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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: LAH-C on Sunday 01 August 10 13:22 BST (UK)
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I'm not sure what I'm hoping to get from putting this post on - maybe some advice or ideas of the next step or really good websites for searching. Basically, my father, who died in 1998, died never knowing the circumstances of his birth, his mother or family. My daughter has started searching the birth records in Scotland, trying to find out more about my father's mother and to see if we're able to find out who his father was. His father's name isn't on his birth certificate, he was fostered at the age of 9 months and moved from Glasgow area (Vernon Street) to Inverness where he was fostered. We think we know who his father might have been, based on him being given perhaps his father's name as a middle name. We would love to know why his mother gave him up and who she is/was and whether she had any other children.
If anyone can make any useful comments about how to help us carry on the search I would be very grateful - Lesley
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Hi and welcome to Rootschat
Can you find a birth for his mother on Scotland's People as that will give her parents names?
You could also search SP to see if she later married
If you have a rough idea of who the father may have been - again - have a look on SP for a birth reg. There were 2 McGranthin families in Glasgow on the 1901 census
I doubt you will ever get confirmation of your suspicions of paternity and as his mother will now be deceased, her reasons for giving him up may never be known
If she did marry - you may get sufficient info via SP to locate any subsequent children she had
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Recheck his Birth Certificate at the left hand side for a possible link to corrected entries.
Check Court records for his mother taking child maintenance/ paternity petition against the father.
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Hi
Welcome from me too :)
Not sure if you've seen this but there is a marriage between a xxx l McGranthin and a XXX Hamilton in Maryhill in 1923. It might be worth following up.
Gadget
(I see that Vernon Street is in Maryhill)
Removed first names as there just might be living children
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Also checked for you the 1927 Glasgow Directory. This is the link for Vernon Street which you mentioned http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glasgow/1927address1079.jpg (this gets you to the home page if you need to search elsewhere, done by names and streets http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~glasgow/index-glas.htm).
Monica
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Thank you to you all - I'll follow up. My dad had a suspicion that he had a twin - as the time is on his birth certificate. But I spoke to someone in Scotland last week, she confirmed that in Scotland its normal practice to record the time for both single and multiple births. I have a copy of the 'extract' of his birth certificate, we've ordered a copy of his actual birth certificate from one of the Scottish web sites, we've also ordered the one who we think is his mother. That one wasn't able to be viewed for some reason, once we have the certificate my daughter will try to see if we can find a record of marriage then death. I'm very wary about mentioning names, don't want to upset anyone or break any protocol rules. My mum is happy for us to found out as much as we can. My poor dad was so ashamed at his start in life and never wanted to discuss anything, he simply couldn't understand why his mother waited until he was 9 months to give him up. His childhood was very hard I think, he ran away a few times and then was on his own completely at 15. He joined the RAF and then travelled until he met my mum and had us. He settled in England, but was always a proud Scot. God - listen to me, this is a big deal for us, delving into his past. i'm going to have a look at the link you've sent to me - thanks Monica and thank you to you all for your interest.
Lesley :)
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Lesley, I am sure this is an important thing for you all, as it must have been for your father. From what you have said, sounds like you are in England, which makes it more expensive to do the type of research you are planning as you have to order most certificates given the likely period you are looking at.
Be careful where you are ordering certs from and that you don't incur additional charges. The best place to order direct from on line is from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk where the cost of ordering a certificate (outside the period that you can view images on lines) is a flat £10 for any one birth/marriage or death cert.
Current cut off to view images on line are:
Births - 1909, due to 100yr privacy rule. Increases by one year each year.
Marriages - currently I think 1934
Deaths - currently 1959, increasing by one year every year.
After these years, certificates have to be ordered.
Something to consider for you is a trip to one of the genealogy centres (the main ones being in Edinburgh or Glasgow) where you are able to view images on line for certificates after the standard cut off dates that you have, as shown above. For a day's booking (varies but c. £14) you can view on line as many certificates as you possibly can on the day. Might work out cheaper in the long run, so something to consider in your research.
Wish you every luck :)
Monica
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Thank you monica :-*
really helpful - Lesley
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If he was born in Glasgow and fostered out, it would be worth having a look at the parochial board records (poor law records), which are held in the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. If the Glasgow Parochial Board had a hand in fostering him out, there will be very detailed notes about the case which may even reveal who his father was.
http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/Library_Services/The_Mitchell/Archives/poorlawarchives.htm
I thought that I had seen an online index to the poor law records of Glasgoe but can't find it now.
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There is no on line index to these records Forfarian, unfortunately. They can only be searched personally at the Mitchell (although I read recently here on RC that these records were on the move to another site which is a pity).
Monica
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Something to consider for you is a trip to one of the genealogy centres (the main ones being in Edinburgh or Glasgow) where you are able to view images on line for certificates after the standard cut off dates that you have, as shown above. For a day's booking (varies but c. £14) you can view on line as many certificates as you possibly can on the day. Might work out cheaper in the long run, so something to consider in your research.
Go for the Scotland's People Centre in Edinburgh.
(a) It's seriously easy to get to - a great conspicuous building just across the road from the railway station, in the next block to the bus station, and on just about every city bus route.
(b) The Glasgow genealogy centre tends to be well booked up in advance, but there is usually plenty of room in Edinburgh.
(c) In Edinburgh you can do a two-hour free taster session. Otherwise you pay £10 for a day's unlimited access to all the BM&D certificates (in image form) and you can make whatever notes you like. The Glasgow genealogy centre charge is £14 per day.
(d) Other family history centres/shops/whatever don't have access to the BM&D certificates or indexes.
(e) Main registrars' offices have access to the computerised index and images, but they don't all have facilities for visitors and if they have they will charge you £10 per hour[/b] for the privilege
(f) The new Highland genealogy centre in Inverness may have similar facilities to the Glasgow one, but I have not yet been there so I don't know.
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There is no on line index to these records Forfarian, unfortunately. They can only be searched personally at the Mitchell (although I read recently here on RC that these records were on the move to another site which is a pity).
That is indeed bad news. Wonder why?
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I'll try and find the link to the post (think it was by Gerry Farrell)....
Found it, www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,460920.msg3233251.html#msg3233251 = reply 16 onwards.
Monica
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Hello Lesley.
I was quite touched to read your posting. The McGranthin surname appears to be quite unique, all MacGranthins and McGranthins coming from the same McGrannathan family who ultimately settled in Glasgow. My own Grandfather was a MacGranthin from Maryhill and I suspect that if your Grandfather was a William McGranthin then they will be related. My line came from James McGranthin born 1865. I suspect that yours came from his brother, Walter William McGranthin, born 1868.
Walter William had a number of children including another Walter William McGranthin born 1900, and William
Campbell McGranthin born 1898. William Campbell McGranthin married Isabella Crawford Hamilton in 1923 at Maryhill.
The tradition of naming children after family members is very strong within this family, normally following the Scottish pattern. Eldest son after father's father; eldest daughter after mother's mother etc. So William Campbell McGranthin is named after his mother (Jane Baird Cambell) 's father, William Campbell.
The fact of a marriage between a McGranthin and a Hamilton is a very strong coincidence. I know this does not help with your immediate quest but I hoped it would be of interest to you. If I come across any further info that may help, I would be happy to let you know.
MMacG
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Hello Lesley. I 've been checking back a bit and I think I gave the wrong date of birth for William Campbell McGranthin. It seems to be 1903 not 1898.
I'm sure that you and your daughter have managed to use Scotland's People website to establish more info. Because of my interest in the family, I have had a bit of a look and have managed to find some additional information which I would be happy to share. I'm not used to this site and don't know how to do this in private, though! Get in touch if you want to.
However, I appreciate that you may prefer to continue your investigations for yourself. I wish you the very best.
MMacG