Eliza Norris mystery

[Forfarian]

According to FreeCEN there is a two-year-old Eliza Norris in Edinburgh in 1841, born in Scotland but not in Edinburgh, in a household with what looks like her parents - John Norris, 25, born Ireland and Agnes Norris, 20, born Ireland, plus Robt Norris, 9.

There are six deaths of Eliza(beth) Norris, born 1833-1843, in the deaths index at Scotland's People. You could check these to see if one is the daughter of John Norris and Agnes. If so, then you can eliminate that one as yours.

It is quite possible that people could be recorded as Morris in one record and Norris in another, so your Eliza might turn up as Morris somewhere.

[MonicaL]

There is an entry in 1851 that is possible for Elizabeth. As transcribed on the index I am looking at:

Archibald Stewart 35 labourer b. Glenholm, Peebles
Eliza Stewart 26 b. Dumfries
Elisabeth Norwise 11 boarder b. Edinburgh
Marget Honeyman 9 boarder b. Edinburgh
Jane Gileson 6 boarder b. Edinburgh
Ann Fraser 3 boarder b. Edinburgh

Town: Howgate, Penicuick, Midlothian

The Stewarts would have been paid money by the parochial board to board the girls very likely.

SP have her entry as Norwise, like the transcription. Maybe tricky writing or just the way it was written up?

Monica

[janec123]

Thanks for looking into this for me Monica , this sounds very interesting , could this be why there isnt a birth cert for her, or would the cert say Norwise

[MonicaL]

I have checked SP (both the RC and Presbyterian OPRs they hold) and nothing showing for her under any variant (first and surname). Unfortunately, pre 1855 and the start of official Scottish registration of BMDs, records are very patchy and also only about a third of events were registered it seems.

Monica

[janec123]

I dont think ill ever find out for sure, but what you found out seems very interesting , i have done an ancestry dna test , so maybe that will throw up something in that , thanks so much for your help 

[Forfarian]

Thanks for looking into this for me Monica , this sounds very interesting , could this be why there isnt a birth cert for her, or would the cert say Norwise

The reason why you cannot find a birth certificate is that there isn't one to find. Statutory registration of births, marriages and deaths did not start until 1855, so there were no such things as birth certificates in Scotland in 1840. There are records of baptisms, but there are many gaps in these records for all sorts of reasons. 

[janec123]

Thanks , i didnt realise there were no birth certs before 1855 . Thank so much for all your help

[janec123]

Hi , Just to add to the mystery , my dna test has shown a fair amount of Morris relatives , the mystery deepens !!

[MonicaL]

Good to have it confirmed that you are on the right track!

Monica