Letters

BIRTH-MYSTERY CLUE

I was really interested to read the ‘Eureka Moment’ in the August issue. Jane Bennet-Earle’s grandfather was given away to other members of the family even though his parents were wealthy. The same thing happened to my father who was informally adopted (it was 1907) in Glasgow, the birthplace of his legal father.

I managed to solve the mystery with a clue from a genealogist at a family history fair. He told me that a possible cause was when the official parent was not the real father. I was able to prove this when I discovered that the parents had separated before the time of his birth. I even found an application for divorce papers, although the name on his birth certificate was his ‘legal’ father.

I thought this might help Jane explore a different option, or anyone else with a similar story.

Anne Nichols, Isleworth

PHOTO CONNECTION

In the August issue of your magazine