Noble family Aberdeen to Kitchener Ontario 1920s

[flst]

There is a slightly illegible note in the margin of the record about a paternity action, which is signed in Nov 1861.

Did you download the certificate from scotlandspeople? Often there is a RCE, which you can also download. It will probably name the father.
Hope this helps,
flst 

[Forfarian]

There is a slightly illegible note in the margin of the record about a paternity action, which is signed in Nov 1861.

If it's hard to read, contact SP via the results page and ask them to re-scan it so you can read it more easily.

[NicD]

No RCE. The father's name was on the original registration and from what I can make out the Sheriff Court upheld this. I will contact SP as suggested.
Thanks!

[Forfarian]

The absence of an RCE is understandable if the court found that he was the father, because in that case there was no need to correct the original information. But it's very odd that there was a court action if the father had accepted paternity by signing the birth certificate.

[NicD]

The mother is the actual informant, child marked as illegitimate but father's name given. I am right in presuming he would have to be there with her for his name to appear? You wonder if he tried to back out of responsibility.

[Forfarian]

The mother is the actual informant, child marked as illegitimate but father's name given. I am right in presuming he would have to be there with her for his name to appear? You wonder if he tried to back out of responsibility.

Yes. The father could only be named on the birth certificate of an illegitimate child if he accompanied the mother to the Registrar's when she went to register the birth, and signed the certificate along with her. It would be very difficult for him to back out after that, I imagine.

It is possible that there might be something in the Kirk Session records about this birth, but I have never tried to search the Aberdeen Kirk Session records, and it is always a bit more hit-and-miss in a large town or city where it would be easier for an illicit pregnancy to escape the notice of the Kirk Session.

There's an outside chance that there might be something in the Parochial Board (Poor Law) records, depending on whether the mother applied to the Board for relief.

[NicD]

Might be worth a go, they'd have been more than busy passing judgement in Aberdeen that's for sure! Something seems to come up on the NRS catalogue for Aberdeen Sherriff Court papers but it says there has been some weeding out and there are gaps. 

Jane Noble my 2x Gt Grandmother, sister of Jonathan, had an illegitimate son in Banchory in 1864, I'd quite like to check that one out. Although no father's name on that Birth Cert he is named on the death record at Keith four years later and it appears his family had taken the child in. Unusual?
N

[Forfarian]

Although no father's name on that Birth Cert he is named on the death record at Keith four years later and it appears his family had taken the child in. Unusual?

No, quite common. It could and did happen that the whole parish knew fine who the father was, but if he didn't go with the mother to register the birth, he wouldn't be on the certificate.

[NicD]

I meant that it seemed unusual that the baby went to the father's family miles away from the mother? Sorry if wording unclear!