Rebecca Macfarlane Stewart - parents information

[MonicaL]

Just trying to review what we have so far on Jessie, Rebecca's mother from the info both of you have added:

1. Mother Jessie Burnett (housekeeper) - from Rebecca's 1922 birth cert?

2. Jessie was Mrs Jessie Burnett, maiden name Graham aged 27 years (assuming that was her age when Rebecca entered the orphanage in early 1925 at the age of 2 and 3 months). Is this from the orphanage papers, where Jessie is described as Mrs. or was she already married when Rebecca was born (see note below)?

    This was then corrected - Graham was her married name - Burnett her maiden name. 

3. Jessie gave Rebecca up and went to Isle of Bute we believe at Ascog Farm, Rothesay - from Rebecca's orphanage papers very early 1925 .

So we are looking for a Jessie (or Janet and variants) BURNETT, born somewhere in Scotland around 1896-7. She was showing as married by 1922 on Rebecca's birth cert?.

Can I ask please. What are the exact words used for Jessie on the birth cert.? It should read Jessie Graham, M.S. Burnett, housekeeper (did she have an occupation showing for her on the birth reg?), for all of the above to fit. 

The address for Jessie when the papers and notes were drawn up early 1925 for Rebecca, this is where the referece to Jessie going to the farm in Bute as a housekeeper? No other personal details for her on these papers? Were there no further notes for Rebecca's family after she was admitted in 1925. From what you said, she was there for around 16 years.

Monica

[MargP]

Another thing to remember, is that the information given about Jessie, probably came from Samuel, and he may have got it wrong

[MonicaL]

Sometimes events are also closer to home, in this case Shettleston!

There is a Jessie Burnett showing in 1901. Will post now, just in case...All below born in Glasgow.

Robert Burnet 32 Grocer Assist
Annie Burnet 27
Jessie Burnet 5
Jane Ewing 16 gen servant

Address: Anniville, Shettleston

This is possibly a Robert Burnett and Annie Kerr Nisbet who married in Glasgow in 1894.

Jessie, Rebecca's mum showing as aged 27 in 1924/5, would make a birth year around 1897-8 as discussed above. However, as Marg mentions, facts may not be correctly reported. I wouldn't exclude anything at this stage. Just as always, need to find hard info to verify everything.

Monica

[melwebb]

Gosh thanks guys. Been at work all day so just catching up with all feed.
Exciting stuff!!!

[melwebb]

I've contacted the owner of the tree on ancestry but owner not been on for over a year. Will the message I've sent go directly to her email or just to the ancestry site?

On Rebecca's birth certificate BOTH parents signed the cert. it is signed by Samuel Stewart (hairdressers assistant) and Jessie Burnett (housekeeper) this is in late 1922

On the types paperwork for the orphanage in early 1925 the parents are listed as:
Samuel Stewart (hairdresser) residing at 59 Fordneuk Street Bridgeton Glasgow
Jessie Graham(maiden name Burnett) (Farmservant) Ascog Farm Rothersay Isle of Bute

So...

Jessie must have married between Dec 1922 and February 1925 to Someone Graham!

How can we confirm that these are the correct ones?

Thanks every so much for everyone's help. I'm thrilled that we may have traced family for a lady that from the age of 2 was brought up as an orphan. She always wondered but never managed to trace anyone years ago. She would have been thrilled if still alive.

Thanks Mel

[MargP]

I wonder if Jessie married on the Isle of Bute, where would the records be for that.

[MonicaL]

I can't see any marriage between a groom Graham between 1922-25, however, there is one in 1915 in Glasgow:

[MonicaL]

The marriage was by Sherrif's Warrant which was perfectly legal in Scotland (sometimes referred to as an 'irregular marriage'). Lots of google links both here on RC and generally. Good background here too www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/

This Jessie's parents show as a Robert Burnett, a coal miner and a Margaret Kennedy. 19 yrs old in 1915 would fit potentially with the reference to the 29 yr old Jessie 10 years later in 1925. Also the fact that in 1915 we have this Jessie showing as a farm servant as we have the Jessie in 1925.

One of the things to remember always in Scotland is that a woman never loses her legal right to use her maiden surname at all times. This is the reason that women's maiden names feature so strongly in Scottish references in documents, BMDs, gravestones etc. The fact that Jessie signed the 1922 as Jessie Burnett wouldn't preclude her from being married. Sounds from what is written on the register that there wasn't any reference made on the birth entry as to Samuel or Jessie's marital status?  The fact that Samuel was there at the Registrar with Jessie to register and sign the register together is what enabled Rebecca's birth to include his details and also have her named Stewart.

There is still lots of gaps and uncertainties to whether this is the right Jessie. Looking good but in no way certain at this stage...

[MonicaL]

I've contacted the owner of the tree on ancestry but owner not been on for over a year. Will the message I've sent go directly to her email or just to the ancestry site?

Mel, the message should go via Ancestry direct to the tree owner's personal email that they have logged on with to Ancestry.

Monica