Who was Margaret Thom?

[Kloumann]

Sorry Forfarian. It was MS McRobb.

The George Thom mentioned in the 1881 census married a Mary Kirk Hodge in 1876, St George, Edinburgh.

Addition... I can confirm that George Thom was the son of John Thom & Margaret Goodbrand.

[Forfarian]

Sorry Forfarian. It was MS McRobb.

In which case Maggie must have lied about her parents' marital status as well as about her age. It's quite common to do that to conceal illegitimacy, so I don't think it affects the rest of the facts.

There's a marriage of Helen McRobb to Robert Forbes in Grange in 1877. 1881 Census has Robert Forbes, 56; wife Helen Forbes, 42, born Keith; son Alexander Forbes, 21 and Helen A Forbes, 2, all at 10 Fife Street, Banff. (LDS transcription)

John Thom, 39, house carpenter, born Cullen, is at 165 West North Street, Aberdeen with wife Margaret, 38 and 7 children. (LDS again)

[Rosinish]

You may be lucky & find an attachment from the RCE (Register of Corrected Entries) naming the father on the birth Forfarian noted in 1857 for Margaret Thom McRobb?

MCROBB MARGARET THOM 1857 - 156/ 71 Grange (Banff)

If no RCE there's also an entry here which can be ordered for a small fee...

Scroll down to heading 'Find the father'...

https://www.oldscottish.com/grange.html

There are 4 entries with mother as Helen McRobb, could she be the same mother to those other 3?
All born pre 1871 i.e. would be on 1871 census (if not already deceased).

Annie

[Kloumann]

John Thom married Margaret Goodbrand in Forgue, 1838. Margaret died Seafield in 1871

[Kloumann]

Had a look at Margaret Thom McRobb's birth record on 23rd Dec 1857 in Bracobrae, Grange, Banff. No father listed. She was illegitimate. Mother Helen McRobb, Domestic servant.

On the 1861 census for Grange, she is 21 & living with her mother, also Helen McRobb, age 59. Helen was born in Keith, 1838, daughter of George McRobb & Helen (Davidson)

[Rosinish]

No pic but seems likely same place...

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/property/sillyearn-croft-bracobrae/grange/keith/ab55-6tp/217825

From VRs...

MACROBB WIDOW Occupier
FEW TENEMENT HOUSE KEITH
1855
VR009100002-

There's also an Alexander MacRobb as an Occupier on same VR 1855


MACROBB GEORGE Tenant Occupier
SILLYEARN ESTATE OF BRACO GRANGE (BANFF)
1865
VR009100018-

Annie

[Fordyce]

Just to expand for completeness sake upon John THOM (h/o Margaret GOODBRAND):

John THOM remarried in 1872 to Catherine FORBES who was nearly 30 years younger. He had two further children by her, named Helen and Catherine. They were at Tochnieneal in 1881 and 1891.

Catherine FORBES had had an illeg child William STRACHAN born 30 Apr 1869.
After John THOM's death, Catherine FORBES remarried, to John Innes ALLAN on 13 Oct 1899.
She died 1925; he died 1930.

(William STRACHAN is related to me via his father James STRACHAN who was also illeg, his father being William STRACHAN who ended up as proprietor and farmer of Mill of Balmaud, King Edward.)

[Olicana]

Oh wow! Thank you everyone for taking the time to find out so much information, and special thanks to Kloumann for using your own credits too 

Your efforts are all really appreciated 

[Forfarian]

There are 4 entries with mother as Helen McRobb, could she be the same mother to those other 3?
All born pre 1871 i.e. would be on 1871 census (if not already deceased).

Very likely, as there are not a lot of Helen McRobbs around at the time.

There are four births of children to Helen McRobb, no father named
Margaret Thom McRobb 23 December 1857
William McRobb 14 August 1860
James McRobb 10 January 1865
George McRobb 24 December 1868
John McRobb 21 April 1873 all in Grange except John who was born in Fordyce.

Bracobrae https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5052
and https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5053
Sillyearn https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5253

Lintmill https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5165
Tochieneal https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5265
Towie including Tochieneal tileworks https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ5264