births not registered

[amilne109]

I have two ancestors who according to census records were born in Edinburgh 1830 and 1833. I can find no trace of either birth being registered in Scotland.
The youngest one (1833) shows up being baptized in Newcastle upon Tyne aged two and a half in 1836. At first I thought that their father may have registered them in Forfar Angus were the family originated but no trace there.
I was wondering what circumstances could have stopped the births being registered.
Any theories would be welcome.


Family name Milne
Father Alexander 1786 - aft 1851
Son James 1830 - 1884
son Thomas 1833 - aft 1911

[stanmapstone]

The statutory register of births dates from 1 January 1855 when compulsory civil registration was introduced in Scotland.

Stan

[amilne109]

Hi Stan
Yes I know, but the family had been registering birth etc in the parishes from 1645 (the Oldest found to date).
They even went as far as baptizing Thomas when the arrived in Newcastle.
My question was " what circumstances could have prevented registering/baptizing these two" any theories?

A couple of things that crossed my mind were internment in poorhouse or prison.

[aghadowey]

Have you checked to see if there are gaps in the parish records around that period? Have you looked at originals (or scanned/microfilmed images) to check or are you relying on a transcript done at some point? It may be that the records you need are illegible or missing.

[bevj]

What do you mean by 'registering births in parishes from 1645', please?
How did they do this apart from baptizing the babies?

Bev

[amilne109]

Hi aghadowey,

I must admit that 90% of my search has relied on transcripts but have spent some time in Edinburgh looking for the father Alexander in taxation and guild records as he was a Cordwainer. It was my hope that this may narrow the search to an area/parish.

Thank you for your helpful reply

[Wendy2305]

Pre 1855 the only record of births is the baptism of the child so the one baptised in Newcastle that will be his only record of birth the other one's baptismal record may not have survived or not been recorded in the parish records

[stanmapstone]

What do you mean by 'registering births in parishes from 1645', please?
How did they do this apart from baptizing the babies?

Bev

Apparently the Church of Scotland had responsibility for registration before 1 January 1855. See https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_118244_en.pdf

Stan

[bevj]

That's very interesting, thank you.
So basically these records were kept (in a rather haphazard manner) by the Kirk Sessions?
Amilne is very lucky to have found these still existing.  I wish I could!

Bev