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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Midlothian => Topic started by: pink lady on Sunday 10 August 08 14:44 BST (UK)
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Could I please ask for some assistance in helping to point me in the right direction, in searching for a birth certificate?
I am searching for a birth certificate of Janet Gillies Clark born c1849 Midlothian. Fife census from 1881 state she was born in Midlothian. Her son John Burt was born in Kirkcaldy 1869 possibly out of wedlock.
Her marriage certificate to Richard Watters 1873 Beath Fife, and her death certificate 1914 state her parents as Thomas Clark (stocking weaver )and Janet Gillies. I have been unable to find a marriage certificate for her parents.
I have found similar names in my searches on Scottish records,but unable to clarify the correct one, after two years I feel as if I have hit a brick wall and would be grateful for any help.
Regards
Pink Lady
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John Burt's birth entry is on familysearch.org -
John Burt Clark b.26/8/1869 Kirkcaldy, son of Jessie Clark
So he was indeed born out of wedlock.
It's also quite possible that Janet Clark's parents weren't married either. One of my own Scottish 2 x gt. grandmother's was always known by her father's surname but her parents never actually married each other, nor even lived together. They each married other people.
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Annette
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Thank you Annette for your reply.
I do have John Clark Burt 1869 as he was known (my great grandfather) birth information. I am just having so much difficulty in finding Janet/Jessie Clark birth details from the information I have.
Once again thank you for your help.
Regards
Pink Lady
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Hi
For that period of time you won't get an actual Birth Certificate as it was prior to the start of Statutory Registration, but you might find an entry in a Church Baptismal Book.
I started looking for another census record, an earlier one when Janet is still with her parents in the hope that it might shed some light on her age and place of birth, and on the rest of her family.
If you can find the death certificates for Janet's parents you could find out more about them, and even get enough details to find them in the census.
There are 2 death entries on SP for Janet Clark, other name Gillies 1855-1910, one in 1855 aged 75, the other age unknown in 1862, Port Glasgow Renfrew.
I looked at the 1861 census, but the first likely one I found was in West Calder and has father Thomas (widower, 53) as a Master Baker, which doesn't match up to what she put on her marriage certificate, so probably not your lot. (If you are interested I can post a transcription of the entry). Out of credits now, but maybe if you post a lookup request someone with free access can check the census recods and get you some more information. It is not always wise to base all your searches on one census entry, they are notoriously unreliable! ;)
Kirsty
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Hi Kirsty
Thank you for your information, I am grateful but please do not use your credits its so expensive.
I have Janet on Fife 1881 census and after until her death 1914, under her married name Watters. Before that nothing, I have her son John Burt as a boarder in 1871 Fife where is she?
I have searched census, births, marriages, and death records to no avail for her parents. Until I can verify her birth I feel it would only be guess work. I have tried various spellings on surnames, maybe a different maiden name for Gillies or maybe she was born out of wedlock again it would be guess work.
I just feel I am missing something somewhere, and hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction.
Once again thank you for your time and trouble.
Regards
Pink Lady