, through William and Harriett Jury. Good luck.
Thanks both for your info. Have been researching this part of the family for ages and been in overdrive for ages. I have come to the firm conclusion that Florence Annie was illegitimate.
The fact that in the Census (when John had already married her mother, Laura Jury - in July 1889) John Balkwell said, in the relationship column that, rather than simply saying Florence was a daughter, she was "Wife's daughter" is I feel a very telling comment, and with the blank in her birth certificate for the name of the father, makes me think that she must have been illegitimate, and her father was someone else. When many years ago I was being taught by a genealogist how to do family history, I was told - and am sure I have also read it elsewhere - that if the father's name is blank on the birth record, it is an almost certain indicator that the child was illegitimate.
Certainly, the fact that her father is named as John Jury in the marriage register when she married my grandfather Sidney is a puzzle, as the only John Jury I know of in the family around this time, was her Uncle John, and the least said about that possibility the better !! The only reason I can think of for that is the as, presumably her uncle was "giving her away", the vicar made the assumption he was her father (or they said he was), and perhaps they felt the least said to correct that assumption the better.
All I was thinking (in making my original enquiry) was that there may have been action by Poor Law officials (and her aunt was on outdoor relief so they knew the family?), so wondered whether, even if she refused to say who he was, officials tried to get Laura to identify the father, in case she became a burden on the "parish". Interesting that I do not recall ever finding a baptism for Florence as no doubt the vicar would also have tried to get her to reveal the father.
There was certainly continued close contact between my grandparents and the Balkwell's as I have photographs of several visits to them (including my father and his brother) in Oxfordshire, where John and Laura were in 1911 and where they had 8 children of their own.
Great pity that I didn't start my family history research 20 years earlier as with relatives etc. then still living, they could have been able to help with this puzzle (and many others). However, I didn't so it has to continue to be speculation fuelled by experience and the very able assistance of others.
My grandfather was illigitimate, much to my fathers embarassment when he found out, (after his father had died). When grandfather married he gave his fathers name as the same as his own, and deceased, so it was all going on then! In over 25 years of researching I have only seen one marriage entry where the fathers name has been left completely blank. Sounds as if Karen has found a prospective father.
Was concerned that, in the light of comments by Judith, I had misunderstood the "rules" regarding not finding a father's name on a Birth Certificate, so decided to look for further info.
Found a very interesting on-line article by Family Search "Illegitimacy in England" and also very detailed comments (on Bastady and Illegitimacy) in a reference book (something of "biblical proportions")- "Ancestral Trails " by Mark D. Herber.
It is clear that a reason can be illegitimacy, but that this is just one of several reasons for not naming a father on a Birth Certificate, which "rules" change over the years.
Apologies to Judith for believing that illegitimacy was always the only reason.
I do however believe that my paternal grandmother was illegitimate, especially in the light of the bastady case brought by Laura in June 1887 against William Henry Doidge, who was ordered to pay 2 shillings a week until Florence was 13 - equivalent, it appears, to be over £9 per week in modern terms.
Laura was, from the references I found, quite entitled at the time to take her action in the Court and this could be against the father or (I assume if he had no money) his parents!!, so whether William Henry Doidge was the father or a parent is unclear.
There were known Doidge families in the area at the time, so will further research the Census years at the time to see if it is possible to narrow down who this William Henry Doidge may have been.
Thank you again for all your help. This Message Board (and responders) is an invaluable aid to research and is an excellent resource provided by the Society.
