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Author Topic: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?  (Read 2514 times)
RenataRoux
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Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« on: Wednesday 15 October 08 09:48 UTC (UK) »
My grandmother was born in Inverness in 1901, or so she told her children. Unfortunately she never wanted to talk about her family or their past much. Her name was Flora Gordon but we recently found a document signed by her father, George Lanceley Gordon in which he confirmed that he was the father.
We looked for a marriage certificate for her father and mother, who was also a Flora McPherson but can't find one. We eventually came to the conclusion that my grandmother and her sisters and brothers were born illegitimately and that they were registered under their mother's name and only later changed their surname to Gordon. All of the children were not born in Inverness either as we do know that some might have been born in South Africa. I'm a bit stuck here and really need some help. I'm not sure if a census lookup of the 1901 census will help as she was only born in that year. The only birth registration I could find is that of her father who was born in Haddington. Any ideas on how I can go about finding my grandmother's place of birth? Her exact date of birth was 21-02-1901. 
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Gordon. McPherson.
AMBLY
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #1 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 10:29 UTC (UK) »
Hi RenataRoux

Were Grandmother's siblings older or younger than she?

Cheers
AMBLY
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RenataRoux
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #2 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 10:58 UTC (UK) »
Hi Ambly

She had 5 siblings. One, named Isabella b. 03-07-1898, was older.
We suspect that this sibling was born in South Africa though as she grew up to be Afrikaans whereas the other siblings were bilingual.
It seems as though George Lanceley Gordon met my great grandmother in South Africa but for some reason never married her. They both went to Inverness and some of the other siblings were born there. They later returned to South Africa before the youngest child's birth.
According to my grandmother, she was in Inverness untill the age of 7.

Renata
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Gordon. McPherson.
Piglet01
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #3 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 13:02 UTC (UK) »
Hello,

Looks as though your Flora was a Flora MacPherson - looked for a birth for both Mc and Mac (they're often used interchangeably)

On www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk - also referred to as SP - a pay per view site there are only 3  entries for 1901 births for a Flora Mc/ or Macpherson in Scotland

1901 MACPHERSON   FLORA   F  SLEAT   /INVERNESS   115/00 0019

I'd imagine she's yours.  You now need to part with £6 (which will buy you 30 credits - or someone may have spare.  A total of 6 credits will allow you to download her birth entry.  The birth entry will give mothers and fathers names - and if the mother had been married would have given her maiden name.  Will also give fathers occupation.

The remaining credits will allow for download of the 1901 census details - a copy - not transcription - and will allow you to get a further 3 downloads.

Census in 1901 was on 31st March.

If you post the details others will help   :O)

Regards,   Steve

The other 2 Floras were:

MCPHERSON  FLORA    F   MILTON   GLASGOW CITY/LANARK   
MCPHERSON  FLORA    F   ANDERSTON   GLASGOW CITY/LANARK   
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McDonald originating in Aberlour.  Smith (Aberdeenshire/Aberdeen), Esslemont, Christie, Robbie; Scott (in Aberdour).   Crosbie and Willison.  Borders:  Lawrie, Thomson, Paxton, Peacock, Amos, Robson, Turner, Bertram, Watson
Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #4 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 13:10 UTC (UK) »
Hi

To prevent wasting units - I checked the one that Steve has mentioned earlier on. It is not the correct one.


Gadget
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Piglet01
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #5 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 13:13 UTC (UK) »
Well done Gadget.  Pooh.

Was just about to post McVities message for 10 free SP credits to do a search."

"www.ancestralscotland.com

Registration is free, and there are no commitments etc.,  just register for their quarterly newsletter. Once registered they'll send you a credit code to input on the SP site and voila! "

- and just back off SP - after our message.  In all of Scotland for 1901 there was only one Flora Gordon born:
 
1901 GORDON FLORA F APPLECROSS /ROSS AND CROMARTY 058/01 0012

so - maybe use the free units on her.  You'll need to Register on SP which is free to use them..   :O)
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McDonald originating in Aberlour.  Smith (Aberdeenshire/Aberdeen), Esslemont, Christie, Robbie; Scott (in Aberdour).   Crosbie and Willison.  Borders:  Lawrie, Thomson, Paxton, Peacock, Amos, Robson, Turner, Bertram, Watson
Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #6 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 13:23 UTC (UK) »
I've also checked on Isabella b. 1898 - so far nothing. Obviously was b. S Africa.

Will check on the 1901 for her.

What were the other siblings called?
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Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #7 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 13:29 UTC (UK) »
Only Isabella b. South Africa  b.c. 1998 is living in Musselburgh & Inveresk - surname Cumming, aged 3. Mother Jane. younger brother, Robert,aged 2,


Added- nothing on the passenger lists 1890-1914 for them either  Undecided
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RenataRoux
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #8 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 14:12 UTC (UK) »
WOW! Thank you for everyone's help. I did at one point consider the possibility that Flora was not actually BORN in Inverness but only grew up there.
I wouldn't go on the possibility that MacPherson was used instead of McPherson though but thank you Steve.
The reason I'm saying this is that her mother was also a McPherson and the name is later used again as one of my grandmother's sibling's middle names (which may have been a last name first).
Complicated story unfortunately.
I again considered the possibility of her being born as a Gordon after all and did a few searches and found documents on NAAIRS that states the MOTHER Flora as being a Gordon. So maybe George did marry her?
I'll go on the possibility of her being the Flora Gordon then and continue looking.
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Gordon. McPherson.
RenataRoux
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #9 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 14:25 UTC (UK) »
Hi Gadget

I doubt that Isabella was ever in Scotland to be honest. As I mentioned before, she grew up to be Afrikaans, unlike her siblings. Her maternal grandmother was Afrikaans and may have kept her in South Africa when Flora left with Gordon.
The sibling born closest to Flora (my grandmother) was the a George McPherson Gordon b. 07-07-1902 who wouldn't have shown up on the census then Sad
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Gordon. McPherson.
Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #10 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 14:40 UTC (UK) »
Hi

And was George born in Scotland?

Gadget
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Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #11 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 14:45 UTC (UK) »
Nothing showing for a George M8cpherson or Gordon in Inverness in 1902. Nearest is in Elgin (George Gordon) but I don't want to risk any more credits  Undecided

any others?
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RenataRoux
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #12 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 15:03 UTC (UK) »
As far as we know all the siblings except the youngest were born in Scotland.
Thank you so much for your help Smiley
The others were James b. 27-06-1905 and Donald b. 02-12-1907.
The youngest, a Thomas was definitely born in South Africa again.
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Gordon. McPherson.
Gadget
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #13 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 15:22 UTC (UK) »
No Donalds, either M*cPherson or Gordon b. Invernessshire at that time.

How sure are you that they were born Inverness?


Gadget
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AMBLY
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Re: Flora McPherson/Gordon b. Inverness?
« Reply #14 on: Wednesday 15 October 08 18:33 UTC (UK) »
Hi Renata

I'm going to apolgise in advance for a barrage of questions - but i think they will possibly be crossing our collective mind as we try to help find them  Grin

Quote from: RenataRoux on Wednesday 15 October 08 14:12 UTC (UK)
I wouldn't go on the possibility that MacPherson was used instead of McPherson
Maybe not -   but an official may very well have recorded the name as MacP in registers, indexes or documents. Perhaps documents less so if the family were educated and literate, but still could happen nevertheless.

Is this George Lanceley GORDON  in 1881/1891 - I notice one of his siblings had McPherson as a middle name. (Lanceley, was the maiden name of his mother).

1881: 13 Court Street -  Haddington
Parish 709, ED1, HS 42
Head: James GORDON 59, Major & Adjutant Rifle, b Elgin Morayshire
Wife: Elizabeth GORDON 47, Volunteers Active List, b Ireland
Son: John George GORDON 20, General Clerk, b Haddington
Son: James Lockhart T GORDON 18, Commercial Clerk , b Haddington
Dau: Janet GORDON 17, b Haddington
Dau: Elizabeth Mary GORDON 15, b Haddington
Son: Thomas GORDON 14, b Haddington
Son: George Lanceley GORDON 12, b Haddington
Dau: Martha Lanceley GORDON 10, b Haddington
Dau: Isabella GORDON 8, b Haddington
Son: Alexander Scott GORDON 6, b Haddington
Son: Donald McPherson GORDON 4, b Haddington
Servant: Christina BUE 21, General Servant Domestic, b Haddington

1891: 2 Brighton Place - Duddingston, Portobello, Edinburgh, Midlothian
Parish 684/1, ED 12, HS 10
Head: James GORDON 69, Army Retired Major, b Elgin Morayshire
Wife: Elizabeth GORDON 58, b Ireland
Dau: Martha GORDON 21, b Haddington East Lothian
Dau: Isabella GORDON 19, b Haddington East Lothian
Son: Alex'r GORDON 17, Engineer Apprentic Draughtsman , b Haddington East Lothian
Son: Donald M GORDON 14, Scholar, b Haddington East Lothian

Were this family - the sons - "army" like their father was?
I wanted to see what they were doing and where after 1891 but was having trouble finding any of them last night (may  have been half asleep with being tired  Cool)  Also want to find George or any of the older brothers  in 1891............

I do see a reference to one of the girls in English Natt Archives.
Martha Lanceley GORDON
was a Staff Nurse  - Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service
Reserve - WW1 (Medal Card)

South Africa - 2nd Boer War. Could that be some sort of connector?

You mention NAAIRS  - are you able you tell us what was found there, and what part of South Africa ?

Flora being a "McPherson" - did Flora herself say say this?

Did any of Flora or her  siblings  (apart from George McP) have middle names?  If not -  it seems sort of at odds to me, with George coming from a family where at least one middle name was 'de riguer'...........

And finally  Roll Eyes, if it's not too personal, what was the nature/context of the document in which George Lanceley 'acknowledged paternity of Flora? Are there any documents that categorically state George to be the father of any/all of the other children?

Cheers
AMBLY
« Last Edit: Thursday 16 October 08 04:02 UTC (UK) by AMBLY » Logged
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