James Galt, Dunino in Fife and also China.....

Post by **Liz Turner** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:53 pm

I hope this might be the right place for this wee question.

I am trying to find the father of James Galt born on 20/2/1846 in Dunino, Fife. His mother was Janet Berwick who later married Archibald Herd. At the time of this marriage in 1855 Janet was 28 and Archibald was 20.

I can find no trace of a marriage between Janet Berwick and James Galt (Snr), however when James Galt (the younger) married Lizzie/Betsy Walker in 1871, his mother's name is given as Janet Berwick and for father it says "James Galt, Road Surveyor, Putative father" deceased. Am I right in thinking that this means his mother may not actually have been married to his father? I presume that I don't really have much chance of finding the alleged father James Galt (senior) but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd be happy to hear from you!

James Galt (the younger) appears in the 1861 Census living with his uncle, Colin Berwick, and in the 1871 Census as a medical student in Edinburgh. He qualified as a doctor and after his marriage later in 1871 he and his new wife head of to Hang Chow in China - he was a medical missionary.

in anticipation, Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:24 am

Hi Liz
The IGI shows:

JAMES GALT
Birth: 20 FEB 1846
Christening: 25 AUG 1846 Dunino, Fife, Scotland

Parents:
Father: JAMES GALT
Mother: JANET BERWICK

"Putative father" in my experience I think means that the child was illegitimate and that is who is believed to be the father - presumably this info is provided by the mother.

I'd be tempted to check out the OPR entry for the birth first, just incase it says something interesting about the father (e.g. "Road Surveyor in St Andrews" - which means you've got a place to tie him down a bit) - you may need to order a film of the OPR from your local LDS centre. Then I'd also be checking to see if any Kirk Session records exist for the time in question - try NAS for that. www.nas.gov.uk

Next I'd be thinking census - I don't think there will be too many James Galts to deal with (bearing in mind the possible spelling variations!) The 1851 would be the obvious one to try first. Maybe try Freecen or if not there, should now only be a short (

) wait for it to come online at SP. If you find him on the census with appropriate occupation this will give you his place of birth and age and after that "his number is up"!

Also a check for a death of a James Galt on Scotlands People (link at top of page) before the date of the marriage would be worth a shot....

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Liz Turner** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 12:51 am

Lesley

Thanks for the suggestions! I'd got his birth date etc from the IGI and confirmed with the family bible. What I haven't done yet, and it looks as if I'm going to have to do it, is go and look at his actual birth entry in the OPR - and hope to pick up some other info.

I'll also try freecen for the 1851 census info. I suspect that since he was living with his uncle Colin Berwick and Colin's sister in 1861 (aged 15) that his mother Janet had "moved on". I will try to find more information about her siblings (she was one of 8) and see where that takes me.

There's no death for James Galt that matches up to 1855.

I'll check church session records for Dunino and surrounds, because they do provide good information. I found lots about my Nicolsons in Pittenweem becuase they were elders etc of church.

Again, thanks for the speedy reply!

Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:30 pm

Hhi Liz
Found myself in an unusual position today where I had to fill in time so looked up your OPR entry:

OPR 425/3 page 29, (page on left side)
James Galt. Baptised at Stravithie Mill James Galt illegitimate child of James Galt and Janet Berwick on the 25th August 1846 born 20th Feby.

So no clues on James senior... but there is a placename. Stavithie Mill is to the north of Dunino Church on a modern OS map.

Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Liz Turner** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:43 pm

Dear Lesley

I can't believe you did that for me - thanks very much. I had thought it would have to wait until the next time I was in Edinburgh! Thanks very much!

The fact that it says illegitimate child doesn't surprise me and James Galt Jnr appears with his uncle in the Census in 1861 at Straithly Mill, as a millwright's apprentice. Somehow between 1816 and 1871 he found the financing to go to university in Edinburgh to study medicine. Since his mother married Archibald Herd in 1855 (she was 28 and he was 20!!), I suspect it might be that James jnr's "father" may have come up with the goods.

There is no hint or sniff among family gossip about any illegitimacy, but given how straight-laced they were and how strictly they kept to the church, I'm not too surprised.

Thanks again for the check up - most unexpected but very welcome!

Liz

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:53 pm

Hi Liz
My pleasure - just added ref for OPR above.

Looks like "Straithly Mill" in 1861 could be Stravithie Mill.

Best wishes
Lesley