Has anyone had this happen? What is Dads 1st name

[Lisaw]

Hi

Has anyone had this happen? I have 2 different 1st names for Dad. This is what I have found. Births, deaths & marriages confirmed on SP

1839- Adam Matthew & Jane Smith married July 6 1839 Fyvie.

1839- Adam Matthew & Jane Smith had a son John Matthew born Sept 17 1839 Fyvie.

1841 census- Adam Matthew 45 b. Aberdeenshire, Jane Matthew 25 b. Aberdeenshire, John Matthew 1 b. Aberdeenshire

1851 census- Jean Smith 34  Head, married, pauper b. Fyvie, James Simpson 14 b. Fyvie, John Matthew 11 b. Fyvie, Jean Matthew 8 b. Fyvie, Helen Smith 5 b. Fyvie. All are the children of Jean Smith.

1864- John Matthew marries Williamina Milne, says he is son of Adam Matthew & Jane Smith on Jan 22 Nigg Kincardine.

1895- Jane Smith dies, says she is the widow of Adam Matthew, on Sept 13, Bulwark Old Deer.

1913-John Matthew dies, says he is son of John Matthew & Jane Smith on June 29, Dundee.

Going by the censuses "Adam" Matthew should be born about 1796. It looks like he should be the son of Adam Matthew & Anne Finnie, but this isn't their Adam, their Adam married Christian Burr. You can find Adam & Christian on these censuses too. I'm wondering if it isn't one of their other sons...namely John b. 1799.

Why would there be such confusion over a first name? Did the brothers look so much alike they were mistaken for each other? Did one of them "impersonate" the other? How do I go about "proving" the Dad is actually John Matthew?

Thanks for any ideas.

Cordially,
Lisa

[flst]

Are you saying that up until his death John's father was Adam? Who was the informant on  John's death certificate? Often the informants do n't know the parentage of the person they're registering.You do n't say when Adam died.In the 1851 census Jane states she's married, not widowed.Is that correct?
I live in Bulwark,in  the farmhouse that the Matthew family lived in until  May 1928.
flst

[sancti]

Where is James Simpson on the 1841 census?

[flst]

Sancti,there appears to be a lot of research already done on this subject.(See Lisaw's previous posts.)Sorry I'm not sure how to link them,
flst

[MonicaL]

www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,311674.0.html  - Lisa's previous post on the family 

Monica

[Lisaw]

Thank you Monica...I wasn't sure how to link them either, but I think I've caught on how to now...I hope!

Thank you flst for your response. Yes his name is Adam up until his son Johns' death.
The informant is John's daughter Mary Halkerston.
I don't know when this Adam Matthew died.
Yes, the 1851 has a M for marital status.

Thanks,
Lisa

[Lisaw]

flst, you said you're living in the Matthew farm house, it just sunk in now. Which Matthew was that?
Thanks again,
Lisa

[flst]

I know that there was a Robert Matthew & a Bill Matthew.Not sure of the names of the rest of them but will try & find out for you!
flst

[Lisaw]

Thank you very much flst

Lisa