RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Tasman1 on Sunday 12 October 14 14:07 BST (UK)
-
Hi.
I have found a registered birth of an Alexander Robertson b 10/02/1856, Kirkton, E.K.,mother Agnes and no father. This is not entered as illegitimate and no RE.
Alexander aged 22, marries Elizabeth Wyper on 02/07/1871, Holytown, Lanark. Father, James Aikenhead, mason, (Reputed father) and mother Agnes Robertson, (SP 643/00 00290).
Would Agnes have brought him up as Robertson or Aikenhead?
Would there have been a requirement for him to adopt the name Aikenhead.
Many thanks.
-
People could call themselves whatever they liked. Sometimes an illegitimate child like this retains the mother's surname throughout his life, sometimes he always has the father's name. Sometimes he uses one at one time and the other at another time.
Have you found him in the 1861 and 1871 census? What is he called there?
-
Thanks GR2. Will look up Census tomorrow evening!
But why not described on SBI as illegitimate?
-
Think this might be them in 1861 census address Parish Manse East Kilbride
Christian Robertson b 1785 E /k age 76yrs
Agnes Robertson b 1831 E/K age 30 occupation cut door scorker ?
Alexander Robertson b 1856 E/K age 5 grandson
-
"cut door scorker" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure it's a mistranscription of "out-door worker".
-
Yes I would say so ::) ::)
-
This might be the mother again going by her occupation
Agnes Robertson b 1832 Kilbride Lanarkshire age 39 Out Door Worker
Christine Joung ( Young ) ? b 1869 E/K age 2 ..Daughter
Address Newtown East Kilbride
-
Hi.
1861 Census as above. 5 years old.
1871 Alexander Aitkenhead, 15, Farm servant.
1881 Alexander Aitkenhead, 25, mason foreman, and Elizabeth Wyper, wife, Janet aged 1.
Death 20/03/1925, 69,Stonemason, married to Elizabeth Wyper. Parents James Aitkenhead, stonemason (deceased) and Agnes Aitkenhead nee Robertson.
There is no such marriage recorded on SP.
So I still cannot connect which James did the dirty, and where to put them in my tree!
-
Probably not been married did you look for the death for Agnes Robertson for more information
-
J' accuse >:(
This may be your man.
1851 census:
Staying with his uncle and aunt, at 2 North Cumberland Street, Calton, Glasgow, is James Aitkenhead, mason, aged 20, unmarried, born Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
James Aitkenhead married Ann Cant 23-11-1855. They had children including Alexander (b. Blantyre 23-3-1857), William (b. Blantyre 24-12-1858) and Agnes (b. Blantyre 19-5-1860).
1861 census:
At Causeystones, Blantyre, Lanarkshire, James Aitkenhead, free-stone mason, aged 30, born Bothwell, his wife, Ann, born Fife, and their three children, Alexander, William and Agnes.
This would not be a case of adultery, as your Alexander was conceived well before James married Ann Cant. The kirk session would still have looked into it and there may be something in their minutes. They are not available on-line, but can be consulted on computer at several archives in Scotland.
This is likely to be your man, because the occupation, location, marital status at time of conception of Alexander, the lack of any other James Aitkenhead who is a mason, all point to guilt. You even have a reason why he did not marry Alexander's mother - he was already married at the time of the birth.
-
Thanks GR2.
My devious thoughts exactly, but I did not want to be sued for libel!
However nothing is that simple. James b1830 married to Ann Cant, has a brother William who married Grace McCartney. Their first child was a James b1830 and in the 1851 Census, aged 19, occupation, you guessed it -Mason.
Unfortunately, living in Tasmania, I can not pop in to my local library to check the Kirk Session records.