Correction on a birth cert - help please

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Can anyone give a definitive answer ? On a birth cert in the column is written this:

'In entry No 293 col 5 (name, surname and maiden surname of mother) 'Smith' read 'Smith otherwise Jones'. Corrected on the 25th August 1927 by me R.S. Martin Registrar on production of a statutory Declaration made by Edith Mary Jones otherwise Smith and Ruth Jones.' -

The child was given the name Smith and there is no father. Edith Mary is the mother

Any ideas please (names changed to protect the innocent )

[Olde Crone Holden]

I read the situation as being that Edith Mary Jones swanned around calling herself Smith, either pretending she was Mrs Smith, or maybe it was the name of her stepfather?

Ruth Jones was horrified to hear that Edith had registered her child as Smith and said "Oooh, you'll get into terrible trouble when they find out you aren't entitled to be called Smith"

(In fact, Ruth was wrong - Edith could call herself whatever the *** she liked, quite legally)

OC

[KiteRunner]

Yes, that sounds the likeliest explanation to me too.

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

I agree too.....

Ruth Jones was horrified to hear that Edith had registered her child as Smith and said "Oooh, you'll get into terrible trouble when they find out you aren't entitled to be called Smith"

Was Ruth the elder (and bossier) sister of Edith, by any chance??!

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Have discovered Ruth was the mother guys. many thanks

[Little Nell]

And would no doubt be appalled that this lapse was being discussed on a public forum!

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

And would no doubt be appalled that this lapse was being discussed on a public forum!

pmsl!!

[Heather Positive Thinker]

Hence the false names Though they are both long gone