Can't find baptism for illegitimate child born 16 April 1835

[Jang]

The Sheriff Court Paternity Case Index says that Jean Lamond, daughter of James Lamond, Shoemaker, Dalkeith, had a child with William Neil, Moulder (in employment of [Muschet, Founder, Dalkeith). The child was born on 16 April 1835 but I can't find a baptism under either Lamond/Lamont or Neil/Neal.

Can anyone help?

[Forfarian]

The Sheriff Court Paternity Case Index says that Jean Lamond, daughter of James Lamond, Shoemaker, Dalkeith, had a child with William Neil, Moulder (in employment of [Muschet, Founder, Dalkeith). The child was born on 16 April 1835 but I can't find a baptism under either Lamond/Lamont or Neil/Neal.

There's probably no surviving record of the baptism. It is very common for baptisms of illegitimate children not to be recorded in the parish's register of baptisms.

However there may be something in the minutes of Dalkeith Kirk Session. The relevant ones are in the National Records of Scotland https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/ - make your way to the main catalogue and search for Dalkeith with reference starting CH2/ (Church of Scotland) and reference starting CH3/ (other churches)- there was more than one church in Dalkeith at the time.

Unfortunately, although they have been digitised, you cannot (yet) view the Kirk Session minutes online, so you would need to hire a professional searcher to look through them for Jean Lamond's child. There might be a kind soul who is planning a visit to the Historical Search Room or to a local archive with access to the KS records, but it could take up quite a large chunk of a volunteer's day to search them.

Or you could put it on the back burner and wait until SP decides how to deal with putting them online.

[RJ_Paton]

The Church of Scotland OPR records for Dalkeith show that Baptism records for that period do exist which raises the question of whether the family were Church of Scotland - they may have been members of one of the earlier "Dissenting" Churches (but still presbyterian), worshipped in another form entirely or may not have been church goers at all.

[Jang]

Thank you both for the feedback. I'll follow up the kirk session records. I didn't think of other church records so I'll check what's available.

I looked for William Neil in the 1841 census and found one in Dalkeith who could fit:

William Neil  28 Midlothian moulder j
Betrice Neil  22 Midlothian
Elisabeth Neil  4 Midlothian
Margret Neil  2 Midlothian

Then in 1851:
William Neil  38 Canongate, Midlothian iron moulder
Betrace Neil  32
Isabella Neil  15 Dalkeith
Margret Neil  13
Grace Neil  9

An Isabella age 15 (so born ca 1836) appears in the family. Possibly the child of Jean Lamont and William Neil?? No entry on Scotlandspeople for her baptism.

In June 1851 Jean Lamond was found guilty of theft and was transported to Australia in 1852, so perhaps William "adopted" their child.

This Isabella Neil married James Louden in 1861 in Victoria Australia. She died in Melbourne in 1865, aged 29.

[Forfarian]

There's a marriage of William Neil to Beatrice Simpson in South Leith which would fit that hypothesis.

Beatrick Simpson or Neil, mother's surname Hogg, died in Dalkeith in 1855, aged 37.Because it's 1855, her death certificate will list her children's names and ages. If there is no Isabella listed, then I think it would provide good evidence for Isabella being Jean Lamond's child.

You could also look at Isabella's marriage certificate and see who she says her parents were.

[Jang]

Isabella is listed on Beatrice Neil's death certificate. Aged 19 on 31 March 1855 which fits with the child born 16 April 1835. Isabella's parents are given as William Neal and Beatrice Simpson on her death in the BDM indexes so it's probably the same on her marriage cert.

So not conclusive but …. where was Isabella Neil in the 1841 census?

[sancti]

No sign of the child in 1841 with the mother

[Jang]

Thanks, sancti, so not with the father or mother. Possibly with another family member - I'll check out the other Lamonds.

[Jang]

Finally found Jean Lamond and William Neil's daughter in the 1841 census, living with her great aunt, Margaret Coldwells:

Leyden Close High Street Dalkeith (all born Midlothian)
James Lindsay Male 55 Midlothian
Jean Lindsay Female 50 Scotland
Alexander Lindsay Male 20
Christian Lindsay Female 15 
Marion Hutchison Female 25
Elizabeth Hutchison Female 11 
Matthew Hutchison Male 7
Thos Sharpe  22 coal miner
Margaret Coldwells  52 FS
Jean Neil  6