AM I ABLE TO LOCATE BIRTH NAME USING OTHER DATA

[q98]

I should be extremely grateful if anyone can advise if I am able to locate a birth name using data contained in "Extract of Entry in the Adopted Children Register kept at the General Registry Office, Edinburgh". The individual concerned was my Aunt.

The extract lists:
Entry/Adopted Name/Date of Birth/Sex/Names & Address of Adopters/Date of Adoption & Court by which made/Date of Registration & Signature of Registrar-General

[LesleyB]

Hi Jim

For obvious reasons, the Adopted Children Register kept at the General Registry Office, Edinburgh is closed to pubic view. I believe after 100 years there is likely to be access, year by year. Currently the only person who may view an entry is the adopted person themselves, on applicaiton to do so, or a representative nominated by the adopted person.
Also see: http://www.nas.gov.uk/guides/adoptions.asp

Who can inspect the legal records of an adoption?
Adoption processes are among the most confidential records held in the courts and the NAS and they are closed to general public access for 100 years. This means that the staff of the NAS are also forbidden to examine them. Each process is individually sealed and the indexes themselves are restricted. The processes may, however, be opened to access in the following circumstances:

* to the adopted person if he or she is over 16 years of age. They must produce their birth certificate (to prove that they are adopted), together with some independent proof of their identity (passport, driving licence, staff pass from place of employment, etc).
* to a person authorised in writing by the adopted person. A copy of this authorisation must be given to the NAS. By law, the NAS cannot themselves inspect a process on behalf of an adopted person.
* to a representative of one of the organisations that deal with adoptions in Scotland, or to an authorized social worker. As before, this authority must come in writing from the adopted person.
* exceptionally, and on application to the court that originally dealt with the adoption, a person other than the adoptee may be allowed to inspect the adoption process. This is very rare and is usually only granted for reasons such as medical grounds. Once it has been examined, the packet of process papers is resealed in the presence of the person who has read them. All enquiries are kept confidential and the NAS keeps no permanent record of the names or other details of people who have looked at their adoption papers.

Best wishes
Lesley

[q98]

Thank you Lesley for your advice. I can prove my line back to David FERGUSON (b. 1735) who, in 1762, married Margaret McCREADIE (b. 1740).

The remaining data sought to complete my tree is my Aunts birth name and place. "Nice to have" data would be the burial location of John McCREADIE (b. 13 Jul 1848, Ballantrae d. 02 Aug 1879, onboard No. 1 tug boat, ½ mile offshore Ayr Harbour). I know he was not buried in Ballantrae so it must be one of the cemeteries around Ayr.

Kindest regards and thanks again.