John McGREGOR, born 06/05/1833, Duntocher, Old Kilpatrick

[BAC3]

Hello,

Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564 - 1950 (ex-Ancestry) confirm that the above was born on 06/05/1833 to John McGREGOR and Janet MULHOLLAND in Old Kilpatrick, Dunbarton.

His later convict records in 1851 confirm that his mother is a Mrs MULHOLLAND, now resident in Cheapside Street, Anderston, Glasgow, although according to the Scotland Census 1841 she was apparently still living in Old Kilpatrick with neither mention of McGREGOR Senior nor Junior.   All records confirm his place of birth as Duntocher, Old Kilpatrick.  On his release from prison in 1855 he stated he was returning to Glasgow.

Can someone make sense of this, please??    Thank you

BAC3

[Forfarian]

What springs to mind is that John may have been illegitimate.

The first thing you need to do is take a look at the original of the baptism record which is indexed on Ancestry. The original is available at www.scotlandspeople.go.uk and may contain information that is not included in the index. Its pay-per-view but modestly priced. To view it you need to register and buy some credits.

[BAC3]

Thank you,

Does "son natural" as opposed to "son lawful" mean he was illegitimate    Otherwise all details confirm my understanding.

BAC3

[GR2]

"Natural" means illegitimate. I will see if the minutes of the kirk session are available. They might throw more light on the matter.

[BAC3]

Thank you GR2.

I hope you are successful, especially as such an excursion is entirely new to me.

BAC3

[GR2]

There is no mention at all in the Old Kilpatrick kirk session minutes (which can be read free on ScotlandsPeople). That's a pity as it sometimes tells you more about a couple "guilty of the sin of fornication".