William Forrester - Slamannan

[DUNMAC]

Hi Monica,
                  Still sure William took in Mary Holden Gray first illegitimate daughter born to Jane & Richard Gray in 1888 before marriage, have B.C. and the following year she had another Mary Dickson Gray born 1889, have B.C. and all other sibling B.C's. People went to great length sometimes to cover up these matters, which could cause great scandal at that time. There are no Births for Mary Forrester in Linlithgow, place stated on Census in the timeframe, as I've stated before after many searches and a coverup looks very likely to me, prove me wrong, challenge issued.
                                                    Regards,
                                                           Dunmac.

[MonicaL]

It is certainly unusual for a parent to use the first name again if the first child had not died. Given second Mary was born a year later it certainly is unusual and lived with parents it makes less sense.

There are however no deaths showing for a Mary Gray or Forrester between 1888 - 91, born  1888.

Strange this one Duncan    I take your point about people trying to cover up illegitimate births etc., but the fact that mother Mary and Alexander Forrester never married from what you said (I can't see a marriage for them either), makes me think they would be less likely to cover up first daughter Mary and pretend that William was father...but hey, who knows. Can't prove anything either way as yet.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Duncan

Following the theory that first born Mary was alive and well in 1891, there is this entry in the census:

Mary I Gray 3, niece, b Winchburgh, , Linlithgow Shire
Mary I Hunter 68, head, b. Airdrie
John Hunter 29, coal salesman, b. Whitburn, Linlithgow Shire
Mary I Buchanan 15, niece, b. Glasgow
James B Hunter 9, nephew, b. glasgow

Address: Main St North Side, Whitburn West Lothian

Can't see anything else with the surnames we have.

Monica

[MonicaL]

Second born Mary Dickson Gray married in 1923 in Whitburn (William McIntyre). Sadly other Mary doesn't show with the use of middle name Holden. Too many Mary Gray marriages to try that route for a possible marriage for her.

Monica

[DUNMAC]

Hi Monica,
               Mary Holden Gray was born 14/09/1888, Linlithgow Bridge, Linlithgow, 668/00 0250, Winchburgh ? Mary I. ? possible with those bad transcriptions on Ancestry. It is one of the harder searches but hopefully it will reveal all in  the end. Thanks for other Mary's marriage detail.
                                                                               Regards,
                                                                                       Dunmac.

P.S. If William's wife was unable to have children? could they have adopted Mary, how would we find this out?

[MonicaL]

Need to find William's wife first  Did he show as single in the 1891 original image?

Monica

[DUNMAC]

Hi Monica, never obtained it, as already had Ancestry from Pam for that Census.
              Regards,
                         Dunmac.

[Pam Chetland]

Hi Monica

On the 1891 census William Forrester is described as son aged 21 yrs unmarried Shaleminer

Pam

PS I have attched document as proof

[MonicaL]

Hi Pam

So any possible marriages for William would be after 1891. Therefore, he either married between 1891-1901 given he shows as widowed in 1901 or, he was in fact unmarried in 1901 and simply said he was widowed given he had a 'daughter' Mary living with him in 1901.

The children of Jane and Richard Gray show as born in Linlithgow (the youngest, Annie, showing as born in 1889 in Linlithgow). Mother Mary Holden also looks to have died in 1899 but in Muiravonside Stirlingshire.

I've never seen two children called the same name when the first was still living but I don't have any answers.

Mixed up story here 

Monica