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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Renfrewshire => Topic started by: grossan on Tuesday 18 January 22 20:40 GMT (UK)
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I am looking for known details of a Thomas Fitzgerald born April 1914 in Greenock Renfrewshire. Is anybody able help me fill in the blanks please. I would be grateful. Thank you
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Who were his parents?
Where does he fit into your FH?
Have you checked SP for a marriage/death. www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
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You seem to have nothing but blanks so far.
Do you have his birth certificate? If not you can get it at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk. It should tell you the full names of both his parents, and the date and place of their marriage.
If he died in Scotland after 1974 you can search the deaths index there using his mother's maiden surname.
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Once the 1921 census becomes available later this year, you may be able to find him there.
What else do you know about him? Did he remain in Scotland?
If he was illegitimate, he may have used his father's surname even if his father did not sign the birth certificate. You could try searching the death index for a Thomas, born 1914, mother's surname Fitzgerald.
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Forfarian
Thank you for your suggestions - I will continue the search - I don’t know if or when he left Scotland
His mother married in 1919 and was abroad when she gave birth to two sons during the marriage.
Neither of those two sons had any knowledge of the whereabouts of the half brother
Regards. Grossan
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Hi Grossan
Who looked after young Thomas in his early years? The soon to be released 1921 census for Scotland (later part of this year) will provide you with additional info for him.
Have you looked at the original image of his birth? What was his exact date of birth in April?
Monica
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MonicaL
Thank you for your interest. His exact birth was 19th April 1914. Have no information about who cared for him during his childhood. I am hoping to gain some information from the 1921 census when it is released in Scotland - until then I am groping in the dark
Regards. Grossan
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You mention his mother, but have not stated what her name was.
What information is on the birth certificate?
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I am assuming his mother was not married? He could have been adopted if she left and made a life for herself elsewhere. His name/surname could have been changed?
I cannot see a Thomas Fitzgerald popping up with his details so far on a number of databases. You have a hard search for him, Grossan :-\
Monica
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From a pm - mother was Charlotte Fitzgerald. However - no 1919 marriage for her in Scotland. There is a marriage in 1919 in Romford on freebmd of Charlotte R Fitzgerald to Reginald W Miller. Is that her?
Death of Charlotte R Miller in 1954 Middlesex aged 63
Birth in Greenock 1894 of Charlotte Ross Fitzgerald
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CaroleW. Yes - details of Charlotte Fitzgerald are correct - she was Thomas’ mother
Thank you for looking. Grossan
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Both her parents were Scottish but Thomas was 5yrs old when Charlotte married which suggests he was probably fostered/adopted by somebody from birth.
I'm not familiar with Scottish policy on adoption - would his birth cert have any annotation re subsequent adoption?
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Both her parents were Scottish but Thomas was 5yrs old when Charlotte married which suggests he was probably fostered/adopted by somebody from birth.
I'm not familiar with Scottish policy on adoption - would his birth cert have any annotation re subsequent adoption?
Yes, it would, if it were a formal adoption.
However formal adoption did not come in until 1930-ish so it's unlikely that he was formally adopted, in which case there would not be a annotation on his birth certificate.
I reckon your best bet is the 1921 census. If you are lucky he will be living with his maternal grandparents but listed by his father's surname.
There is another possibility. If his mother and her family were unable to keep him, he could have been boarded out and his keep paid for by the Parochial Board. If so, and if the Greenock Parochial Board survive, there could be a record of him and how he was dealt with.
To find out about the Greenock Parochial Board I'd start with the Watt Library https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/heritage-services/watt-library. They may not have the documents themselves but they should know whether or not the docs have survived and if so where they are.
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Charlotte's father was Thomas b 1863 - he died in 1909 aged 45. His mothers maiden name is shown as Ross
Her mother is shown as Ellen and there is a death in 1931 in Greenock for an Ellen Miller Fitzgerald which may be her. No mmn shown
There is an 1890 marriage - Thomas Fitzgerald to Helen M Wilson
If you do search the 1921 - her mother was b 1868 Renfrewshire & is Ellen on both the 1901 & 1911 censuses
1891 - all b Renfrew unless shown otherwise
Martha Wilson 40 Head b Ireland
Margaret Wilson 17 Daughter pupil teacher
Elizabeth Wilson 14 "
Thomas Fitzgerald 27 Son-in-law b Luss Dunbartonshire
Ellen Fitzgerald 23 dtr
ED 17 schedule number 72 Line 8
1881 - children b Renfrewshire - adults b Ireland
David Wilson 36 Head master plasterer
Martha King Wilson 36 Wife
James 11
Ellen M 13
Margaret Wilson 6
Elizabeth Wilson 4
James King 76 Father in law joiner
ED 23 schedule number 171 Line 15
1871
David Wilson 26 b Ireland - plasterer
Martha b Ireland
Ellen M 3
James K Wilson 1
James King 60 father in law b Ireland
Martha A King neice 8 b Ireland joiner
ED 18 schedule number 70 Line 23
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Thank you so much - this is such helpful information to have. I appreciate you spending time on my request for information
Grossan
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Her mother is shown as Ellen and there is a death in 1931 in Greenock for an Ellen Miller Fitzgerald which may be her. No mmn shown.
There wouldn't be. I think they have only got as far as about 1910 with adding mmn to the deaths index.
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Sorry to appear so ignorant but could you tell me what mmn stands for - something about maiden name perhaps?
Regards. Grossan
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Exactly that ;) MMN - mother's maiden name.
Women's maiden names have an important place in Scottish research. Married women never legally lose the right to use their maiden name which is why the maiden name features so prominantly on documents.
For example, when searching for a death of a married woman in Scotland, both surnames are recorded on the registration (along with her parents' names, including her mother's maiden name...and so on ;)). Married women will often be referred to as, for example, Mary Thomson or Johnson.
Scotlands People are undertaking a major indexing programme to include the deceased person's mother's maiden name. It is a really useful search aid that will help enormously in narrowing down search results on the index page. Look forward to seeing it completed. As always though, the details are only as good as remembered by an informant to a death ::)
Monica
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Birth of Ellen Miller Wilson 1867 Renfrew
www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
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Thank you for the explanation
Grossan