I had assumed from your description, the parents were known, but the paternal grandpartents were unknown. Sometimes later in life, the parents are named, so you see names in later records that you would not see in earlier records. Perhaps it was an oversight on the priest's part but I doubt it. The records were checked by regional overseers.
I suppose one can be literal about these things, but the reality most times the father was known, except, perhaps to the priest. And even then I have my doubts that he did not know, as these were small places. The exception would be foundlings. So incognito can mean the father will remain unknown because the mother chooses not to name him. You can see records that reflect the difference when an unmarried mother names the father, the priest writes something to the effect, "the father is so and so, according to the mother". In other cases, the priest writes the parents are unmarried and sometimes not of age. In our day, father unknown, can literally mean the mother does not know which of the men in her life is the father. The only time I can see this applicable to our ancestors is if your ancestor was a slave. JR --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership." -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
