Illegitimate children

[bscott75]

I have not been able to find any marriage to death certificates of either of the twins, because I don't have married surnames.
Strangely I have found the 1872 birth entry for one twin on Scotland's People (Jessie), but not the other twin (Janet). Yet they both survived, because they are recorded in the 1881 census as living in Lanarkshire with Robert Pritchard, who is my great-great-grandfather. He was not their father, but might have been an uncle (still checking that line).
Many years ago my great-aunt told me about illegitimate twins in the family history who were born on the Isle of Bute. According her their father was an Earl. Since the mother of the twins was a servant, that would not have been an unusual occurrence for those times.
I was researching someone else when the twins unexpectedly appeared in the 1881 census, and I remembered the old story about illegitimate twins born on Bute.

[ev]

Strangely I have found the 1872 birth entry for one twin on Scotland's People (Jessie), but not the other twin (Janet)

There is a Jeanie Pritchard birth registered 1872 , Rothesay Bute.



ev

[ev]

Possible sister Margaret Pritchard born 28th May 1870 Rothesay Bute , mother Janet Pritchard.
(Familysearch).



ev

[anne_p]

As Janet and Jessie are usually interchangeable names, it seems odd that each of these names would be given to twins.

There are only 2 female Pritchard births showing on SP for Bute 1872 and are 2 entries apart
Jessie Pritchard   
558/ 177

 Jeanie Pritchard
558/ 179


Both births are on Ancestry.
Both twins born 20 Aug 1872
Their names are Jeanie and Jessie so, I am guessing that the name showing in the 1881 census in the error

1891: Kingarth, Bute

Robert McDougall   65
Jane Mc McDougall   64
Duncan McDougall   33
Robert McDougall   31
Thos McDougall   25
Jas McDougall   22
William McLean   18
Archd Henderson   16
Sarah McDougall   34
**Jeanie Pritchard   18 B Rothesay Servant

I suspect that this one is "Jessie" as any version of Janet/Jessie can be used at any time

1891
6 Castle St, Rothesay
   
Margaret Daly   47
Julia Daly   17
William Daly   14
**Janet Pritchard   18 Gen Servant

[bscott75]

Thank you! Jeanie is the other twin.
Something is written in the left column of her birth notice, but I cannot decipher it. It does look like "Erasure in col six", but I am not sure.
I have found their mother: Janet Pritchard, born to George and Margaret Pritchard (M.S. Jenkins) in 1842.
Robert Pritchard, born in 1840, is her brother. So he clearly took the twins in and raised them since they are with him in the 1881 census.
Janet was still on Bute in 1881, working as a dairymaid on Ballochmartin Farm.
Thank you everyone for your help and advice.

[anne_p]

It will be noting a simple error made in Col6.
Something will have been amended/altered on the cert but, did not require an RCE

Have you checked either of these marriages?
PRITCHARD
JEANIE
FAULDS
WILLIAM
1895
558/ 7
Rothesay

PRITCHARD
JANET
HAMILTON
THOMAS
1896
558/ 12
Rothesay

Found Jeanie Faulds in Rothesay at 1901.
Her age is about right but it seems she married an older widower?

William Faulds   45
***Jeannie Faulds   28 Wife
William Faulds   20
Jeanne Faulds   16
Agnes Faulds   12
Christina Faulds   10
Lizzie Faulds   8
Mary Morton   63

Is this Janet/ Jessie?
Again, her age is about right but her husband is not in householdand

1901: Mansefield Pl 141 High St
Janet Hamilton   29 B Rothesay Firemans Wife
John J P Hamilton   10
Jeanie Hamilton   3
Wm Hamilton   1
Lizzie Nelson   18
John Mack   22
John Mckinnon   48
Catherine Mckinnon   50

[bscott75]

Thanks Anne, I will check on those marriages. Perhaps the twins returned to Bute when they were older. Their mother did remain there, so it is possible.

[bscott75]

Yes indeed, it could be Jeanie Pritchard.
The marriage entry states that she married William Faulds, who was a widower, on 12 April 1895. Her mother's name is Janet Mack (M.S. Pritchard). I will see if I can verify this, but it seems right.
No father mentioned - which is not surprising.
Thanks again for your help.

[anne_p]

Mother's marriage:

PRITCHARD
JANET
MACK
JAMES
1890
558/ 12
Rothesay

Edit
Looks like James Mack may have been a widower too.

1891 104 Montague Street   
Name   Age
James Mack   40
Janet Mack   48  Wife B Coatbridge
James Mack   17
John Mack   12
Jessie Mack   2
James Fleming   3 Ms . Adopted son