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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Dumfriesshire => Topic started by: old scotsman on Tuesday 26 February 08 15:00 GMT (UK)
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Hi I have a problem as Matthew McGill Telfor Waugh born 1898 in the Parish of Mungo, Dumfriesshire. I have been unable to find a birth certificate for him and there is a good possibility that he was adopted.
On the Census for Dumfries; ED: 4; Line: 19; Year: 1901 he is living with his "Adopted" parent at 145 High Street Dumfries.
He Married Lizzie Jane Lochhead and his son was called John Lochhead Leadbetter Waugh, could the Leadbetter be taken as a clue?
Thanks in anticipation for you help
Ian
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This might be his birth
1897 TELFER MATTHEW MCGILL M ST MUNGO /DUMFRIES
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Hi
Matthew McGill Telfer was my g grandfather, his mother Williamina married Matthew Kerr 7 Dec 1906 Brocklerigg Cottage, St Mungo, she d 5 Nov 1914. I still don't know who Matthew McGill Telfers father was. How are you related to Matthew McGill Telfer (Waugh)?
Rachel
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If you view this birth record on SP it should confirm both parents names
1897 TELFER MATTHEW MCGILL Male at ST MUNGO /DUMFRIES
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I have the birth cert for Matthew McGill Telfer but his father is not named, it just states illegitimate in brackets. Don't think I'll ever be able to find out who his father is.
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Hi :)
Have you got a marriage or death cert for him under Waugh or Telfer?
Gadget
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Hi
When he married he was named as Matthew McGill Telfor Waugh, parents named as John Leadbetter Waugh and Martha Ann Kyle. They were his adoptive parents, he was with them in the 1901 Census also named Waugh. Martha Ann Kyle was actually his 1st cousin once removed. I don't think there was ever any formal adoption.
His death cert also names him as Matthew McGill Telfor Waugh naming John and Martha as his parents.
Rachel
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What was his mothers full name on the birth cert.
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So there's just the McGill surname to explain then. Does this occur in his mother's line?
Gadget
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Mothers name on the birth cert is Williamina Telfer. I don't have McGill anywhere else in my tree so I am guessing McGill could have been his fathers surname. Williamina's father was Matthew Telfer so that is probably where his first name came from.
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Did you check the 1901 census for any McGill's in the area. What age was the mother at the birth.
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His mother was around 17 when he was born, I've never been able to find her birth on Scotlands People. Have tried in the past to find McGills in the area but I think there were quite a few. My guess is Matthew may have been taken off her when he was a baby as she was quite young and unmarried. Will have another look at the Census for McGill in the St Mungo area, I have his mother in 1881, 1891 and 1901.
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Where does the 1881 census say she was born?
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1881 states she was born St Mungo, Dumfries, living at Threewellbrae, Dumfries
1891 states born Hoddam, Dumfries, living at Brocklerigg Cottage, St Mungo
1901 states born Lockerbie, living at 7 Solway Street, Annan
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The clue is on the 1881 - Kennedy (son in law - i.e. step son)
She's registered as Williamina Rogerson or Kennedy (illegitimate) . Mother Jane Rogerson (widow of William Kennedy ?drainer who died 24 October 1874)
Born 24 April 1879 Threewellbrae, Hoddom
Gadget
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The clue is on the 1881 - Kennedy (son in law - i.e. step son)
She's registered as Williamina Kennedy (illegitimate) . Mother Jane Rogerson (widow of William Kennedy ?drainer who died 24 October 1874)
Born 24 April 1879 Threewellbrae, Hoddom
Gadget
Gadget got there 4 mins before me !!
On her 1906 marriage register entry Williamina's mother is shown as Jane ROGERSON or KENNEDY, which is why she is registered in 1879 under those surnames instead of TELFER/TELFORD !, and presumably, shown as Williamina R K TELFORD in 1906.
No indication in 1879 of her father's name. I'd read her mother's deceased husband's occupation as 'Drainer', - the old style Scots capital 'D' can sometimes appear to be lower case in modern terms.
Coming forward to wee Matthew's 1897 birth this is several decades prior to the introduction in Scotland of a formal legal process of adoption; but it's worth a look at local institutions of the era and whether any records are extant.
Failing any positive outcome from such an institutional research, it's near certain that there would be a family link in terms of the adoption, even if that link only involves close neighbors or friends, possibly with a kirk connection.
As regards his father's age, there was many a young lass seduced by an older man, so any search for a McGILL candidate should take that into account, however likely it is that the father was someone close to Williamina's age.
While the use of the father's surname as a middle name in such a situation was quite usual, it might also be a family surname, or the surname or someone else connected with the birth, such as a minister, doctor, or midwife ........
ibi
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Many thanks to all of you who have posted replies, you have been a great help. I think I'll have to keep searching the Census for a local McGill and hope one may be the right father.
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There are a few possibles on the 1891 and 1901 but there's no real way of telling is there :-\
I have a similar problem with my Grandfather :(
I suppose it's one less line to search :)
Gadget
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Many thanks to all of you who have posted replies, you have been a great help. I think I'll have to keep searching the Census for a local McGill and hope one may be the right father.
Hi rachelm700
Nae prob!
This is a perfect example of the different routes to the same solution!
Gadget got there via the 1881 census entry; whereas I reached the same conclusion via the 1906 marriage entry, the names of the parents, their date of marriage, linked to the most probable birth record for Williamina, implying a date of birth earlier than that of the parents shown in the 1906 marriage; thereby implying the possibility of an illegitimate birth, so that I went looking for a Williamina ROGERSON or KENNEDY born in the right year and location !! ..............
ibi