Hi Folks,
I have the birth cert of a Selina Burns, born in 1858, her mother being Matilda Burns and no Daddy registered on the cert at all.
However, I have Selina and Matilda on the 1861 - Matilda having married Henry Hitchcock in 1859 (I have the cert) and Selina is down with the surname of Hitchcock, and daughter of Henry. Now, there is every chance that Henry WAS the father of Selina of course, but we shall never know I guess.
My question is: would Henry have had to officially adopt Selina, or did they just assume Selina went by the name Hitchcock? Selina is down on all the relevant censuses, and her later marriage, as a Hitchcock. Was there proper officialdom back in 1858/1861, or were they all a bit vague about those small matters?
Many thanks - Chris
I have the birth cert of a Selina Burns, born in 1858, her mother being Matilda Burns and no Daddy registered on the cert at all.
However, I have Selina and Matilda on the 1861 - Matilda having married Henry Hitchcock in 1859 (I have the cert) and Selina is down with the surname of Hitchcock, and daughter of Henry. Now, there is every chance that Henry WAS the father of Selina of course, but we shall never know I guess.
My question is: would Henry have had to officially adopt Selina, or did they just assume Selina went by the name Hitchcock? Selina is down on all the relevant censuses, and her later marriage, as a Hitchcock. Was there proper officialdom back in 1858/1861, or were they all a bit vague about those small matters?
Many thanks - Chris
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