I've run into a bit of a brick wall researching the Wilkes family.

The person I am interested in is Albert Vincent WILKES. He was born
22 Mar 1902, Stuarts River, NSW, Australia. D. 1973 in Evans Head,
NSW, Australia

Now the squirly part is that the only documentation I have on him is
his marriage certificate (the original, not copy/extract) 22 Nov 1926.

On this his name is listed as Alfred MADDALENA. He lists his fathers
name as Louis MADDALENA. The only other document I have is my
grandmothers Baptism Certificate - her name is listed as Gwendoline
Mary MADDALENA.

I have evidence that his mother, Mary Louisa WILKES married Louis
Napoleon MADDALENA sometime in 1907, after which they had a number of
children.

So, at least until the birth of his daughter in 1927 he was using the
name MADDALENA, I believe he found out some time in 1928 (I have a
letter dated 1960 from the Registrar Generals Dept saying that my
grandmothers birth records were changed in 1928 to list Albert
Vincent WILKES as her father) at some stage after 1927 he started
using the name Albert Vincent WILKES ie mothers maiden name. Birth
certificate lists no fathers name. So he might have needed a birth
certificate at some stage and found out that Louis Napleon MADDALENA
was either not his biological father or was his biological father -
though out of wedlock - and started using his mothers name.

What am I looking for?

1) Evidence, story, family gossip as to who his father might be. His
mothers family are originally from around the Dungog area of the
Hunter Valley but starting around 1971 at least three children,
including Mary Louisa, Clara Caroline and Whitney Wilkes were born in
the Manning River area. Her parents were Thomas Frederick WILKES and
Susannah Philipa GREGORY.

2) Fill in some of the history around the WILKES and MADDALENA families.

3) Some ideas on where information might be found about the real
story of his birth and any tips on tracing children born outside of wedlock.

Cheers,
Michelle