Advice please

d.mackechnie · Post by **d.mackechnie** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:25 pm

Is it possible to find out if my GG/Grandfather adopted a child from his wifes former marriage.

Post by **AndrewP** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:31 pm

Hi there,

If my memory serves me correctly, adoptions in Scotland have been registered since 1930. I presume you are looking before then, so there is not likely to have been any official adoption records made. It is most likely that the child was in the marital household from the time of marriage and was regarded as her son, and his step-son. On records such as censuses, the relationship to the head of the household could show as step-son/daughter, son/daughter or even boarder.

If this child went on to marry, then his/her birth parents should be shown on the marriage certificate. Similarly his/her death certificate should show the names of his birth parents if they were known to the informant who registered the death. So the step-father (or adoptive father) is not likely to show on these documents.

All the best,

AndrewP

Post by **emanday** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:44 pm

If the MC and DC of one of my rellies were to be believed, he was my Grandmother's Uncle. However, he was actually her 1st cousin, being the illegitimate son of her Aunt! He grew up in his grandparent's home and either believed they WERE his parents, or simply chose to regard them as such.

He certainly never seemed to acknowledge his real mother in any documents, although his grandparents called him grandson on censuses.

Chris Paton · Post by **Chris Paton** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:55 pm

My first cousin was raised by my gran, and everyone was told that she was her daughter. Her mum was very young when she had her, and so they were always treated as sisters by my gran. As far as I am aware though, there was no formal adoption as such, just a big white lie...! Caused a bit of a situation at my gran's funeral when the minister listed my cousin as one of her surviving daughters. My eldest uncle got awfully upset over that, as it just wasn't true.

Families...!

StewL · Post by **StewL** » Tue May 15, 2007 4:30 am

Hi Chris

I too have an adopted son in one of my family lines.
He is probably not an offspring of William and Margaret Barton as they would have been 13/14 years of age when he was born. In the 1881 census he is definately down as an adopted son, but where and who from is anyones guess at this time. Even the lodger in the family would only have been 15 when he was born, but of course not impossible that he was the father

Of course that is not to say that he isnt one of Wullie and Maggies wean from a different partner

he is down as being born in Coatbrig.

I guess I will have to try again and find out who his parents might be, I havent had much luck so far.

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Wed May 16, 2007 2:07 pm

My Granny was born c1877, probably Berwick on Tweed - I have not been able to find her birth certificate yet. Rebecca, her mother, married William in 1879, in Berwickshire where they lived for the rest of their lives. In 1881 census Granny was recorded as 'step-daughter' to William. In 1891 census she was recorded as 'daughter' to William. In both her marriage and death certificates her parents were given as William and Rebecca. Possibly she never knew that she was not William's child.
I did wonder if she may have been his but why would she have been entered as his step-daughter?