My mysterious great grandad - Hugh MILLAR

[micksharp]

Hi everybody, some advice/help needed please.

My great grandfather Hugh Millar, was supposedly born in Scotland in around 1881 (I've found the record of his death, 1943, supposedly aged 62) in the Stirling area. By 1902/3 he was living in Shiremoor, Northumberland (I can't find any trace of him there in the 1901 Census). He was married in 1903 and I know he lived in Duchess Street, Shiremoor.

His last surviving daughter knows very little about his past as it appears he kept it under cover! The common consensus is that he was something like a 'Barnardo's boy', but what type of home it was and where it was is not known.

I have found record of a Hugh Millar in the Shaftesbury Home in London in 1891 but its states place of birth is Hammersmith, London. As it was a boys' home, can this sort of birth information be trusted - was 'London' just entered for convenience? In the 1881 Census there is a Hugh Millar living in Upminster, Essex, with (I assume) his mother Henrietta, sister Clara and uncle(?) Fredrick Hannent. Place of birth for all of these Millars is given as Scotland. In the 1891 Census, it appears that Henrietta and Clara (Claire?) are in nearby West Ham (ages match the 1881 Census), living together, but there is no Hugh and their place of birth is given as West Indies! Could they have fallen on hard times and sent Hugh off to this home?

Does anyone know how (or if) I can fill in the blanks? I've ordered Hugh's marriage cert so might glean some more from that but I've got a feeling that his parents' names might probably be missing. Does anyone know of any homes in Scotland at the end of the 19th century?

Many thanks

Mick

[aghadowey]

Starting with the most recent even and working back what information is on his death certificate?
Think English marriage certificates only list father's name.

[daval57]

I can only (try to) assist with your Scottish clue.
In the years 1875 to 1885 there were 5 Hugh Millers / Millars born in Stirlingshire.
Source : ScotlandsPeople

1878 MILLAR HUGH   FALKIRK LANDWARD    479/02 0119   
1882 MILLAR HUGH   ST NINIANS 488/01 0014
1883 MILLER HUGH   CAMPSIE   475/00 0007
1880 MILLER HUGH LYON FALKIRK BURGH 479/01 0015
1885 MILLER HUGH TAYLOR FALKIRK LANDWARD 479/02 0050

To view these actual records would cost £1 each from SP.
Minimum purchase on SP is £6.00

If you can ascertain which the correct one, the record would give you parents names, exact date of birth, parents address and possibly date of marriage of parents.

Of course you'd need parents names to verify the correct one so hopefully the marriage cert will tell you 1 or both of the parents.

Do any of the children have middle names?  Could be a middle name is the surname of his mother.

If he was born outside Stirlingshire the cost of searching all records would mount up - there are another 14 Hugh Millars / Millers if you include the whole of Scotland for those same years (only 2 for 1881 itself though).

Dave

[Deb D]

Might this be a good point to insert a link to that "How to Work Around SP" thread which was posted a little while ago?  I'm sorry, I've had a quick look, but can't find it 

[daval57]

Your wish is my command

 http://www.rootschat.com/links/041v/   

PS - I got all the info below for 1 credit (20p).

Dave

[Deb D]

Ohhhh thank you!  Well done!

[micksharp]

Thank you very much for your help and tips. Never used SP but will obviously have to in the future!

Mick

[daval57]

You're welcome.  Let us know if you get a result.
Dave

[micksharp]

Yes, SP is a nightmare! Hard to navigate and expensive.

Dave, thanks for your efforts. I paid the £6 and took a chance. See the picture. This is almost definitely him - my dad reckons that he was called his 'granda's birthday present', and the date of birth is 26 January (same as my dad's!). Hugh's mother is called Ellen, which was my nana's name. As you can see, Hugh was illegitimate so I reckon I'll never find out who his dad was, unless he revealed it later.

Now, to find out where he went next!

Thanks .

Mick