Thomas Robertson Brennan 1922

[niccymae]

Hi all, I’m after some help. I’m new to this and have been stuck on this for a few weeks.

My grandad was allegedly adopted and the information I have is very limited. The only documents I have are his possible birth certificate, and marriage and death certificates.  I’m fairly certain this is the right birth certificate as his name, location, day, month of birth are all correct although his birth year was two years later than we thought. Also Thomas Robertson Brennan match the other records I have on him and as there aren’t many Thomas R Brennan’s appearing on searches I’m fairly sure it’s him.

I’ve been trying to get more information on his mother, my great grandmother, but all I have is the information on the birth certificate. I can’t find anything that matches with that address and nothing on the 1921 Scottish census. Why would that be? I’m also wondering if people lied about their names and address back in 1922 which is possibly why I’m struggling for information?

Despite coming across names matching hers, I’ve no way of knowing which one she is if at all. What do you do in these situations? I can’t find any adoption records but I’m actually wondering if he was really adopted in the first place. It’s all a mystery. I was told his middle name which was Robertson was his birth fathers surname but we were also told his birth mother got pregnant out of marriage by a ranking officer on a ship who was Greek- Robertson doesn’t sound very Greek though!

If you look at the birth certificate it has three entries in relation to three different people. In the very first  column there is an adoption stamp. My initial thought was the stamp in that column was in relation to the first person only but I’m thinking it could be for the whole page??

I’m on Ancestry, Find my Past and have been looking at the Scottish National Archives.

If anyone can help, give tips and point me in the right direction it will be very much appreciated. Thank you

[jim1]

Hello & welcome to RC
I'm afraid your image is very blurred & unreadable so we need a better image
or you can tell us what's it says.
In the meantime the 3 names should be the birth mother & the adoptive parents
who are re-registering his name.
She may have gone to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK to have the child &
arrange the adoption & then returned home.
It may be the Robertson name is hers & not the putative fathers, I have one just like it.
The address may be a mother & baby home.
A lot of maybe's I know.
DNA might be the route to go.

[Dundee]

I can’t find any adoption records but I’m actually wondering if he was really adopted in the first place.

You won't find adoption records for that time period.

The Adoption of Children (Scotland) Act, 1930 introduced legal adoption into Scotland from that year.

Before 1930 adoptions were arranged on a private basis, either by individuals or by one of a number of charitable adoption agencies.

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/research-guides/research-guides-a-z/adoption-records

You may have to look at admissions to children's homes/orphanages but whether the records are open to the public will depend on when he left his mother.  I think they are generally closed for 100 years.  Did he name a father when he married?

Debra 

[niccymae]

Hi,

Thank you both for your response. For some reason it wouldn't let me attach the original file, it said it was too large even though it was just one document. Is there a way around this? The document was downloaded from the National Scottish Archives.

The document is a birth certificate with three separate entries. My grandfather is the second entry.
On the first entry it relates to another person and in the column in the corner of that entry there are two stamps which say adoption. What isn't clear is if that column represents the one entry or all three. it looks like that even though before 1930 adoptions weren't made official, some birth certificates made note of this. Its such a shame it wont let me upload the document as id love to know what others think of this.

For my grandfather the details I have are the area the birth was registered which was St Rollox in the borough of Glasgow
His full name: Thomas Robertson Brennan
Date, time and place of birth:6h 10pm, 1st August 1922, maternity hospital, Glasgow
Mothers name, job title & address: Catherine Brennan, Tailoress, 14, Stanley Street, Glasgow
His birth mothers signature
The date the birth was registered: 18th August 1922

There is no father mentioned and nowhere does it say illegitimate. The two other entries name fathers and job titles. It makes me think she was unmarried and my grandfather took her maiden name. We think Robertson may have been his fathers name, although that's just a guess. Interestingly, which I think I have already mentioned, is this birth certificate makes my grandfather two years younger than stated on his death certificate. I am quite certain this is him though.

If he was alive today, he would be 100 years old which I hope means I can access protected records. Any idea how I can go about looking at orphanages or working houses in Scotland?
He was in the navy and on his wedding day he wore his Royal Navy uniform. On my fathers birth certificate it states his Royal Navy number PGX 161276 although I haven't been able to obtain any information on his time in the Navy.

He is a very difficult person to get information on and despite my fathers maternal side having lots of family around, nobody seems to know anything about my Grandad Tom and his family which adds further to the mystery and my curiosity.

[Girl Guide]

I've looked this birth record up and the only names are the child plus the mother.

Born 1st August 1922 - Thomas Robertson Brennan - Maternity Hospital, Glasgow

Mother - Catherine Brennan, tailoress - Domicile 14 Stanley Street, Glasgow.

No other names other than the Registrar's.

[niccymae]

Hello,
Yes that’s correct which is why this is so hard it to figure out. I’m assuming he is what they would consider an illegitimate child. Do you think the adoption stamp refers to the first child or all three children on that page?
Thanks for you me help.

[Girl Guide]

Ah I see what you are getting confused about.  The two stamps are in the section that relates to Georgina Kennedy.  If you look carefully at the rim of the stamp you will see it says See Reg of Corr Ents.  This means you need to look at the Register of Corrected Entries.

These stamps have nothing to do with Thomas at all.  I suspect Thomas stayed with his mother.  Have you tried tracing him any further as in any possible marriage or death?

[Dundee]

Just for information only, Electoral Roll for 14 Stanley Street, Glasgow

1921

John DONALDSON
Mrs Maria DONALDSON
Maria B. DONALDSON
Margaret S. WATT

1922/1923

John DONALDSON
Mrs Maria DONALDSON
Alexander B. WATT

These people were John DONALDSON who was married in 1883 to Maria BURNSIDE.  Their daughters Maria Brown DONALDSON and Margaret Steven DONALDSON who married Alexander Brown WATT.

Unfortunately I can't find them on the 1921 census but I can find all their electoral roll neighbours.

Debra 

[niccymae]

hi,

Thank you for explain the stamps and clearing this up for me. I appreciate you taking the time to help.  I was told the birth register may show less information than the birth certificate. Is this correct? I assumed they would have the same details. Thank you