RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: mulberry-rose on Thursday 02 October 25 00:40 BST (UK)
-
I have come across quite a baffling situation. ???
Archibald Wilson (1878) & Elizabeth Ferguson (1878) married at Morpeth District in 1901 in Northumberland.
There are two births registered a few pages from eachother
Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson Morpeth 10b 457
Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson Morpeth 10b 462
Elizabeth Snr died as a result from childbirth on 23 January 1902 at Scotland’s Gate, aged 24.
Mary E F is quite easy to trace, she is with her uncle Robert Ferguson in the 1911 and 1921 census at Ashington. She was baptised on 26 January 1902 at Choppington.
However I’ve no sign of “twin” Elizabeth F.
Elizabeth F according to birth record was born 6 January 1902 at Scotland Gate. This was signed by her father on the 20 Feb 1902. Her mother is not marked deceased.
However Mary E F’s birth shows a difference, her mother Elizabeth is marked as deceased and the informant is her uncle Robert Ferguson “in charge of the child”. Registered on the 10 Feb 1902.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-
I would have a look at the addresses on the certificates. Are they different?
What are the dates of birth on the 2 different records?
What details are exactly the same? It is not clear from your post.
Without seeing the records, it is hard to say. Might be the same birth registered twice?
-
If the two birth dates are the same my first thought was that her uncle re-registered her birth adding the first name Mary . If she was baptised as Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson already maybe her father had omitted the first name Mary in his distress after his wife's death when he registered her birth?
Kay
-
If they are twins there will be a time of birth on the birth certificate. I also think that this is the same birth registered twice. What happened to Archibald after his wife's death?
-
The death notice in the Morpeth herald is indexed under the name FERGUSON not WILSON
"FERGUSON - At Scotland Gate on the 23rd ult, aged 24 years, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Robt. and the late Mary Ferguson, of Guide Post."
No mention of her being the wife of Archibald, which seems strange. But he must have been around if he registered the birth on the second certificate.
-
I’m not sure which year this begun but I think that twin births also have the time of each birth on the birth certificate.
-
There appears to be only one baptism and that is for Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson. Nothing found re Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson
https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/684d458286557455d45374ac/mary-elizabeth-ferguson-wilson-baptism-northumberland-choppington-1902-01-26?locale=en
-
I would have a look at the addresses on the certificates. Are they different?
What are the dates of birth on the 2 different records?
What details are exactly the same? It is not clear from your post.
Without seeing the records, it is hard to say. Might be the same birth registered twice?
Unfortunately Mary’s birth is cut off so will have to get the PDF version. The places both state Scotland Gate although Mary’s baptism specifies Strong’s Buildings.
-
If the two birth dates are the same my first thought was that her uncle re-registered her birth adding the first name Mary . If she was baptised as Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson already maybe her father had omitted the first name Mary in his distress after his wife's death when he registered her birth?
Kay
I would agree although Robert was the first one to register the birth ???
Mary’s birth date was cut out on the digital copy so can’t see what it was.
6 January - Elizabeth F Wilson born at Scotland Gate
23 January - Elizabeth Wilson (Snr) dies from childbirth aged 24 years at Scotland Gate
25 January - Elizabeth Wilson (Snr) death registered by husband Archibald Wilson
26 January - Mary E F Wilson baptised at Choppington
10 February - Mary E F Wilson birth registered by uncle Robert Ferguson “in charge of the child”
20 February - Elizabeth F Wilson birth registered by father Archibald Wilson
-
Yes, it does look as if the girl was registered twice.
Interesting to note that Mr Waterson, the registrar, didn't notice the double registration.
When was the mother's burial?
-
The death notice in the Morpeth herald is indexed under the name FERGUSON not WILSON
"FERGUSON - At Scotland Gate on the 23rd ult, aged 24 years, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Robt. and the late Mary Ferguson, of Guide Post."
No mention of her being the wife of Archibald, which seems strange. But he must have been around if he registered the birth on the second certificate.
Thank you for the obituary. That is quite strange. Elizabeth & Archibald were living together in the 1901 census as a boarder and servant in the Roper household at Bedlington.
I’m not sure what happened to Archibald afterwards. 1901 states he was born at Holywell. There is an Archibald Wilson born same year living at Bedlington in 1911 but that one was also born Bedlington :-\.
-
Yes, it does look as if the girl was registered twice.
Interesting to note that Mr Waterson, the registrar, didn't notice the double registration.
When was the mother's burial?
Can’t find a burial for the mother as of yet. But I would guess she was probably buried at Choppington.
-
I’m not sure which year this began but I think that twin births also have the time of each birth on the birth certificate.
This one is 20th century. Adding times to twin births was done long before that, almost since registration started. My ggg-father had twins in 1839 which were timed, and it was occasionally done for single births too. I don't know whether registrars were instructed to do so. I suppose the purpose might be to settle primogeniture disputes ?
-
Remembered the existence of the 1939 Register ;D
Mary E F Wilson m. David Simpson 1929 Morpeth
2 Seaton Avenue, Bedlington
David Simpson b.25 Oct 1902
Mary E Simpson b.6 Jan 1902
-
It does appear to be a birth simply registered twice, which shouldn't ever happen ( except in specific statutory circumstances) but I have seen a couple of similar examples before.
Maybe the father wasn't aware of the first registration, or felt it was his job to do it.
-
A possible sighting of Archibald Wilson in 1907?
11 May 1907: Morpeth Herald
BEDLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS
...
ASSAULT BY A TRESPASSER.
Archibald Wilson, miner, Scotland Gate, was charged with having assaulted John Simpson, brick manutacturer, at Scotland Gate, on April 23rd.—Defendant did not appear.—Complainant stated that on the above date he found defendant going across his brickyard to his work at the colliery. He ordered him to go back as he had no right and was trespassing. Wilson threw down his bottle and put himself in a fighting attitude and struck witness two blows across the chest. Witness got the police, and had Wilson's name and address taken—In reply to the Chairman, witness said the blows he had received were severe. He was knocked down, but not severely injured.—Defendant was fined £1 and 15/- costs or 21 days.
-
I’m not sure what happened to Archibald afterwards. 1901 states he was born at Holywell. There is an Archibald Wilson born same year living at Bedlington in 1911 but that one was also born Bedlington
They are only about 6 miles apart. Is the occupation the same on both censuses?
-
There is a marriage in 1903 for an Archbold Wilson to either Mary Ann Nicholson or Mary Alice Carr (Tynemouth District.