Family Historian User Group

I'm sorry if this has been covered  before, but I couldn't find an answer.

What is the genealogically correct way to record an illegitimate child of a woman who later marries e.g. Jane Jones is the daughter of Ellen Jones and Mr Unknown. Ellen Jones then marries John Smith. Do I show Jane only as the daughter of Ellen and Unknown or do I also show her as the stepdaughter of John Smith? Does it make any difference of the child takes the surname of the stepfather? Does it depend on whether the child lives with the step-parent? I'm not sure of the genealogical convention here.

Thanks for your help.

ID:3005

There are no rules, only conventions. You can do whatever you think best represents what you know of her.

I would normally record the birth with the name it was registered (or baptised) as child of the mother and father unknown. Then the step-father's surname (if used) as an alternative name. Who she was brought up by would go in the notes unless you think she was in effect adopted. If you ever find out who the natural father was, you can always move her to the right family later.

I was about to ask a similar question when I read this. You may be able to help in terms of what actually happens.
I was born illegitimately. Father unknown is on the birth certificate. Both my biological mother and the man she married when I was 3 adopted me (perhaps that was the law??). I was given the marriage surname.
I have an adoption certificate (like a birth certificate) showing both parents as the two that married and I have a true birth certificate showing mother only and of course her maiden name.
1. Was/is this how things are done.
2. Do I use Step (father) or adopted [since I was adopted by both] or adopted (father)?
Any help please

I would try to record as clearly as possible what actually happened.

If there is a biological link, record that.

If there is an adoption, that's a legal event, it needs to be recorded also.

To donone: whether you use adopted (father) or adopted by both, record the facts that you put in your post in a note so that the situation is clear.

Jan

Thank you Jan. I find it a little difficult to get used to there not being hard and fast rules for every event and every field of a form.
However, I feel it best to ask and then do what the majority of 'experts' would do.