mary ann rutherford (smart) born 1880 dunfermline

[william black]

mary ann , was born illigimate18th aug 1880 in townhill dunfermline,no fathers name on birth cert, her mother was georgina rutherford who was born in tranent,mary ann appears on the 1881 cencus living with her grandmother euphemia/ badger / rutherford in townhill.even though mary ann was born illigimate 18 aug 1880 with no father showing on birth cert, her mother georgina married richard black 28th dec 1880 same year,what im trying to find out, is richard black the father ?

[SarahND]

Hello William,
I don't know if you can ever be 100% sure who the father of Mary Ann was (but that could also be said for any child!) unless DNA testing gets much more specific, but if it was known and if Georgina was brought before the kirk session and questioned for the illegitimate pregnancy, then there might be something in the Kirk Session records for Dunfermline. I see that there are several different parishes listed for Dunfermline in the catalog of the National Archives of Scotland. Depending on where you are located, you could either have a look at the records for the years in question or perhaps get someone else to do so for you. 1880 is perhaps a bit late for this, but you never know...

All the best,
Sarah

[william black]

hi sarah, thanks for your reply,i just found it strange that georgina gave birth in aug to illigitmate daughter, then married in dec the same year,more so when 1881 cencus shows her other illigimate daughter margaret living with them under stepdaughter, there again if richard had been the father surely his name would have been on the birth cert, and mary ann would have been living with them,anyway thanks for your help.....william