Looking for Ledingham's

[Gadget]

This looks like Margaret with her grandparents ~

1861
Balnagask, Methlick Aberdeen
GROS Ref - 221 ED 7 P 8

Thomson
Henry, 56, ag lab. b. Skene
Elizabeth, 56, b. Methlick
John,s, 24, ag lab, b. Methlick
Jane, d, 13, b. Methlick
Margaret Rae Thomson, grddaughter, 2, b. Methlick

Gadget

[Gadget]

A birth for Jane Thomson (13 on the 1861) ~

15 Nov 1847 Methlick

Parents - Henry Thomson and Elizabeth Henderson

and Margaret, mother of Margaret, mother of Alexander -

20 Nov 1831 (bpt Dec) Methlick - parents as above.



Gadget

PS - I've just noticed that you only joined yesterday so a belated Welcome from me  - I do apologise for not welcoming you before now 

[Gadget]

Apologies - Margaret Thomson, who married David Ledingham was the daughter of  Robert Thomson and Isobel Ingram -.

She was born 12th Jan 1857, Methlick

(she seems to have made herself a year younger on the censuses!)

I'll amend the postings on her.


Gadget

[Gadget]

I think that Margaret was already away from home  in 1871 and working as a servant in Little Meldrum but need to do more checks. Here are Robert and Isabella


1871
Woodside, New Machar
GROS Ref- 227A ED 3 P 3

Thompson
Robert, 46, crofter of 5 acres, b. Kemnay
Isabella, 40, b. Daviot
Christina, 23, b. -do-
Jessie, 11, b. New Machar
Alexander, 9, b. -do-
Jane, 4, b. -do-
James, 2, b. -do-
Isabella M, grdchild,  3, b. -do-
Margaret L. grdchd, 2, b. Methlick
George L, grdchild, 2 months, b. New Machar

(Note the English form of Thompson is used here!)

Gadget

[Gadget]

This is getting a bit of a tangled web !

I've just found the birth of a Margaret Ledingham Thomson, 28 July 1868,  New Machar. Mother given as Isabella Thomson.

George, aged 2 months, looks to be the child of Christina


Gadget

[jonn]

It also looks like Alexander W. Thomson, was born 1877. New Machar, Aberdeen, to Margaret Ingram Thomson, no father, this works as Alexander W. Thompson, is down as step son, on the census, if he was the son of David Ledingham, then he would surely be down as Ledingham.

The middle name for Alexander Thomson, born 1877. was Watson, so its possible his fathers surname was Watson.

Regards,
Jonn.

[Gadget]

Thanks, jonn 

I'll check out any possible Watsons. 

In Scotland if the parents married afterwards and there was no impediment, then the child would be regarded as the legitimate child of the couple. In this case, it looks as if it didn't happen and David regarded Alexander as a stepson. I assume that when he joined the navy he changed his name - there was nothing to prevent this.

Gadget

[SevenSeas31]

Dear Gadget & John,

Thank you for all your information, which I will go through this evening!!!

So my question to you both would be is... was adoption common in those days? Or did Alexander just take the name??? Was that leagal???

Thank you again!!!

[Gadget]

Hi again 

I don't think that there was such a thing as legal adoption in those days. Children would be usually 'adopted' by family or friends. In this case, Alexander was Margaret's son and went to live with the Ledingham family after David and Margaret married. He was named as stepson to David on both censuses. By 1901 he was in the Navy and going by the name Ledingham. Taking a different name was not illegal and wasn't all that uncommon.

There are no records that confirm 100% that Alexander Thomson became Alexander Ledingham. However, on the censuses there appears to be only one Alexander <surname> b. Old Machar in 1977 with a father/stepfather named David Ledingham and that is Alexander Thomson. Further, I can find no Alexander Ledingham birth registrations in Old Machar circa 1877 with a father David.  The fact that the family moved to the Glasgow area and Alexander, jnr was born near there (Paisley) is also relevant.

Gadget