Alexander & Jemima Whyte siblings

[cristeen]

According to their marriage certificates these two had a father named James Whyte, a warper of yarns or factory linen worker and mother Catherine Morrison a weaver or linen weaver Alexander was born about 1856 and Jemima about 1859.
I have them both in 1861 at Ferguson's Court, Gallowgate Aberdeen with Catherine Morrison, head, single, butter curer. Alexander is 5 and was born 'on the sea', Jemima is 2 and born Aberdeen.
In 1871 Catherine married William Petrie at Forfar (her place of birth) describing herself as a spinster. The new family are at 26 Village of Zoar, Forfar in 1871. Alexander and Jemima are step children both born in Forfar! I have followed Jemima who consistently states she was born in Forfar (married William Lowson 1879 Forfar) Alexander has also been tracked and in all subsequent censuses states his POB as New York USA. ( He was a tailor & stayed in Forfar until death in 1927)
My gut feeling is that both children are illegitimate but I cannot find any evidence either way. I can't find birth or baptisms for either Alexander or Jemima, no marriages for Catherine & James Whyte, no passenger/immigration records for Catherine and no newspaper reports for any of the family (except Catherine being fined & jailed for a shebeen in Gallowgate 1862)
I am hoping that some wonderful person may be able to find some sort of documentation to prove/disprove my theory! TIA

[flst]

First of all I would try and find the school admission records for the children. Alexander probably attended an Aberdeen school before moving to Forfar. These records, as well as giving the admission dates, give the child's date of birth, home address, & name of parent, or carer. They will also give the date they leave the school & the name of the next one they are going to attend. With this information it is possible to trace their movements between censuses.
Regards,
flst.

[flst]

I'd a job finding them in the freecen webpage. There are a few discrepancies: Catherine's surname is Thomson, not Morrison. Jemima is shown as Jamesina & both she & Alexander's surnames  are shown as White. Catherine is indeed down as their mother. If you have seen the original census (on scotlandspeople) your names will be correct. Freecen is transcribed. It is a good starting place to search before parting with money though.
flst

[cristeen]

flst thanks, do you happen to know if Aberdeen archives hold school registers etc?
Catherine married back home in Forfar January 1871 so had moved some time between then and September 1862 when she was fined for running a shebeen.
I found them on FindMyPast transcriptions & bought the originals, spread over two pages and fairly awful handwriting

[flst]

Yes, they do.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=507507.0
click on the northeast roots line & you will be able to find out how to contact Old Aberdeen House (where the school admission records are kept).They can do look up requests if required.
flst

[Rosinish]

Does the marriage certs. have parents as...

James Whyte & Catherine Whyte M.S. Morrison

or

James Whyte & Catherine Morrison

If the latter, this would tell you there was no marriage but on the other hand, being as the mother is now married to William Petrie, their marriages should contain words such as 'now Petrie' M.S. Morrison.

Can you post snips of that column from each marriage please?

Annie

[loobylooayr]

There is a paternity case recorded on Scottish Indexes from 1858 https://www.scottishindexes.com/courtptranscript.aspx?courtpid=10757002 

Pursuer Catherine Morrison, Ferguson's Court, Aberdeen
Defender James Whyte, Grocer & Spirit Dealer, St. Clements Street, Aberdeen
Child's Date of Birth 24 April 1858
Year of Court Case 1858
Sheriff Court  Aberdeen

I think this would be for Jemima/Jamesina?

Looby

[loobylooayr]

There is a James Whyte on the 1861 Census living at 27 St Clements Street, Aberdeen with his family

James Whyte    age 34  Grocer     born Forfar, Angus
Isabella Whyte  age  32                born Forfar, Angus
David Whyte     age 13                    "                    "
James  Whyte    age 10                  "                 "       
 Henry Whyte    age 5                     "                " 
Isabella Whyte  age 4                   born Aberdeen
William Whyte    age 4 months       "         "

This could be the man Catherine Morrison was pursuing for paternity in 1858 .

Looby

[Rosinish]

Good finds Looby...looks like you've nailed him 

Annie