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When I started my family tree, I quickly hit a brick wall. My grandfather was born in Switzerland (in the canton of Valais) and his mother's family was catholic. He was brought up almost like a dog by friends of his mother. She didn't want him and/or couldn't keep him. She keeps secret the identity of the man she had my grandfather with so there's no way for me to know more...
What can be the reasons for this ? What can lead her not to tell who this man was ?
The man might have been married, so the child is illegitimate and brings shame to the family
She might have been raped, so the child is illegitimate and brings shame to the family
The man might be a pillar of the community who used her and discarded her, so she puts the anger on the boy
She is Roman Catholic and he was something different entirely, so she puts the unacceptable on the boy
She is crazy as all get out and would desert or neglect the child anyway
So many reasons and people do the most awful things to the vulnerable. bottom line, from what you have found out you can't know why your grandfather's mother treated him as she did. I am sympathetic and hope he had a good life despite that.
People are strange. for example, my ex-husband was born in Pennsylvania in 1950. His father's family were off the boat Irish Catholics and his mother's were long time Pennsylvania Dutch. His father died two weeks before he was born and Mom raised him as a semi Lutheran but NOT in the catholic faith. His father's parents and many siblings would have nothing to do with my ex or his mother, supposedly because his Mom did not raise him as a catholic.
While I suspect there is more to the story, nonetheless to some people their religion or circumstances of birth can cause what seems to me abnormal reactions.
The man might have been married, so the child is illegitimate and brings shame to the family
She might have been raped, so the child is illegitimate and brings shame to the family
The man might be a pillar of the community who used her and discarded her, so she puts the anger on the boy
She is Roman Catholic and he was something different entirely, so she puts the unacceptable on the boy
She is crazy as all get out and would desert or neglect the child anyway
So many reasons and people do the most awful things to the vulnerable. bottom line, from what you have found out you can't know why your grandfather's mother treated him as she did. I am sympathetic and hope he had a good life despite that.
People are strange. for example, my ex-husband was born in Pennsylvania in 1950. His father's family were off the boat Irish Catholics and his mother's were long time Pennsylvania Dutch. His father died two weeks before he was born and Mom raised him as a semi Lutheran but NOT in the catholic faith. His father's parents and many siblings would have nothing to do with my ex or his mother, supposedly because his Mom did not raise him as a catholic.
While I suspect there is more to the story, nonetheless to some people their religion or circumstances of birth can cause what seems to me abnormal reactions.
good luck with your search
Thank you very much for your answer
And you're right, maybe the man was married or raped her, or was in another religion or from somewhere else, there's no way for me to know...
Anyway thank you very much for your help and informations
My first thought is your g-grandfather was illegitimate, so there was shame by his mother in having him as a son. The other poster's scenarios make sense as well. If you haven't already, maybe you could read about the social mores of the canton your g-grandfather lived in at the timeframe to get a better idea.
My first thought is your g-grandfather was illegitimate, so there was shame by his mother in having him as a son. The other poster's scenarios make sense as well. If you haven't already, maybe you could read about the social mores of the canton your g-grandfather lived in at the timeframe to get a better idea.
It's a good idea thank you
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