Clark's of Aberdeen? i think?

[KurtisGale]

I live in Norfolk. I probably will not use this site very much because I have been asked to help out a 92yr old family friend of mine helping find out his father's family. He was born in Norfolk but his father was born in Nigg, Cove, Aberdeen in april 1876. he was the Illegitimate son of John Clark a Farm Servant and Georgina Joan Watt. John lived in Wellhouse, Alford when he was born.
I Georgina's family sorted, but sadly John Clark's side is a mystery. I have had help but not certain of his line. A kind soul has helped me out on FB with this quest!

I believe (and not certain) that William Clark's father was John Clark Born about 1856 in Kintore. By 1881 he was a farm servant living at Greystone, Alford.

This is where i hit a stumbling block. Any help would be most welcome

[SarahND]

Hello KurtisGale and

When you say that you hit a stumbling block at the 1881 census, I'm not sure whether you are trying to go backwards or forwards, but here's a try doing a bit of both

Is that the John B Clark age 15 in 1871, born in Kintore, working as a farm servant for James Mathieson in Fintray?

He appears to be living with his grandparents in Kintore in 1861, they are John Brown, 56 Ag lab & crofter born in "Fullgnessie" [sorry, I'm working from an Ancestry transcription] and Christina Brown, 48, born in New Machar. This might explain the middle initial 'B' in 1861 & 1871.

I don't find him in 1891, but could he be this one in 1901? The children were all born in Alford.

79 High Street, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
John Clark, 45, Head, born Kintore, Aberdeen, Port Boy
Mary Clark, 36, Wife, born Coull, Aberdeen
James Clark, 8, Son, born Alford, Aberdeen, Scholar
Maggie Ann Clark, 3, Daur, born Alford, Aberdeen
Elizabeth Clark, 2mo, born Alford, Aberdeen

There is a marriage in Coull of a John Clark and a Mary in 1895, before the younger two children were born. This record should give John's parents.

All very well if this is, indeed, the correct John…

If you specify what you have already found and why you think the John born Kintore in 1856 is your man, maybe we can be of more help.

All the best,
Sarah

[nelmit]

I would certainly agree that John Brown Clark born 1856 at Kintore is the prime candidate for William's father especially as his own father's name was William. I take it John was named as the father on William's birth entry. Is his signature on it?
According to somebody at Ancestry John married Mary McConnach in 1883. I have been lucky in the past and been able to compare original signatures on different documents.

Have you ever contacted Aberdeenshire archives to see if there is anything in the Kirk Session Records regarding the birth?

I see wee William is boarded out in 1881 at Newhills, the details of the fostering should be recorded in the Kirk Sessions too. You may find something useful there.

Just some ideas.

Regards,
Annette

[KurtisGale]

Thank you for your reply's. I am working backwards not forwards As i should have mentioned. Billy said his father has a sister (Name unknown). Since my post the people i got in contacted with have replied and have both said that Georgina had a Illegitimate daughter in 1881. Surname of Petrie. She is not mentioned on the 1881 census when her mother was residing with her sister and brother-in-law.

[nelmit]

Here is the daughter's birth index -

Name: Isabella Petrie
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 17 Mar 1881
Birthplace: Newhills, Aberdeen, Scotland
Father's Name: Alexander Petrie
Mother's Name: Georgina Joan Watt

and it looks like she was raised by her father as she is with him in 1891.

Regards,
Annette

[KurtisGale]

Could someone post the marriage of Clark in Coull? Or a link? I can't get it...

[SarahND]

The marriage is on http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ the pay-per-view government site for vital records. I don't have any credits right now, so didn't actually look at the record, just played with the search function to see what was there. You will have to register on the site and then buy some credits to download the image. The minimum purchase is 30 credits for £7. It costs one credit to see the search results, then 5 credits to download the certificate.

Best wishes,
Sarah

[SarahND]

According to somebody at Ancestry John married Mary McConnach in 1883. I have been lucky in the past and been able to compare original signatures on different documents.

The 1895 marriage in Coull didn't end up being the right person, so this is certainly worth a try. The marriage also took place in Coull

Best wishes,
Sarah