Douglas Haig Taylor Doherty - adopted

[felinfreya]

I'm searching for any help as I've hit a wall. I'm trying to put a heritage book together for my parents 50th wedding anniversary in August and I can't find anything on my mother's dad as both her parents are deceased.  His name was Douglas Haig Taylor Doherty and he was born in Belfast in 1918 (I believe December).  He was adopted but I don't have their names either. Is there any way to find out who the adopted parents are or even get a copy of the birth certificate with the birth parents names on it? Thank you for any help you can give.

[gaffy]

Civil registration details:

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FB1M-82X

Also, an index search on the AncestryIreland website provides a hit in 1918 for a Douglas Haig Doherty with father Robert, it's pay per view should you wish to.

Don't know how to help regarding the adoptive parents, perhaps someone else here can.

[aghadowey]

Adoption, as we know it today, didn't start in Northern Ireland until 1931- "In 1927, the official registration of adoptions was introduced in England, with similar systems brought into Scotland in 1930 and Northern Ireland in 1931." Previously adoption tended to be an informal arrangement with relatives, friends or neighbours looking after the child.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/bloodlines/familysecrets.shtml?entry=national_adoption_register&theme=familysecrets

See here for details included on birth certificates and links on ordering-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,433041.0.html

Did your grandfather die in Northern Ireland? If not, there might be other sources of information about his early life that we can find.

[felinfreya]

Thank you for the suggestions!  My grandfather died in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I'm not sure when he moved to Canada either unfortunately. I will definitely check out the other links and see if it brings me any more information though. Thank you.

[aghadowey]

You could check for his marriage certificate to see what details he has given for his parents- usually more reliable than details on death certificate.

Do you know what name he used when going to Canada?

Added- see there are more details on another forum-
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.doherty/1342/mb.ashx

[Gerard Fitzmaurice]

Douglas Haig Doherty seems to have been the son of William and Mary Doherty.  In 1921, they lived at 413 Superior Ave, Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada.  William was a drayman or teamster.  Wm was 46 and Mary was much older at 59 in 1921.  Douglas was 3 years old in 1921.  I suspect that Douglas was adopted but they recorded him as their son.  Their natural children, Sarah and William Jr had grown up and left home by 1921.  I have only just begun to research this family so this is the limited information I have.  I hope it helps and that this is your ancestor.  The census is at this address:  http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e002886903

[brigidmac]

My grandmas marriage had her a 'adopted ' surname
But also gave  birth name
Her birth certificate had birth fathers surname used as her middle name
But the baptism gave a different middle name


Middle names often gave clues to birthe parents or the child's grandparents

We got fathers full name from a document where the mother took him to court for payment ...affiliation order from records office .

Also believe adopted family may have been distant relatives ....still looking for proof

The families could be linked thru profession ...mothers proffessio given on birth certificate if single sometimes ....
Good luck

[brigidmac]

From the French Canadian census in post 5

Their parents origin is also given
His adoptive parents : william
Father from Canada. Mother scots
Father            Canada  mother irish

Douglas s mother irish
Father is given as Canadian .could be invented if father unknown or ...

Could the adoptive parents be his grand parents ?   Or uncle

Try looking for a Douglas haig born about 20 years before your Douglas either in ireland or Canadian town of origin of adoptees

[aghadowey]

There's probably not much point in "Try looking for a Douglas haig born about 20 years before your Douglas either in ireland or Canadian town of origin of adoptees" since lots of baby boys probably were given those first and middle names around the time of WWI in honour of Donald Haig- think poppies 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/haig_douglas_general.shtml