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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Moray (Elginshire) => Topic started by: Angua on Wednesday 12 January 05 02:50 GMT (UK)
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Hi all!
I joined these fora in sheer desperation. I am trying to trace a Donald Balfour Sr to ascertain whether he might be the father of my great-grandfather, Donald Creighton Balfour. He (DCB Sr) was born in Elgin in 1872 (according to Scotland's People) but the funny thing is when I spent five credits to view the detailed entry, he wasn't listed on it. My great-grandfather was born in 1894, so it's quite feasible he could be his father, but the problem is that, according to my great-uncle, he was a bit of a shady character (DCB Jr) in that he like to cover up his past as much as he possibly could.
I have a copy of DCB Jr's certificate for his marriage to my great-grandmother, Muriel Fonçeca, which was in April 1914 in Bella Coola British Columbia (the first of his three marriages and, from what I can ascertain, he didn't bother with the inconvenience of divorce with any of them!) he lists his father as Donald Creighton Balfour. Now, I don't know whether that's because a) he didn't know who his father was (though I suspect that if he didn't he would have said).
OK, I know I'm doing this backwards, but my brain is muddled. My uncle John (my paternal grandfather's brother) has told me that Donald was a very private person and had attempted to cover up much of his past. He (John) suspects that he was a foundling and was fostered from a children's home at the age of around three. DCB Jr was illegitimate (we're 99% certain of that)
So, how do I go about finding out if the 1872 DCB was my paternal great-great-grandfather? Incidentally, I can find no record of him in the 1891 census (he would have been 18 or 19) but SP doesn't have the 1881 (when he would have been 8 or 9).
They were both born in Elgin - if this should have gone in the Aberdeenshire forum, could a mod move it?
If anyone could give me any leads, I'd be more than grateful. Basically, I just want to know whether he just re-entered his own name (for something to fill the space) or if I've struck gold?
I attach a copy of the marriage certificate, in case it's useful. Incidentally, I should add that I do not have the original in my possession - this was scanned by a kindly soul on a genealogy newsgroup.
Any - and all - info gratefully received! :D
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Your DCB Jr was aged 24 in April 1914, so unless he was giving wrong information he must have been born 1889/90. So if this other DCB Sr was his father, he would have been only 17 or 18 when his son was born - that's fairly unusual.
I suggest that you should look for DCB Jr in the 1891 census and see where he was and with whom he was living. You could then get his birth certificate from SP, which should tell you the names of both his parents (and would have told you the date and place of their marriage if they had been married).
Also if you found DCB Sr in the SP indexes, but he wasn't on the image when you downloaded it, then (1) check very carefully the names on the image in case he too was illegitimate and listed by some other surname and (2) if you are 100% sure he wasn't there, notify SP and they will sort it out for you.
NB don't rely on a middle name - make sure that you check all the Donald Balfours without middle names as well. And don't assume a relationship just because two people have the same middle name.
Of course if DCB Jr was illegitimate, and his father refused to acknowledge him, he would be registered under his mother's name, and you have a much bigger challenge. In that case I'd suggest looking for him in the 1901 census as well as the 1891. If he was a foundling he would still be under the eye of the parochial board, and if he was born in Elgin there should be some records there.
OTOH if the information on his marriage certificate is totally fictitious ....
HTH
Forfarian
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Hello Angua,
Hopefully I found the correct person now as I had originally thought that Charles Ellson was the great grand-child of Donald C-B.... a trigamist indeed !
The information posted below will hopefully explain everything. It is a copy of a reply that Charles sent to me last week. I assume that if we are talking about the same Donald then Priscilla was one of his three wives.... although it seems that they probably didn't stay together very long as she continued to live at 57 Ebury Street until 1970 at least and judging from the phone directories he was living there for only a few years.
i look forward to hearing from you
Adrian Donne
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 05:12:55 +0000, you wrote:
>Hello Charles,
>
>Priscilla Donne was the daughter of Walter Donne, a cousin of my
>great-grandfather, an artist of middling repute and Winifred Payne-Galwey.
>She was born in the Kensington area in 1906.
>
>An old ' Donne' family tree made in about 1950 had her married to a ?
>Creighton-Balfour although it was rather vague in its assertion.
>
>There were no children from this union, I was quite sure. However I did a
>Google search of Creighton- Balfour and came up with a few of your threads
>on Donald that you had posted on various internet sites in the past few
>years.
>
>I have discovered that a Priscilla Creighton-Balfour died in Depwade,
>Norfolk in 1992 aged 86. I have also discovered that a P Creighton-Balfour
>and a Major D Creighton-Balfour in 1950s had separate telephone numbers for
>the same house, 57 Ebury Street, London SW. This was the house that Walter
>Donne had used as a studio for many years, he had died in 1948 aged 85 and
>had obvious left it to his only child, Priscilla. It seems that Major D
>Creighton- Balfour had a separate house in Wallington, Surrey also.
>
Assuming there aren't two of them :-( .
From the London Gazette 14 Aug 1959:-
Name of Deceased: CREIGHTON-BALFOUR, Major Donald
Address, description, date of death: The French Horn, Steppingley,
formerly of The Salisbury Crest, Essendon, Hatfield, Publican. 5th May
1958
=====
LG 8 Jun 1945:-
OBEs (Military)
Major Donald Creighton BALFOUR, Controller of Manpower, Gibraltar
=====
LG 26 Jul 1940
111887 Capt Donald Creighton BALFOUR promoted to Lt.
=====
LG 22 Oct 1929
RESERVE OF AIR OFFICERS
..undermentioned officers relinquish their commissions on completion
of service:-
Flight Lts.
Donald Creighton BALFOUR 1 Oct 1929
>It seems from what you say that your great-grandfather was a rather slippery
>character.
He isn't my ggf, I am not the OP.
>Obviously because of her age, Winifred could not been your
>grandmother, but it seems that towards the end of Donald's life, he was
>either conducting an affair, moved in with, or married Priscilla, (although
>again, I have no evidence of marriage, it probably wasn't Donald's style
>!!!!) although the relationship must have reached a certain level for her to
>have taken his name.
>
>Because of the evidence I am about 80% convinced that this is the same
>Donald. I would welcome any of your comments so we can confirm or refute my
>assertions above.
>
You could try for copies of wills which might name relatives and in
the case of Priscilla might give a rough guide to when she married
(i.e. going by the last time she was known by her maiden name).
The Times has a marriage entry on 25 Feb 1953 for John Brian
CREIGHTON-BALFOUR, youngest son of Maj. D Creighton-Balfour MBE, The
Bull Hotel, Wrotham and Mrs _M_ C-B. There is also a death
announcement on 16 Apr 1983 (d. 13th April) for Dorothy, 97y, daughter
of Sir Ralph and Lady Frankland PAYNE-GALLWEY, aunt of Priscilla; no
place is given but the cremation was in Chichester.
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Hi
I hope you don't me contributing to your thread. I am interested in contacting Adrian Donne who contributed re Priscilla Donne. I am currently researching Priscilla's mother, the artist Winifred Donne and would be most interested to hear from Adrian.
Winifred has proven to be a fairly elusive subject for me so far. although I do know she died in 1922 at the young age of 42, when Priscilla would have been aged 16.
I hope you get in touch Adrian, I'd like to know if you have any information on Winifred Donne's career.
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Hello Angua,
With reference to Donald Balfour Snr's. Birth Certificate. Intrigued by, "he wasn't listed on it." coupled with end of the month and a few spare credits, I had a look on SP. The entry reads:
Donald Finlayson (Illegitimate) born 9th Oct.,1872 at 9 Lossie Wynd, Elgin. (Morayshire)
Son of Donald Finlayson (Ploughman) & Jane Balfour (Domestic Servant)
Informants: (Signed) Jane Balfour, Mother. (Signed) Donald Finlayson, Father.
Address: Wester Calcots, St Andrews, Lhanbryd.
Registered: 25th Oct.,1872 at Elgin.
[Statutory Births 135/00 0233]
Although Donald's surname is Finlayson on his BC, because he is illegitimate, but both parents signed his Birth Certificate, you will find his birth listed under both Finlayson and Balfour on SP. Illegitimate children weren't always known by the name on their BC. (Even if the father's name is there!) Maybe if his mother didn't marry it was easier to be known by her surname.
Hope this hasn't caused more confusion!
Regards, Dod.
PS. To Forfarian. DCB Jnr. was age 20 on his Marriage Certificate. Muriel was age 24.
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Hello Angua,
Found Jane Balfour with son Donald Findlayson on 1881 Scotland Census thanks to Ancestry. Have now found 1 match on SP although I haven't used credits to view. On SP Census Records, click on 1881 not 1881(LDS). I searched using Donald's surname and age.
Living at Rafford, Morayshire.
Jane Balfour 38 b Forres, Morayshire.
Donald Findlayson 8 b Elgin, Elginshire. (Morayshire)
Jane Ann Findlayson 6 b Elgin, " "
Regards, Dod.
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There is a listing in LIBINDX http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp for Jane Balfour, mother of Donald Findlayson and Jane Ann Balfour, which refers to her application for poor relief to the parish of Elgin and admission to Morayshire Union Poorhouse in Elgin in 1874. Her daughter Jane Ann Balfour seems to have been born in the Poorhouse on 21 April 1874.
The original records are very likely to contain a lot of information about Jane's family and situation, and also about the father(s) of her children.
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Hello,
Found these on Ancestry.
1871 Scotland Census.
Jane Balfour 27 Out Door Worker born Forres, Morayshire.
One of 6 Servants working for Grant family, Mains of Pilgweny? St Andrews, Lhanbryd, Moray.
1871 Scotland Census.
Donald Findlayson 24 Ploughman born Cromarty, Ross-shire.
One of 6 'Bothy lads' (Servants) working for Ruston/Ruxton family, Inchbroom, St Andrews, Lhanbryd, Moray.
Shouldn't really jump to conclusions with the above and there is no proof they are 'your' Jane & Donald, but something to bear in mind. Following up Forfarian's excellent find re: Poor Relief would certainly be worthwhile. There might be an address or something that ties in with the 1871 Census.
Regards, Dod.
PS. Jane is listed as an Out Door Worker on 1881 Census.
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You will find some details on John Finlayson on the Moray site ( http://libindx.moray.gov.uk ) using the Reference NM068400. This includes references to his marriage (newspaper article), and a Poor Law application. If you contact them they will forward copies of these documents. They might throw some further light to your quest.
Good Hunting
Bill
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Mains of Pilgweny? St Andrews, Lhanbryd, Moray.
Probably Mains of Pitgaveny.
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ2465
You can check this by looking at the original census at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
Inchbroom is about a mile away as the crow files, but maybe a little further on foot
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ2566
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Hello,
Yes, agree with Mains of Pitgaveny. (Pilgweny is an Ancestry transcription)
Wester Calcots, Donald Finlayson's address on DCB Snr's Birth Certificate, is about the same distance to the South of Pitgaveny House.
Could this be DCB Snr. in 1891? (Ancestry)
Donald Finlayson 20 Footman born Elgin, Morayshire.
One of several Servants to McGillvray Family, Kailzie House, Traquair, Peebleshire.
If it is Donald, wonder why and when he changed his name to Balfour. Hope we are not chasing the wrong Donald.
Regards, Dod.
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Yes, agree with Mains of Pitgaveny. (Pilgweny is an Ancestry transcription)
Excellent example of why one should never trust an Ancestry transcription ;)
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Hello Angua,
1901 Scotland Census. Dennistoun, Glasgow.
Donald Finlayson 28 Commercial Traveller born Elgin, Morayshire.
Jessie H " 29 Wife born Dallas, "
Francis D " 4 Son born Glasgow, Lanarkshire.
Leslie G " 5 mons. Son born " "
(There is a marriage of a Donald Findlayson & Jessie Hepburn at Forres, Morayshire in 1893. No proof it's the above couple but it's the only marriage for a Donald Findlayson & Janet/Jessie between 1891 & 1901 on SP)
I have no doubt that the Donald Findlayson found at Rafford in 1881, Peebleshire in 1891 & Glasgow in 1901 is the Donald Findlayson born 1872 in Elgin. (The BC you found & the only Donald Findlayson [or Balfour] born at Elgin 1865-1880) I also think his parents are the William Findlayson & Jane Balfour found in different places in the Lhanbryd area on the 1871 Census.
If the 1893 Forres marriage to Jessie Hepburn is the right Donald Findlayson, then he was certainly in the Elgin/Morayshire area aout the time DCB Jr. was born.
However, I can't find any link to your DCB Jr. Can't find a birth for him at Elgin in 1894 under Balfour, Creighton/Crichton or Fin[d]layson. If he too is illegitimate he might be registered under his mother's maiden name and there are 9 Donalds born in Elgin in 1894. 13 in 1893-1895.
No further forward because no proof that the Donald we've tracked is 'DCB Snr.' from 'Jnr's' Marriage in Canada.
Regards, Dod.
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I happened to be in Elgin yesterday, and as it was raining I betook myself to the heritage centre.
I looked at one of the references in the Poor Law records - the applications to Elgin Parochial Board.
1874, 3d February. Jane Balfour, presently at Main, born Forres, protestant, single, 29, dairy maid, partially disabled (i.e unable to earn a living); pregnant and has a child to support. Dependants Donald Finlayson, 1year 4 months. Dismissed from her situation for being a second time with child. Father of the child already born as also of that wh is to be born thereafter Donald Finlayson farm servant who has deliberately left this part of the country. Settlement Forres, having gained no other settlement. Has £4 of wages she says still to get. February 2: refused being certified able bodied and acknowledged to be possessed of means. [Grampian Archives, ZPEl A5/6 No 155/74]
The other references in LIBINDX refer to a book that is currently away being digitised so I was unable to look at them.
I note that Angua, the person who posted the original query, has not responded to any of the numerous replies in this thread.
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Hi,
Perhaps, a better approach might be to find the birth of your great grandfather before seeking further information. There would appear to be only one Donald Balfour born between 1890 and 1900 in Scotland and that's a James Donald Balfour born (or at least registered) in Fife in 1895. That wee boy can be seen with his parents on the 1901 census living Dunfermline. What I can't figure out is who is the six year old Donald Balfour age 6 living in Tottenham on the 1901 census - birth place listed as Scotland.
In 1910 a Donald Balfour leaves Liverpool for British Columbia age 16 - on the Canadian census of 1911 his birth is given as November 1894 the same month and year as given on your great grandfather's attestation papers. I take it that they are one in the same person.
You mention your great grandfather had a brother John - do you know where and when he was born?
Jen
EDIT:The Donald Balfour in Canada is with Margaret George (same Tottenham family of 1901) along with her daughter Marion now married to a Mr Sparks (might be Reginald?).