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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Bermudagirl on Sunday 01 September 24 15:11 BST (UK)
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I am looking for help for my friend who is nearly 90 years old.
My friend for whatever reason was left with his grandparents and was eventually adopted. The problem is no one can find any record of what happened to his parents. I assumed they might have emigrated, but I (and others) can't find any record.
His birth parents were William McCulloch (or McCullock) born 8/4/1897 and Margaret Kerr born in 1904. They were married on 16th Oct 1935 which was after my friend was born.. His parents lived in Saltcoats at one time but my friend was born in Glasgow.
His paternal grandparents were Joseph McCulloch, a sheriff officer and Annie Webber from England.
His maternal grandparents may have been Patrick Kerr and Sarah Isabel ?
Does any of this family tree seem familiar to anyone? Any help would be much appreciated.
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We aren't allowed to post details of living people so you'll need to modify your post to remove some of your friend's details.
"... his birth payments were William McCulloch (or McCullock) born 8/4/1897 and Margaret Kerr born in 1904. They were married on 16th Oct 1935. His parents lived in Saltcoats at one time but as I mentioned J McCulloch was born in Glasgow.'
I think you mean birth parents? Does he have a copy of his birth certificate? Scottish certificates list date and place of parents' marriage (if any).
Saltcoats isn't that far from Glasgow (perhaps mother went there for the birth, was living there previously or parents moved there after marriage.
Birth registration should list residence of parents as will marriage registration.
If there was an official adoption there might be more details on his birth family.
https://www.mygov.scot/adoption-information#:~:text=Courts%20usually%20give%20the%20records,1355%20or%200131%20535%201383
One thing that strikes me is the age of the parents when he was born. Clearly not a case of being too young to keep the child but perhaps one or both were married when J was born?
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Thank you. I have amended my post and hope that it is now acceptable.
I have now looked at his birth certificate again. As I said he was born in Glasgow, but the address of his father is Saltcoats. His parents got married after he was born.
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Does the marriage record list both parents as single? The marriage was quite a while after his birth. What was the father's occupation? could be have been at sea of away somewhere before the marriage took place?
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Thanks. I must ask my friend if he has a copy of the marriage certificate or if his daughter perhaps has a copy as she had hired someone (presumably a professional geneologist) to research the family, with it seems little success. My friend's notes that he gave me advise that his birth father was a house factor, so perhaps someone did obtain a copy of the marriage certificate. The date of the marriage is on the birth certificate although the marriage took place after the birth, which was registered after the marriage.
The mystery is still, that his birth parents disappeared and no research has come up with any results.
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Was going to check a few things on Scotland's People site but I see it's down for planned work until Tuesday.
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Yes, that's held me up as well!
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Who adopted him and does he have his adoption file?
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1901 census
Address 169 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Joseph Mcculloch 50 Head born Troon
Anne Mcculloch 35 Wife born England
David McCulloch 11 Son
Alexander McCulloch 8 Son Percy McCulloch 6 Son
William McCulloch 3 Son
Christina McCulloch 1 Daur (Daughter)
Jessie Webber 31 Sister In Law (Sister-in-law)
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Who adopted him and does he have his adoption file?
Not sure if he does. It might give some information about his parents. Will see him tomorrow. The weather was rotten today.
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1901 census
Address 169 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Joseph Mcculloch 50 Head born Troon
Anne Mcculloch 35 Wife born England
David McCulloch 11 Son
Alexander McCulloch 8 Son Percy McCulloch 6 Son
William McCulloch 3 Son
Christina McCulloch 1 Daur (Daughter)
Jessie Webber 31 Sister In Law (Sister-in-law)
Thanks. I've got this plus the 1911 Census from Scotland's People. The mystery is what happened to his birth parents after he was put up for adoption.
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The marriage record for his parents will give the names of Margaret Kerr's parents. This can help to look for her death record using her mother's maiden name.
What was the time span between his birth and his parents marriage?
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The span was less than a month! Born in Sept 1934, marriage the next month. I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text. Will see if my friend has the "proper" marriage certificate.
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The span was less than a month! Born in Sept 1934, marriage the next month. I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text. Will see if my friend has the "proper" marriage certificate.
Ah. Your original post said birth was 1934 and marriage 1935 which was puzzling as marriage details appear on the birth certificate (although entirely possible child was registered after the marriage).
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was left with his grandparents
Was it his maternal grandparents he was left with?
His paternal grandfather had already died at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow on 9th November 1933. Home address 12 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.
In 1998, someone in Glasgow posted a help request in the Daily Record, seeking to trace an E________A____McCulloch or her descendants, with the same above address noted as her "last known". (As age of this person is not mentioned, I have only included initials in case still living).
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The span was less than a month! Born in Sept 1934, marriage the next month. I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text. Will see if my friend has the "proper" marriage certificate.
Attach the part you can't read and others may be able to transcribe it
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was left with his grandparents
Was it his maternal grandparents he was left with?
His paternal grandfather had already died at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow on 9th November 1933. Home address 12 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.
In 1998, someone in Glasgow posted a help request in the Daily Record, seeking to trace an E________A____McCulloch or her descendants, with the same above address noted as her "last known". (As age of this person is not mentioned, I have only included initials in case still living).
Not sure which grandparents he was left with. Will check tomorrow.
That's very interesting about the Daily Record request. Can I ask where you accessed that?
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The span was less than a month! Born in Sept 1934, marriage the next month. I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text. Will see if my friend has the "proper" marriage certificate.
Attach the part you can't read and others may be able to transcribe it
Attached. I can make out a little of it but not a lot. It's the top entry.
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Looks like her parents are Patrick Kerr (deceased) and Sarah Wilson
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I got the Patrick Kerr but couldn't make out the other name.
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The request mentioned by Scotmum
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Thank you.
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In case you are not aware …
24 Sept 1921 your William McCulloch arrived in Canada
Passage paid by Overseas Settlement Committee
Intending to remain permanently in Canada. Intending to do farm work.
Destination to a friend – Mr Peter Ramsay, farmer in Saskatchewan
Address of father (Joseph) in Scotland – Watson Cottage, Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats
Obviously William returned to Scotland at some time because he married there, but did he ever go back to Canada.
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The newspaper findings are available via British Newspaper Archives and/or FindMyPast.
This old thread https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=256944.0 will give insight into the location of your couple's marriage and type of marriage.
Ps
You can request a (often) clearer copy of the marriage record from Scotlandspeople.
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They were married on 16th Oct 1935 which was after my friend was born..
Surely the date of the marriage is 1934?
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They were married on 16th Oct 1935 which was after my friend was born..
Surely the date of the marriage is 1934?
My fault. Yes, 1934.
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I queried the dates earlier also (reply #13).
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In case you are not aware …
24 Sept 1921 your William McCulloch arrived in Canada
Passage paid by Overseas Settlement Committee
Intending to remain permanently in Canada. Intending to do farm work.
Destination to a friend – Mr Peter Ramsay, farmer in Saskatchewan
Address of father (Joseph) in Scotland – Watson Cottage, Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats
Obviously William returned to Scotland at some time because he married there, but did he ever go back to Canada.
Very interesting. Was this info from Ancestry?
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What was the actual date of adoption?
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What was the actual date of adoption?
From the information I have, it's 5th Sept 1935. I've been getting my 1934 and 1935 muddled up!
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Yes. The information regarding William’s immigration to Canada in 1921 was from Ancestry.
This is him in 1926 in Sask. Canada.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPLQ-2Q31
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Thanks!
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So here is an update on what has come up so far. Yes, that was my William McCulloch that went out to Canada in 1921 (thanks for spotting that). I couldn't be sure until I confirmed the address of his father, Joseph. It was given as Watson Cottage, Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.
So to find the address for Watson Cottage I found an Ayrshire forum and asked if anyone knew the address. Someone looked up the valuation rolls and found the address was 12 Ardrossan Road, which was the usual residence of William when he married, so that ties in nicely.
I also think I have found him returning to the UK in 1928 as his proposed address in the UK is Wayson Cottage, Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats and he's a farm hand. Apart from the misspelling of Watson, I think the age might have been mistakenly entered as 51 instead of 31, but it could be either.
I certainly think this is my William returning to the UK, but still have him disappearing after his marriage in 1934.
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The adoption papers should have more answers
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The adoption papers should have more answers
That's what my friend is aiming to access at some point.
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If the adoption took place more than 25 years ago, you can contact the NRS Adoption Unit by email at adoptions@nrscotland.gov.uk or by phone at 0131 535 1355 or 0131 535 1383.
Use the Adoption Search Reunion website
If you don't know the name of the adoption agency, you can use the locating adoption records database on the Adoption Search Reunion website.
You will need to pay a fee to apply for adoption records, which is £141 in the sheriff court and £339 in the Court of Session. You may be able to claim an exemption from paying the court fee.
To order an official extract from the registers, you will need the following information:
The full adoptive name
The date of birth
The names of the adoptive parents
For recently granted adoptions, the court and date of the adoption order
Accessing Adoption Records - Scottish Courts
You will need to pay a fee to make the application. This is £141 in the sheriff court and £339 in the Court of Session. You may be...
Scottish Courts
Getting information about your adoption - mygov.scot
18 Jun 2018 — If the adoption was more than 25 years ago Courts usually give the records to the NRS after 25 years. You should contac...
mygov.scot
Adoption | National Records of Scotland
What might be revealed? The original name under which you were registered. Further information about place and time of birth. Your...
National Records of Scotland
Show all
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Thanks. Have read about Scottish adoptions. We have been in contact with NRS. Will be sending them the info they require tomorrow.
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I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text.
If you can't read it, report it to Scotland's People using the button at the top of the page and they will re-scan it.
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I have the marriage record from Scotland's People (the one that costs 6 credits) and I can hardly make out the text.
If you can't read it, report it to Scotland's People using the button at the top of the page and they will re-scan it.
Thank you. I've done that.