Author Topic: Looking for illegitimate child after reading newspaper article.  (Read 383 times)

Offline 1931census

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Looking for illegitimate child after reading newspaper article.
« on: Monday 20 September 21 18:39 BST (UK) »
Whilst researching, I found this newspaper article:

Monday 18th July 1898 - Dundee Courier

SHE BELIEVED HE WAS A SINGLE MAN.

Lord Low heard evidence in an action for divorce by Elizabeth Jane Esson or Sinclair, re-siding at 3 Uilcomston Brae, Aberdeen, against her husband, William Sinclair, moulder, sometime residing at 13 Allan Street, Aberdeen, now at 86 Fonthill Road, Aberdeen. The action waa undefended. The pursuer said she was 27 years of age. She was married to the defender in October 1886. She thought he had not a permanent abode, but he went to Aberdeen to hia mother's house every summer. In March, 1889, he left, and went first to Tayport and then to England to work. They had never resided together since. She had seen him once or twice in Aberdeen, anil he had said, "How are you?" but he had never offered to live with her again. He had never contributed anything to her support since March, 1889. She believed that her husband was now a professional dancer. She heard that a woman named Williamina Forrest had had a child, and that she had taken proceedings against her husband as the father of it. Williamina Forrest said she met the defender at a dancing in 1892. He led her to believe that he was a single man. He used to walk with her a good deal. In June, 1893, she gave birth to a child to the defender. He paid her aliment for the child for a time, and when he ceased to pay she applied to the Sheriff, and got decree against the defender. Lord Low gave decree.

As a relative of William Sinclair, I am now looking for this illegitimate child, which obviously did not die in infancy, as it is alive 5 years later when referred to in this article.
William Sinclair was born in 1865, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. I have been unable to find a concrete identity for Williamina Forrest; there is one born in 1873, in Kirriemuir, Angus, but I can find no evidence she had a child in any year close to 1893.
I looked on Scotland's people for potential candidates born in 1893, the most promising of which (name wise) seemed to be a Williamina John Forrest, born in Turriff, Aberdeeen and William Forrest Sinclair, born in St. Nicholas, Aberdeen. However, I do not have the money to look into this further, or order any certificates.

Offline CaroleW

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Re: Looking for illegitimate child after reading newspaper article.
« Reply #1 on: Monday 20 September 21 19:24 BST (UK) »
Scotlands People is a pay per view site via purchase of credits.  30 credits cost £7.50 & it costs 6 credits to view & download a birth cert (£1.50)

English birth certs for that period cost £7 each so SP is good value.  It is the only way you will solve your mystery

EDIT

You have posted this on 5 different boards.  The moderator has been asked to lock your surplus posts.  Duplicate posts waste a lot of time and effort
Census Information is Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
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