Elspet Taylor - Illegitimate Daughter - Scotland

[lorelai]

Hi there,

I'm hoping to find someone who loves a challenge and might be able to help unravel this mystery. I am looking for more information about the father of an illegitimate child.

The daughter's name is Elspet Taylor
- Born 21 Jan 1819, Allanshire, Tyrie, Scotland
- Married 8 Jun 1841, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland to John Mitchell
- Also have her on several of the census records
- Died 15 Jul 1901 Cruden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Her mother was Elizabeth Sinclair (daughter of Alexander Sinclair and Elspet Robertson)
- Born 23 Nov 1797, Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
- Never married and lived with her daughter and grandchildren
- Occupation domestic servant
- Died 19 Apr 1866 Woodhead, Aberdour, Scotland

Her father was a Mr Taylor
- Born New Byth
- Surgeon at time of daughter's birth

The information above on her father comes from her birth certificate. On her death certificate the father field is blank and she is listed as illegitimate.


I'm assuming that there should be a medical register that I can narrow down to 'Taylor' and then with the information look for a Taylor born in New Byth. I can see there are a fair few registers but have no idea where to start.

[GrahamSimons]

You are too early for the Medical Register unfortunately.  As a long shot,  a very long shot, you could try contacting the Royal College of Surgeons.
Might be worth a newspaper search using Taylor AND Surgeon as the search term.
There might be something in the Kirk records.

[Neale1961]

A possible Robert Taylor (from 1841 census)
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a140106f4040b9d6ee50b95/robert-taylor-1841-aberdeenshire-strichen-1792-?locale=en


Same family in 1851
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5e999838f4040bc9a3d65995/mary-taylor-1851-aberdeenshire-strichen-1837-?locale=en

[lorelai]

@GrahamSimons will see if I can reach out to them.

When do the records start? If we assume he was at least 18 in 1819, if he worked until he was 40-50 could he be on the register until 1840-1850 (or back then were you only registered once)?


@Neale1961 thanks. At 49 in 1841, he would've only been a little bit older than Elizabeth Sinclair so could be a possible fit.

[Ruskie]

That looks promising Neale.

Have you considered taking a DNA test lorelei? Even better if you could trace Robert the Surgeon’s family line down to the present day and if possible contact one of them to see if they would be willing to test. There you would have your proof - probably. 

[Neale1961]

@Neale1961 thanks. At 49 in 1841, he would've only been a little bit older than Elizabeth Sinclair so could be a possible fit.

Marriage for that same Robert Taylor to Mary Ogston in 1836, Strichen

This is him in 1861
https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/590269e6e9379091b1d722fb/robert-taylor-1861-aberdeenshire-strichen-1792-?locale=en

[GrahamSimons]

@GrahamSimons will see if I can reach out to them.

When do the records start? If we assume he was at least 18 in 1819, if he worked until he was 40-50 could he be on the register until 1840-1850 (or back then were you only registered once)?

Medical Register began in 1859. Some editions are in Ancestry.

[pb_devon]

There is a specific section of rootschat for Scotland. I’ve asked mods to move this thread to there. More likely to attract attention!