Hi,
I'm new to this forum but having viewed some previous posts I see that there are so many helpful people with great resources info so perhaps someone could help my family history query?
It's quite sensitive as it deals with immediate family, so I'll try to explain myself.
My gran, Daphne, gave birth to my mum, Jenny in Gloucsetershire 1944. However my gran was not married and she brought up my mum as a single parent. My mother has never known who her dad was - on her birth certificate no father's name is given and she was given her mum's surname. My gran has never told my mum and my mum has never really asked (out of respect/fear).
About twenty-five years ago, my mum was contacted by a half-sister she never knew existed. She was born in 1950 and was put up for adoption. She is called Hilary although on her original birth certificate my gran had named her Jillian. My auntie's adoptive mother was given info about her background which she passed onto her. At the time, by accident she was given my mum's contact details. When my mum confronted my gran about this half-sister she asked which one??
My mum never asked about this other child at the time. But Hilary's adoptive mother seems to think that this is true and that my gran had given birth to a girl before my mother and had named her Jane before giving her up for adoption. No info is concrete however. But there is perhaps some truth - all daughters had names beginning with J, not a coincidence I think.
Unfortunately my gran and grandad (they never had children - and they married 10 years after my mum was born) have recently gone into a home as their health is deteriorating rapidly and are showing signs of dementia. Obviously it would be impossible to ask my gran who my mum's father is and if she ever had another child besides my mum and Hilary. When we were clearing out their house we didn't come across a single letter, diary...nothing in connection with her past.
Anyone know how I could find out my mum's dad? Or find this 'Jane'? How can one access adoption files and records etc....
I appreciate any suggestions....