In light of the a talk heard at the BYU Family History conference regarding First Heart Then Chart, I would like to start a series on stories.

Some of the best family stories I heard were from Grandma who had a wonderful sense of humor and her stories generally centered around Grandpa, who

gave her great material to work with. Grandpa and Grandma raised their children during the depression years in the Chicago area and survived because Grandpa thought he could do anything and Grandma always found the thin line between comedy and tragedy.

And so this series is called LIFE WITH HERMAN and will begin with just a short introduction by Grandma followed by a short paragraph leading us into a glimpse of Grandpa’s personality.

See more at: http://www.pricegen.com/life-with-herman/

About Price & Associates Genealogists

Located one block from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Price & Associates is able to trace most family histories back four or five generations without difficulty. With additional assistance from our research professionals across the globe, we have successfully traced genealogies back as many as thirty generations—to William the Conqueror, 1066 A.D. and beyond.

Price & Associates professional genealogy researchers have been helping people discover their heritage for more than thirty years. As one of the United States' largest genealogical firms, we have assisted thousands of families to organize, chart, and verify their ancestral lines. Price & Associates uses the best software and genealogy resources available, and even provides access to free databases and researching aids to everyone interested in their family history.

See more at: http://www.pricegen.com

(From Ancestral Trails, original edition and Tate’s The Parish Chest)
Compiled Nov 2004 by Richard W. Price

Bastard is properly the base child of a father of gentle or noble birth, but more generally any illegitimate child; child born out of wedlock, base-born child; basterino; pack-saddle child; natural child; of natural birth; unfathered, etc.

Percentage of children born illegitimate in three different parishes in three different counties:
1588-1600 None
1601-1650 .69%
1651-1700 1.35%
1701-1750 1.96%
1751-1800 9.97%
1801-1835 6.18%

A child born out of wedlock is legitimated by the subsequent marriage of his parents

1837-1965 about 4-7% of births were illegitimate

It is suggested the increase in illegitimacy in the 18th century was caused by the rapid growth in ale houses 1730s to 1780’s. Peter Laslett in The World We Have Lost (1965) states” Our ancestors, by this test of bastards born and registered as such, were rather more moral sexually than are we ourselves.”

Where to find records of illegitimate children – especially the name and identity of the father:

The first and best place to locate information on illegitimacy, including the name of the father, was in the parish registers. 1538-present
Civil registration (birth and marriage certificates) 1837-present might name father, although note laws referenced below.

A parish Edgmond, Salop has a special bastard register 1797-1828

1614 Frendelesse the sonne of Joane Robinsonne base gotten as she saythe by one John Longe was baptysed the first day of November

1651 Roger ye sonne of I know not who was baptized I know not when
1652 12 June 1698 at Wolstanton, Staffs; Baptized Providence, an infant whom her father and mother abandoned; but God will take care of her

Vestry Minutes:

Bastardy bonds, bastardy orders or maintenance orders were often kept, showing the name of the father.

Fathers of illegitimate children were obliged by the parish to care for the child financially. Each case was handled differently. Sometimes there was a lump sum demanded to be paid to the parish (which then would care for the mother and child until the child reached adulthood – age of 21/18)
In 1800 in Stockton, Salop

- See more at: http://www.pricegen.com/bastardy-or-illegitimacy-in-england/

When you’re in the business of genealogy, you sometimes have those cases that really try your research skills. That was definitely the case with William Dickins Cockerill. For many years, William’s paternity was a mystery. He was born in England, but immigrated to England as a young man. All William knew of his family was that his father was “Mr. Dickins” and his mother was “Mary Cockerill.”

With only that small seed of information to feed our search, we were able to locate William’s christening records in Kislingbury, Northamptonshire. According to record, William was christened on April 28 or 1823. Christening records during this time period reflect illegitimacy differently, and the father of the child is only sometimes identified. In the case of William, who was born out of wedlock, only his mother, Mary Cockerill is listened in the records.

Disappointed in the lack of information the christening records presented, we started digging deeper. We combed through documents from the Northamptonshire Country Record Office. These included the Quarter Sessions Record Books, Quarter Sessions Rolls and Kislinbury Charity Account. The charity accounts detailed payments to the poor within the parrish, but unfortunately, there was no mention of a Mary Cockerill or her child. However, we knew that Northampton, less than five miles from Kislingbury, held its own court of Quarter Sessions, and we wondered if perhaps Kislingbury might have fallen under the jurisdiction of Northampton Town Quarter Sessions, although we already knew that fewer records had survived this court than many others.

For More Details: http://www.pricegen.com/busting-through-the-genealogical-wall/

Website: http://pricegen.com

As a genealogist, there are few public records that are more exciting than a will. Only a small percentage of the population left wills prior to the 20th century, although some sources speculate that during the 15th century as much as 70% of men did. By the late 17th century, however, as few as two percent of common citizens left a will. During this time in England, the succession of land was rather straightforward. Land generally passed from husband to wife (for the course of her life) and then to children and heirs. English women were barred from owning land until 1883, and even after, women rarely left wills unless they were widowed.

Regardless, this document can offer us a great deal of information. The creation of a will was left almost entirely to attorneys, who would be summoned by the property holder and given specific instructions. Once the will had been completed, the testator would sign in the presence of the attorney and two witnesses. In the case of more common folks, a parson or curate would often step in to record last wishes due to the sole fact that they were literate. Prior to 1837, when England passed the Wills Act, it was not uncommon for attorneys to forge signatures, especially if the testator was ill or incapacitated. The Wills Act also made it illegal for beneficiaries to witness the signing of a will.

Some of the more customary practices found in these wills include the donation of assets to churches and charities, which society saw as a moral obligation. This custom now helps lend genealogists important clues about testators– like where he grew up, attended school, apprenticed, or a number of other associations or organizations in which he may have participated. In the medieval times, it was customary to divide assets three ways, with a third going to each; the man’s wife, his oldest son and to charities, bells and masses.

While typically the oldest son received the largest portion of assets, it was not unlikely for younger sons to receive smaller inheritances, or for daughters to receive a cash sum to serve as a dowry. However, all children are not always included or named within a will. This is especially true of married children, who would have received their inheritance at the time of marriage.

In the case of unmarried men, we have found that landladies, nurse-keepers and others who have offered them care and nurturing, are frequently chief beneficiaries.

Furthermore, the description of relatives within the will can lend some confusion. In English records as well as early North American probate records, the term “son-in-law“ or “daughter-in-law” usually denoted a step-child, while those who married trueborn children are recognized simply as a son or daughter. Additionally, the word cousin may refer to any sort of relative. For example, Shakespeare described his granddaughter as his niece.

Before 1858, a large variety of courts proved wills. Most of these were ecclesiastical courts belonging to the Church of England. The Prerogative Courts of Canterbury or York held probate records of the wealthy and important. As genealogists, the indexes to these higher courts are always worthy of a search, as the courts were not confined to the wealthy. The best resource for wills is the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.), which took precedence of all other jurisdictions in England and Wales and holds records dating from 1383.

Lower courts of the diocese or peculiar or other jurisdictions exist in virtually every county, and many of these wills are now available online. Virtually all English and Welsh probate records are on microfilm at the LDS Family History Library. While the use of English and Welsh probate courts can be complicated, you can learn how to utilize these valuable resources by consulting the following sources:

www.genuki.org.uk – Click on the country, then the county, then Probate records

wiki.familysearch.org – Type in Wales Probates or England Probates to find articles with detailed descriptions of the British probate records.

www.ancestry.co.uk – Click on Search, then Wills & Probates

The National Wills Index is the largest on-line resource for pre-1858 English and Welsh probate material containing indexes, abstracts and sources documents, most not available anywhere else online. These date from the 14th century. It can be accessed at www.origins.net.

After 1858, all English and Welsh wills were proved and housed in a central location. These are all indexed and the calendars are available on Ancestry.co.uk.

Wills can be a wonderful resource to assist you in your search for possible ancestors. You should always check for a will, regardless of the socioeconomic class of the individual or family.

For More Details: http://www.pricegen.com/english-wills-and-other-probate-records/

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By Phone

800-288-0920

801-531-0920 (For local callers)

By Fax 801-359-4301

By Postal Mail

Price & Associates Inc.

15 West South Temple

Suite 570

Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Genealogy involves studying family history and lineage. In doing genealogical work, all that is needed is to get the basic information like names plus a birth date and birthplace to properly identify an individual and trace back ancestry. As easy as it sounds, it can be difficult when sources of this information are scarce and especially more so as the lineage go back further in time and are from different locations. For those who want to work as far back as possible this causes a problem because it cuts the line and hinders further progress. For people who seriously want to get their genealogy done and encounter this challenge, professional genealogy research services can be the answer.

Professional genealogy services provide valuable help in tracing many family histories. Going back four or five generations can be done without difficulty and working back much further is not impossible. With a crew of research specialists including professional genealogists, most genealogy companies have the capability and resources to find what many ordinary people have difficulty looking for. With years of experience and expertise, genealogy researchers can help in organizing, charting and verifying family lines even for multi-cultural or immigrant families. They use exhaustive means to provide results including offshore onsite research in applicable cases.

While genealogy research services come with a cost, the help and results they provide are worth it as many people who have tried them will attest. Results are provided in a professional manner complete with detailed research report and documents appropriately reviewed by a professional genealogist. Some genealogy companies also include preparation of temple cards for their LDS clients who consider working on family history a sacred responsibility. For others it is merely a hobby or an activity for the satisfaction of preserving history. But whatever the motivation, individuals can find discovering their heritage is rewarding and priceless.

For more information on how a professional genealogy company can be of help, representatives can be reached for a free consultation.

Richard Price

Price & Associates Inc

15 West South Temple #570, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

801-531-0920

800-288-0920

http://www.pricegen.com

Website: http://pricegen.com

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