Bastardy files for Angus?

[LindsayG]

Does anyone have link or access to Bastardy files for Angus?

I have the birth cert for my great grandfather - William Stark Clark b. Oct 1887, 93 Hemming Street, Dunnichen, Angus.  Mother is Ann Robertson Clark b. 1865, Dunnichen and he is listed as illegitemate.

Perhaps the middle name Stark is a clue as I haven't found it anywhere else in the family....

Any help would be much appreciated. 
Thanks
Lindsay

[Lady Macbeth]

Hi Lindsay.
I am not aware of these files for Angus, however, that doesn't mean they don't exist.  In case you haven't already tried, if you can find the marriage cert or death cert for William on ScotlandsPeople, they may have the father's name.

I have a similar problem with one of mine in 1797 and I intend to visit the Archives in Edinburgh to look at the Kirk Sessions of that time, to see if the father was named and shamed by the church and expected to provide financially for the child.  I don't know if this still applied in 1880s but it might be worth a try.

Good luck
Lesley

[LindsayG]

Thanks Lesley - wasn't sure if these files existed or not - worth a try!

[broom]

The register for illigitimate births and naming of father is usually the Kirk Records.
I have viewed same at the Dumfries Online Archives.

[broom]

Dunnichen Church outside of Letham, Angus is still operational and has a Pictish Monument nearby.
My friend also stay round the round from Hemming Stree, Letham.  Am sure the whole area was called Dunnichen but later the village became Letham.

When weather is better I will take some pics.
But hubby has just had a knee op..so may be little while...but will keep in mind.

[JAP]

Lindsay,

It does seem possible that the father might have been a William STARK - though he might well not have been.

Have you looked for Ann and little William in the 1891 census on ScotlandsPeople?  Might give some clues?  Or for a William STARK in that census?

JAP

[LindsayG]

Thanks for all the replies.

broom, thanks for the info. - get well soon to your husband.

JAP - yes, got William in the 1891 and 1901 census - he had been carted off to stay with his great grandparents in both.  It would appear that his grandparents (Ann's mother) didn't have much to do with them as Ann was also illegitemate and her mother (Jessie Clark) remarried and had further children.

I think my only hope is going to be to view the Kirk Records to see if the father has been named and shamed!

Thanks again for the replies.
Have a good weekend,
Lindsay

[JAP]

Lindsay,

I wish you luck - though I think that this sort of stuff in Kirk Sessions might by this time have been a thing of the past.

Depending on the situation of the families, Poor Records might be some help ...

JAP