Do you think I have the correct link?

[dowdstree]

Hi all,

I only began researching in January 2014 and still consider myself a "beginner."

Perhaps I am a bit cheeky - please let me know if you think so - and I apologise in advance.

I have a link which I was wondering if one of you experts could look at and give me your opinion on before I research any further.

So here goes  -  Mary Cochrane born 23/3/1861 - Clackmannanshire Scotland - she is illegitimate
                        on her birth registration but on her marriage certificate and death certificate her
                        father is listed as Duncan Ferguson, farmer. (its the same for her siblings). They all
                        seem to use the Ferguson surname.

The only match I can find for a possible father is a Duncan Ferguson born about 1827 in Monvievard  Perthshire he was a farmer all his life and his death certificate lists him as single.

Could this be her father do you think?

Thank you all,

Dorrie

[taramcdsmall]

Hi There Dorrie

Firstly who did Mary marry and when ?

Do you have this marriage cert ?

What was HER actual name given on the marriage cert ?

Was it Mary Ferguson ~ daughter of Duncan Ferguson ?

Do you have her on census after her marriage with her birthplace given as Clackmaninshire ?

Next question then would be, how do you know that you have the correct birth cert ?

Tara

[taramcdsmall]

Could this be her ?

Age just slightly out !

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYRV-TJ8

Tara

[dowdstree]

Hi Tara,

Firstly thanks for getting back to me.
No the birth link you gave me is not the correct one.
I didn't want to put too much info in my post because its so confusing.
The lady in question was my late husband's grandmother.

Here goes - Her birth certificate - 23/8/1861 in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire lists her as illegitimate and her mother as Mary Cochrane.

Her Marriage certificate - 1/2/1884 in Alva to James Learmonth gives her father as Duncan Ferguson, Farmer (he is not recorded as deceased) and her mother as Mary Cochrane now Wright (I have got details of this)
Her Death certificate - 13/11/1930 in Edinburgh - lists her parents as above but now deceased - obviously.
I have her in all the census records including 1911. Prior to her marriage she is listed as Ferguson.
On her son James's death certificate - 4/7/1955 - his mother's surname is given as Ferguson.

My query is who the hell is this guy Duncan Feruson Farmer, Perthshire.

Thanks,

Dorrie

[Rosinish]

Mary Cochrane born 23/3/1861 - Clackmannanshire Scotland - she is illegitimate
on her birth registration but
on her marriage certificate and death certificate her father is listed as Duncan Ferguson, farmer. (its the same for her siblings).

Hi Dorrie,

A lot of questions.............

Do you have all siblings birth certs. 
How many siblings & what were yrs of birth 
Were they all born same area 

Have you found Duncan Ferguson in the household on any census 
Have you found him around that area on census, if not in the household 

Annie

[Rosinish]

Mary Cochrane born 23/3/1861 - Clackmannanshire Scotland

Then you have.........

Her birth certificate - 23/8/1861 in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire

Just wondering which is correct as the 1st date was before 1861 census & 2nd date after census 

Annie

[dowdstree]

Hi Annie,

Thanks for your interest in helping me.
Yes I have all their birth records and only the mother Mary Cochrane is listed.

Siblings were  -  Janet born 4/12/1859 - Clackmannan
                        Mary born  23/8/1861 -  Sauchie
                        Isabella born 23/8/1861 - Sauchie - twin of Mary - she does not appear to have
                                                                                                  lived long.
                        Duncan born  20/8/1865 - Clackmannan - Birth record has him as
                                                                                      Duncan Ferguson Cochrane
                        Margaret born 30/10/1871 - Alva

In all the relevant census records it shows head as Mary Cochrane and the children as Ferguson.
No, Duncan Ferguson never appears in any of the census records with Mary Cochrane or the children.
Yes, I have found 1 Duncan Ferguson who would fit the bill - Duncan Ferguson born Comrie about 1827 and listed in census records for 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 as a farmer in the district of Monzievaird and Strowan. His mother was named Janet (as 1st daughter) was. His death certificate shows him as single I can't seem to find any other Duncan Ferguson who fits the bill.
I live in Edinburgh so know that these distances are ok - maybe he caught up with Mary when he brought the "coos" to market

My gut tells me that this is the correct gentleman Maybe I just need reassurance.

Thanks,

Dorrie

[Rosinish]

I wondered about the siblings births because I have 4 kids born illegitimately to same father (well.............as sure as I can be)

Only 1 of the 4 is registered in the mother's maiden name only, simply because the father was not with her at the registration.

In Scotland illegitimate kids are indexed under both surnames if the father was present even though the parent's weren't married.

Have you considered that she may have needed to apply for "Poor Relief" as details of the father would have been asked & it gives a list of different things 

Will look for my own post & post the link to give you an idea 

Annie

[Rosinish]

Hi Dorrie,

Here's the link but as you can see, I got help on that so maybe you could start a thread to find out about "Poor Relief" in the Clackmannan area 

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=724457.msg5687511#msg5687511

Annie

ADDED.......with dates ranging from 1st birth to after last birth