William Bryce/William Adams (b.c 1880 Glasgow?)

[rutht22000]

Hi All

I am struck on this gentleman who was born around 1880 in Glasgow (or at least that's what the 1891 census says) and what happened to him in later life. 

He was born the illegitimate son of William Bryce (b. 1832 Glasgow - d. 1892 Bromley, Kent) and Maria Quartley (b. 1855 Porlock, Somerset - d. 1944, London).  The parents were unmarried at the time but later married in 1885 in London but never seemed to seek their son.  William Bryce was a produce merchant and very well off.

William and Maria are living in Lewisham, London on the 1881 Census. William is head of household and Maria is a 'visitor' but baby William is not there.  So first question is can anyone find his birth registration or baptism?

At some point he was said to have been fostered by George Adams and his 'wife' Ellen (likely not to be married and said to be baby farmers who would take children). By the time he was 11 William Bryce/Adams was placed in Dumfries and Maxwelltown Industrial School with the mother (Ellen) saying she was widowed and destitute. He is at the school in 1891 as William Adams but after that I lose him completely.

Maria later married Frederick Scotter who was my great grandmother's cousin. 

It seems that the birth was covered up and William Jnr was fostered away from the family but I'd like to find his birth registration and what happened to him after 1891

Thank you 

[MaureeninNY]

Probably  not relevant but I did wonder about this birth:
GRO
QUARTLEY, WILLIAM  HERBERT ADAMS   -    no mmn
 1880  S Quarter in MARYLEBONE  Volume 01A  Page 525 
Were you able to spot any likely births on SP??

Maureen

[rutht22000]

Thanks Maureen 

I will see if I can match up a baptism anywhere but there is nobody obvious on SP that fits him as Adams or Quartley so its a possible

I guess if there is no mother on the birth certificate, it is possible its leaning towards the birth being covered up

[MaureeninNY]

It doesn't mean that there was no mother's name listed on the birth cert. ,though.

Someone else will explain more fully (please). Just that the mmn is probably the same as the child's surname.

Sorry!

Maureen

[rutht22000]

I think you might actually be onto something with this one. I've just found what looks like the foster parents in Glasgow in 1881 with a 10 month old William H Adams with them, born in England, not Glasgow.   The Adams' say they are English too

1881 Scottish Census was taken in April 1881 which would give a birth month of around June/July 1880 which fits with a September quarter registration 

[MonicaL]

That 1880 birth reg does look promising, Maureen 

Ruth, why do you think he was the son of William Bryce? I think it is the middle name of Adam in that birth reg. that also makes me ask...together with the 1881 entry with Mr and Mrs Adams in Scotland.

Monica

[rutht22000]

That 1880 birth reg does look promising, Maureen 

Ruth, why do you think he was the son of William Bryce? I think it is the middle name of Adam in that birth reg. that also makes me ask...together with the 1881 entry with Mr and Mrs Adam in Scotland.

Monica

Hi Monica

It was a family story that Maria had an illegitimate child called William to a much older wealthy Scotsman (with a 'B' surname) and the child was fostered/adopted back up in Scotland and name changed to Adams but it was all very mysterious.   

I found her marrying William Bryce (who fits that bill) in 1885 and the 1881 census has William and Maria effectively living together....Its more circumstantial evidence at the minute hence me trying to find the birth reg. 

I've ordered that birth certificate for the 1880 William to see if it shows up anything.

[MaureeninNY]

 

Bit of a tangled web!

I am happy that you are getting the birth cert.! If nothing else it may help others.

Maureen

[rutht22000]

Yes hopefully it should 

Quartley isn't exactly a common name.  The Bryce and Scotter families that she married into had a ton of money and I can see why an illegitimate child might be frowned on but what I don't get is why William Bryce didn't marry her until 4 years later.  Both of them were free to marry and yeah, okay there was a bit of an age difference but still....

fingers crossed for that birth certificate

thank you for your help!