Gavin Sorbie - looking for ideas!

[Muriel]

Gavin Sorbie appears in the 1901 census in Middlesborough. He is recorded as being 36 & born in Scotland. He married in 1897, also in Middlesborough, giving his age as 30 and his father as John Sommerville Sorbie, machinist, deceased.

There is only 1 Gavin Sorbie born in Scotland in the relevant period & he is the son of Gavin Sorbie & Agnes Wardrop & is well documented. There is a Mary Sommerville who married into the Sorbies in 1867 so we thought Gavin might have been an early arrival & registered under Mary's maiden name, but no. In the 1871 & 1881 censuses the only Gavin of the right age is Gavin & Agnes' son, so doesn't look as if our Gavin was adopted as a small child - at least not in Scotland. No sign of a suitable John Sorbie dying in the period from 1860-1897 & in the very extensive Sorbie family tree there is only the 1 Sommerville listed.

We can't think why he would say he was born in Scotland if he wasn't & there's no sign of him that I can find in FreeBMD. I don't believe in landings - has anyone any ideas

Muriel

[JustJean]

Hi Muriel

Tell me if you've eliminated this one......from the 1881 census

Name: Gavin Sorbie
Age: 17
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1864
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: John
Mother's Name: Isabella
Gender: Male
Where born: Paisley, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 573
Registration district: Paisley
Civil Parish: Paisley Low Church
County: Renfrewshire
Address: 6 Stevenson St
Occupation: Coachman Driver

Household Members:
Cristiniea Sorbie 20
Gavin Sorbie 17
Grace Sorbie 14
Grace Sorbie 19
Isabella Sorbie 43
Isabella M Sorbie 7
Janet Sorbie 9
John Sorbie 43
John Sorbie 21
Robert Sorbie 12
Thomas Sorbie 19
William Sorbie 5

From the IGI...

GAVIN SORBIE Male

Birth: 23 OCT 1861 High Church, Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland

Parents:
Father: JOHN SORBIE
Mother: ISABELLA MURRAY

Best wishes
Jean

Two seconds later answering my own question....doesn't look likely to be him does it?

1891 census....

Name: Gavin Sorbie
Age: 28
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1863
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Maggie
Gender: Male
Where born: Paisley, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 573
Registration district: Paisley
Civil Parish: Paisley Low Church
County: Renfrewshire
Address: 4 Stevenson St
Occupation: Cab Driver

Household Members: Name Age
Alexander Sorbie 14 Ds
Gavin Sorbie 28
Isabella M Sorbie 2
John Sorbie 4
Maggie Sorbie 28
Maggie V Sorbie 6

[Muriel]

Absolutely right Jean, it ain't him. We think we've got all the reasonable Gavins eliminated, also possible Johns as father - the only possible is John Sorbie b. 1818 Langholm who died 1891 & we think he's unlikely as he lived in Langholm all his life, was single & a dry-stane dyker! AND he doesn't seem to have any Sommerville connections! I've a nasty feeling that unless a miracle happens we may have to say that we'll never know. There are descendents in Oz & they don't have any information either.

Muriel

[Currie]

Hello Muriel,

When and where did your Gavin Sorbie die? Was there any extra information on his death registration?

Alan

[Muriel]

Hi Alan

We know that Gavin died in 1937, still in Middlesborough but haven't seen his d.c. yet. I will be interesting to know if the father's name is the same - English certificates do not give the mother's name - sexist I call it

Muriel