Mother-daughter: a difficult journey within our genealogies

Key dates, useful records: how to find information about an unmarried mother? And, if possible, about the unknown father?

© Gallica - BnF

In past centuries, the term 'unmarried mother' was used to refer to any woman who had one or more children out of wedlock. The situation of these mothers was difficult, marked by fear and distress. To avoid disgrace, many were forced to hide their pregnancy, give birth alone (or with the help of a midwife), or even abandon their child. 

At the time, abortion was punishable by law - it had to remain secret but it was extremely dangerous for mothers who, in addition, did not all have the means to pay for the services of a 'angel maker'. This is why many unmarried mothers were forced to abandon their child. 

By searching various records, even civil status records, it is sometimes possible to find the biological father - who may acknowledge the child at the time of marriage a few years later. However, this remains rare. Most often, even if the father is known within the village, he will never be held accountable. It remains for the dishonored young unmarried mother to find a man to marry. He might consider acknowledging this child who is not his at the time of marriage. 

The journey of an unmarried mother and children in a few key dates

1556 : to limit the number of infanticides following relationships and pregnancies out of wedlock, an edict by Henry II made pregnancy declarations mandatory for unmarried girls and widows. Women who did not comply risked the death penalty. 

1638 : the Saint Vincent de Paul congregation founded the Foundling Hospital and established the placement of children with wet nurses to improve the situation of children of unmarried mothers and abandoned children.

1793 : the Convention of August 9 made the Nation responsible for orphaned and abandoned children and provided for assistance to unmarried mothers in each department.

1804 : the Napoleonic Code prohibited paternity searches (except in cases of rape) and allowed maternity searches by the child. 

1811 : a decree provided for three categories of children taken in by hospitals: foundlings, abandoned children, and orphans. At the same time, turntables within the public assistance hospitals for abandoned children allowed mothers to leave their child anonymously. However, they were abolished in 1850 as they were deemed too incentivizing. They were replaced by welcome offices to try to offer solutions to young mothers in need.

Useful records to find information about an unmarried mother

You have come across a birth record of a child born to an unknown father and you are looking for information about the mother? Here are some useful resources:

- Civil status records, looking for marriage certificates, acknowledgment certificates, or death certificates that might give you new clues.

- Records of abandoned, found, and assisted children, files on public assistance, maternal and child protection - at the AD, in series X - Assistance and providence, then in sub-series 3X.

- The archives of Notre-Dame de Charité du Bon Pasteur - which was in charge of collecting minor girls in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

- Le birth register of unmarried mothers kept by the administration of the hospice of La Charité in Lyon - sub-series 5Q.

- Birth declaration and registration records, medical observation records of births, and medical files - at the AD, series B or series E, or series HDEPOT, sub-series F and Q.

💡 There is a Facebook group dedicated to unmarried mothers in genealogy, you might find help there!