Looking for a needle in a haystack?

[Barbara B]

I think this may be a non-starter but here goes.
A distant relative in America is trying to find out who her paternal grandfather is. Her father was Henry Samuel Turner born Liverpool 8.10.1914. His mother was Lucy Ann Turner. Lucy Ann said she was at a party on board a ship in Liverpool when she was raped by a ship's officer - probably married.
Henry thought the man may have been called Hunter but other family members have given the name Isaacs.
Has anyone any ideas for finding out the name of Henry's father? The only thing I could suggest was to find Henry's birth certificate and hope there's a name on it.
I suspect it will always remain a mystery
Barbara

[MaryA]

The birth certificate would be the first thing you need and if there are no clues on it then possibly will be the last as only Lucy Ann would know the truth.

Bear in mind that a lady might not want to admit that the act was consensual with a man she hardly knew and give the rape story to corroborate her own innocence.

[dickiesam]

Hi Barbara B,
If Henry was born in Liverpool this looks like the GRO Index reference you need to get the birth cert:

Births Dec 1914:
Turner, Henry S, mother's maiden name - Turner - West Derby - 8b - 960.

If you use the GRO Reference Points facility and use the mother's name as a reference, if this is the wrong birth the GRO will only charge you it will £4 for the search instead of £7 for the cert.
Good luck,
Dickiesam

[Barbara B]

Thanks Mary and Dickiesam.
That thought had crossed my mind, Mary, as well and it's something we'll never know.
Dickiesam, I think Henry's daughter may have the birth certificate but as she's in the middle of moving house I might have to wait a bit. It's possibly too late to really find anything out unless she unearths something during the move.
Cheers
Barbara

[dickiesam]

Just a quick thought...
Does anyone in the family have Henry's marriage cert? If he married in the UK it may have his biological father's name on it, although he may have 'adopted' his mother's married name. That said it looks as though Henry kept his mother's name.

Don't know about US marriage certs if he married there. If he became a US citizen, he may have had to provide a 'full' birth cert.

Dickiesam

[colette]

Hi Barb can't see anyone surname Isaacs in 1911 Lpool Directory working on ships..but whos to say he was from here.. could have been from anywhere

Theres a few Hunters working as Mariners ..where did the name Hunter come from ???

xx

[Barbara B]

Hi Colette
The name Hunter is one that Henry had as a possible name for his natural father.
Dickiesam - he was married in the US so I'll have to wait until his daughter gets back to me for any further details.
Thanks to you both for the interest
Barbara