Another mystery James smith

[ryan37]

Hi folks

I came across this a few weeks ago but yesterday I requested a copy

I ordered a record from the paternity index on Scottish indexes


I was drawn to a record

Jane bruce cowie and James smith , Middletown of rattray

(James smith is my great grandfather)

I knew that in 1914 this couple
Had an illegitimate son (George) , sadly he later died in infancy

I have never seen the paternity records so I purchased it

First glance I was thinking I hadn’t achieved much more information

Until ……


I woke this morning and read over again

I couldn’t not take it what I was reading

It appears the same couple had another male child 3 year before the second one born in 1911

Wow

So I decided to have a look on Scotlands people for births of Males in 1911 in peterhead

I chose James smith as that was the fathers name

Sure enough I found a record of James smith born illegitimate to Jane bruce cowie and James smith

I cannot believe I haven’t found this before now and what’s more interesting this man was probably living in peterhead the same time as grandfather ,

Did they know they had a sibling ?


Can anyone help me find info on James smith who was born in 1911 in peterhead ? I would be keen to find a death cert

Also I would be keen to find a death certificate for mother Jane bruce cowie who was born around 1890 in peterhead

Thanks

[amondg]

1891 census Peterehead

William Cowie 23
Margaret W 21
*Jane B 1

1901 census
William Cowie 34
Margaret W 31
* Jane B age 11
Benjamin B 6
Alexander B 3
Maggie A 1

[CaroleW]

You need to look on SP to see whether Jane Bruce Cowie married before you can look for a death for her

Have you looked for James Smith deaths with mothers maiden name Cowie?  Not all deaths on SP show mmn

[ryan37]

I found a marriage for Jane b cowie

1915 she married George Ritchie farm servant

I also found

A death in 1951 but strangely enough

Her name is recorded as Jane buchan cowie (Ritchie )

Don’t know why buchan appears but her parents are the same as mentioned on the census so that confirms it’s her

I also think it’s the same parents mentioned on her birth in 1890 which I must look into again

Hope the above helps

Ryan

[ryan37]

I wonder if James smith born 1911 would have been involved in ww2


Ryan

[CaroleW]

Unfortunately you are looking for records for one of the most common surnames.  You also have very little info.  The Scottish 1921 census was expected by now but is not yet available

https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/scotland-1921-census-delayed/

May be an idea to wait & then look up the Ritchie’s

If he stayed with Jane after she married Ritchie - he may have taken her married surname.  He may have gone to live elsewhere sometime after his birth

You don’t give an actual birthdate in 1911 but if it was before the census - have you looked for him on the 1911

[ryan37]

Here we go an update

James apparently moved to Birmingham area and married a woman called Doreen


He returned to peterhead late 60s early 70s

He had 1 son and 2 daughters ,


Great Barr - Birmingham was mentioned ?

I spoke to a nephew of his and nobody up in our area knows anything about him after 70s

Can anyone find anything now ?

Apparently he went with a Ritchie surname Aswell later in life ? Maybe not though worth a go ?

[ryan37]

I add he returned to visit family here and left again

[CaroleW]

Where are you getting your info from & how reliable is it?  In the space of a day you seem to have gone from a surprise discovery at finding he even existed to a marriage & children in Birmingham?

Have you downloaded his birth cert from SP to get his actual birthdate? 

Have you looked on freebmd for a marriage in Warwickshire under Smith or Ritchie?

If he had children - are they still alive?  Please do not give their details here if they are.  Use the children's names to check freebmd for their mothers maiden name & then look for the marriage

www.freebmd.org.uk