Joseph CHAPMAN & Joseph HUNTER

[Fordyce]

Joseph CHAPMAN is recorded as born 21 Nov 1832 Banff to James Chapman & Margaret Kemp, over six years after birth of their previous child, when mother would have been at least 45. Anyone have an insight into this family, especially the possibility that Joseph CHAPMAN wasn't their child but that they adopted him.

Joseph HUNTER was a witness at Joseph CHAPMAN's baptism 28 Jul 1833. Who might he be? I cannot find out anything more about him. He is not one of that name from Kirkmichael; but he might be related to one other HUNTER family around: Joseph HUNTER (son of Ralph HUNTER) woollen manufacturer in Keith who died in 1923.

[CaroleW]

when mother would have been at least 45.

My great gran was 46 when my grandfather was born so don't make assumptions of adoption based on Margaret's age. 

Based on just a signature or name on a baptismal cert and without any other info it would be almost impossible to determine the right Joseph Hunter

but he might be related to one other HUNTER family around: Joseph HUNTER (son of Ralph HUNTER) woollen manufacturer in Keith who died in 1923.

If Joseph Hunter died 1923 he must have been well over 100yrs old.  To be a witness at an 1833 baptism he would have had to be an adult

[Fordyce]

a. I'm not making assumptions on her age! She might have been 50 or older (or 40 or younger), depending upon the accuracy of censuses and death registrations. If I can discover when she was really born, I can then make an assessment of the likelihood whether she could be the mother or not. I think you'd agree that being over 50 would be stretching the point towards very unlikely indeed.

b. I never claimed the Joseph Hunter who died in 1923 was the witness in 1833! I said the 1833 witness might be related to the one who died in 1923.

I have a (very) speculative scenario in mind which would identify Joseph's real mother if she wasn't Margaret Kemp.

[CaroleW]

Is this the right 1841 entry for Banff?

Margt Chapman    45
John     25
Margt 20
Frank    15
Agnes 10
Joseph 5 (could this be 8 on the actual image)
James Mcnear    2
Banff ED 5 Page 19 Line 1325

If so - this is the same family in 1851.  The children from James McNair onwards are grandchildren and Margaret would have been approx 44yrs old when she had Joseph

James Chapman    58
Margaret 62
John 36
Margaret 31
Agnes 24
Joseph 18
James McNair    12
Ann Chapman    9
Alexander Chapman    7
Isabella Chapman    4
Margaret Chapman    3
Parish Banff ED 6A Page 15

[Fordyce]

CaroleW,
Yes that is the family. I already have all their census and OPR information. Margaret Kemp was born in Auchterless (per 1861 census) to Alexander Kemp a gamekeeper & Isobel Mathieson (per death registration). This couple marr 1770 Rayne and had four children recorded born in Premnay 1774, 76, 80, 83. Margaret could have been born 1778 or 1785 on, this range of possibilities being why I'd wondered if anyone had already researched this family group.