Yes, you read that right - Bastard Grandchildren

My 3rd Great-Grandmother - age 6
listed along with baby brother as Bastard Grandchildren. 

Times have surely changed and in many ways, for the best. I came across an 1880 census - which listed my 3rd great-grandmother as head of the house. She was listed as a widow. She was 57. In her household at that time, was my 2nd great-grandmother, age 36. as well as my 1st great-grandmother at age of 6. There also was a baby boy of 6 mos of age listed. What blows me away, is the census taker, took the liberty to list my 1st great-grandmother and her 6 mos old sibling, as "bastard grandchildren."

I kid you NOT. 

You will have to zoom in to see it.

Look for Mary Ann Anthony.  lines 22 and 23.

I was dumbfounded. Not because of 2nd gr-grandmas indiscretion, but how society JUDGED and LABELED innocent children. Like why does the US government need to know that? I have looked through many census reports and have not seen that written before. Was it just the census taker?

It's a good thing, the census taker is dead. I feel bad, that a secret was recorded without any knowledge that it would be revealed a few generations down the line.

Here's a good read: Illegitimacy: the shameful secret



United States Census, 1880
District ED 145
Sheet Number and Letter 349A
Household ID 5843559
Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number T9
Affiliate Film Number 1049
GS Film Number 1255049
Digital Folder Number 005161989
Image Number 00755






















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