View report page

5
63 infants were registered as born out of wedlock in the Mile End
District, or at the rate of 14.5 per 1,000 births.
77 infants were registered as born out of wedlock in the Whitechapel
District, or at the rate of 28 per 1,000 births.
The number throughout the whole of the Borough was 196, which corresponds
to a rate of 17-5 per 1,000 legitimate births. This number compares
very favourably with the number in London as a whole, which was 37 per 1,000
legitimate births.
I am afraid, however, that a large number are registered as legitimate,
who ought to be entered as illegitimate. Couples have lived together for such
a number of years without being legally married, and are looked upon by their
neighbours as married people, that the female often deludes herself into thinking
that she is married. Living together as man and wife without having
entered into the holy bonds of matrimony is a very common practice, especially
with couples, of which the female is beyond child bearing age. My experience
is, that excluding Jews, quite 20 per cent, of the resident population are not legally
married. I know this figure appears to be very high, and probably will be disputed,
but I believe, that persons are more likely to give correct answers in this
direction to officers of the Sanitary Authority, than they would to Poor-law
officials and Clergymen, as it would be to their disadvantage frequently to
admit the above to the two latter.
Marriages.
The marriages during the year numbered 2,663 or 176 less than the
previous year.
The proportion of persons married was 17.5 per 1,000 of the population,
while that for the whole of London was 17 per 1,000.
394 marriages occurred in the Limehouse District, or at the rate of
13.5 persons married per 1,000 of the population.
204 marriages occurred in the St. George's District, or at the rate of
8 persons married per 1,000 of the population.
1,497 marriages occurred in the Mile End District, or at the rate of 26
persons married per 1,000 of the population.
568 marriages occurred in the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of
14 persons married per 1,000 of the population.