I've been researching a relations family tree. The search is throwing up many a strange set up, I have a query about registering a birth (something I have never done!) What do you need to register a birth? Do you need to take the new born baby and present it to the Registrar? Do you need to take a piece of paper from a Doctor/Midwife? What is to stop someone walking into the Register Office and registering a birth when no child exists. My specific question relates to the 1920's maybe the system has changed now.
So, couple marry in 1916 while he's on leave from the war. 1920 they have a child. He then moves to a different part of the country and meets another women, she assumes the name of his legal wife. They then have 5 children of their own he registers all the births but gives the mothers name as his his wife's maiden name....is that possible? I know I'm being vague with actual names, this is just a theory and I haven't yet put this to the family members, and of course it could all be illegal. Is there a sound reason for doing such a thing (don't think there was state child benefit back then? Stop neighbours gossip maybe? It would certainly make the children illegitimate. It also makes genealogy research difficult if true!
TIA