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Archiver > TMG > 2004-12 > 1102091228


From: Darrell Martin <>
Subject: Re: [TMG] IllEgitimate Birth Tag
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 10:27:12 -0600 (GMT-06:00)


Hi, Lee:

I think it is both possible and practical to use standard TMG to record an illegitimate birth. One just has to avoid creating, or using, any special Tag for the purpose.

Using the Birth and Relationship Tags in the *usual* way, record the information. Then, in the Memo of the *standard* Birth Tag, state something like:

"The birth was recorded as illegitimate, as John
Smith and Susan Jones were not legally married
at the time."

This is more accurate than most approaches, because illegitimacy (as you pointed out) is a fact about the parents more than it is about the child. This was not the case in times where inheritance depended crucially on legitimate birth, but the above suggested method still works even then.

Anyway, by using the *standard* Tag(s), all of the relationships are shown as desired, and accurately. By stating the additional information in the Memo, the user or a reader may be reminded of the circumstances of the birth. Thus TMG's structure is used fully, but truthfulness is also maintained.

Darrell

-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Hoffman <>
Sent: Dec 3, 2004 9:24 AM

wrote:
>Hi TMG listers. Please help me. How does one use the "illigitmate birth
>tag"? One of the great-grandparents was "illig-bir" and his father also
>had four other children illigitimatelyfrom two different women, along with several
>from a marriage. When using the "illig-bir" tag it does not connect with the
>child, but with the father. The only place I could see to put it is in
>the memo.
> Please explain. Thanks for any experiential help. Barb

[snip]
Thus there is no other way in (standard) TMG to show an illegitimate birth
but to use the BirthIlleg Tag which of course attaches to the child. On
the other hand, there are ways you can document the situation as a Custom
situation in TMG.

One is to make a Custom Tag in which both parents are entered as Principals
and the child is shown as a Witness. If you wish you could just use the
standard Note Tag and adjust the Tag and Witness Sentences as you desire.

A second and more truthful method, that is not very good for narrative
reports, is to create a Custom -ILL Relationship Tag.
[snip]



Darrell A. Martin
a native Vermonter in exile in Illinois


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