Watson John Allan

[Forfarian]

I am pretty certain that orphanage records from less than 100 years ago would be closed, though I am not 100% certain. I am certain that health board records are closed for 100 years, and that adoption records are also closed.

I wonder why, if his parents were married in Edinburgh, he was born in Edinburgh and his mother died in Edinburgh, he would have been sent to an orphanage in West Lothian? His father was born in Midlothian and his mother in Angus (Dundee) so there is no obvious link to West Lothian.

The catalogue of the National Records of Scotland does have some material relating to Wallhouse, but it mostly seems to be inspectors' reports and a request for a public enquiry into the home. Have a look for yourself - go to https://catalogue.nrscotland.gov.uk/nrsonlinecatalogue/welcome.aspx and search for Wallhouse using reference starting ED11.

If I were you I would start by asking the West Lothian Local History Library https://www.westlothian.gov.uk/article/44856/Local-History-Library whether or not there are records of children who were placed in Wallhouse, and if so how they can be accessed for research purposes.

[Stewarty076]

Wow. I'm so overwhelmed with the generosity of you and Dorrie, Thank you for all the information. Poor Ali has gone to bits, I think it's just now hitting home that dad is no longer with us and now having been handed info on dads side has pushed his barriers, (bless him) what we know from what dad told us is that he remembers being on the bus with his mum going to Whitburn W.L. so we believe that his mum knew she was dying and no one in the family were going to take the kid(s) and presume that the orphanage in Whitburn was the only place that had a place for a 4 yr old child. Ali has asked me to try find out if Winifred had kids from her previous marriage as well as if dad had siblings, I've tried Ancestry and family search but keep coming up blank. Any guidance there from anyone would be great. I'm gonna contact Cybel at library HQ and quiz her as shes amazing with all info of West Lothian. Do you know that she has written a few books on towns in West Lothian

[dowdstree]

If Winifred had any children from her first marriage you would not be able to view anything online because of the 100 year rule.

A visit to Register House in Edinburgh to troll through the records is the only way you could track this down. Once lockdown is over of course.

Dorrie

[Stewarty076]

Dorrie, I thought that may be the case. I'll keep my fingers crossed something pops up on Familysearsh.org or Ancestry 🤞🤞🤞
 Again thank you for all you have done for us. Ali keeps looking at the certificates and I know what's going through his head bless him
Gill an Ali

[Forfarian]

Ali has asked me to try find out if Winifred had kids from her previous marriage as well as if dad had siblings, I've tried Ancestry and family search but keep coming up blank.

See https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=714261.0

It will be very easy to find that out once the Scotland's People Centres reopen, but at the moment, as Dorrie says, you can't look at any details of births less than 100 years ago.

There is a death of Thomas Morton Baillie, mother's maiden surname Morton, aged 70, in Glasgow in 2008, and there is a birth in Rutherglen in 1938 that would fit. On the other hand, there are a marriage of William Craig Baillie to Isabella Arnott Morton in Springburn in 1929, and Robert Baillie married Lily Morton in Avondale in 1923, so this Thomas probably isn't yours.

[Stewarty076]

Oh gowd dont I know it. I think Reg house is my fav place in Edinburgh above all else I also use a wee company on Victoria terrace, as that's where I found ancestors in 1700's so I can see me ending up there at some point 🙃 I just use the 3 main ones to start/fill in gaps. Defo cannot wait to get back into Reg house. I'll have a look at Thomas Morton when I go back in. Again thank you for all your help

Kindest regards
Gill an Ali

[dowdstree]

Your late father in law had a memory of going on the bus with his mum from Edinburgh to Whitburn in 1944.

See my reply #10  -  The Orphanage in Whitburn did not open until 1946 so he could not have gone straight into care.

My take on this would be -

1.  He was being evacuated. Lots of kids from Edinburgh went to families in the Lothians for safety. My own husband included went to West Calder. After the war was over his father was unable to have him home for some unknown reason so poor John ended up in care.

2.  There was a family member living in Whitburn who took him in.

Just my thoughts.

Dorrie
   

[MonicaL]

Hi Gill

Just curiosity on my part. Did Winifred show as widowed or divorced when she remarried to John Allan Watson in 1942?

She was showing as married when your father in law was born in 1941, from what you mentioned. With her marriage the following year to John Allan Watson, can't easily see a death for a Malcolm Baillie for 1941-2.

Have you tried to follow up on John Allan Watson after Winifred's death in 1944?

This likely will have to wait till SP centres reopen I would imagine.

Monica

[dowdstree]

Hi Monica Winifred is showing as divorced on her marriage certificate to John Allan Watson in 1942. This is correct as there is an RCE to her marriage to Malcolm Baillie.

Dorrie