illegitimate

blueladybird · Post by **blueladybird** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:28 pm

can anyone tell me when illegimate was removed from birth certificates I have one on my tree 1890 and was wondering when it was removed.

Post by **AndrewP** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 6:54 pm

Hi Blueladybird,

The use of the term “illegitimate” in column 1 of the birth and death registers was discontinued from 1919 (Registrar General’s amending regulation to registrars, 19 December 1918).

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **SarahND** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 7:02 pm

Hi Blueladybird,
Welcome to Talking Scot!

I know you have made a few posts already, but so far have not been "officially" welcomed, so thought I would wave the flag at you

. I'm hoping someone will come along who knows the situation in Scotland, as I can only speak for the U.S. I know that at least up until 1916 (the most recent birth cert I have handy on my computer!) the question was asked: Legitimate? And the person recording the birth would write in "yes" or "no". I'm not at home where I could look at my own or my children's certificates to see if the question was still asked.
Any one else have some more recent evidence?
Regards,
Sarah

P.S. Ah, I see that Andrew has just answered your question. Still wonder about the U.S. ones though

gzmcwherter · Post by **gzmcwherter** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:12 pm

As far as U.S. certificates are concerned, the answer is "It depends". Each state issued its own certificates, beginning on different dates, and chose what information to include. Multiply this by 50 and you have some of the joys of American research.
A quick check on the computer of one of the few U.S. birth certificates I've scanned, issued in 1897 by NYC (not the state of NY), does not have a place to list if the child is legitimate.
Regards,
Gina

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:09 am

My husband's bc from 1944 in the state of Ohio just had a place asking if the mother was married, yes or no. I think mine from Michigan in 1950 was the same, but in 1968 a friend of mine was in a nursing program and I remember her saying that at one point the Michigan birth certificates had illegitimate in red ink!

By the 1980's, in Michigan you could put anything you wanted on the certificates for parents names.

Carol

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 3:37 am

I've been told they used that red ink on the certificate trick in Queensland as well. I remember seeing Queensland birth microfiche with illegitimate entries but can't recall anything like it for any of the other Australian states.

Alan