RootsChat.Com

I'm trying to solve the puzzle of identifying the parents of Andrew Brown (1817-1885). 

The first reliable record I can find has him lodging at 42 Thistle St, Edinburgh, in 1841 (census), then at various addresses in Thistle St and Rose St in successive census returns, until his death at 4 Northumberland Place in 1885, when he is described as a Master Tailor.

Now the odd bit.  His death certificate names him as the son of George Brown, baxter (baker?) deceased, but does not name his mother, although the witness providing the information was Andrew's son John Brown.  I've been unable to link him to any of the various George Brown's who appear in the OPR.

Illegitimacy is the obvious answer, but usually that would leave the father un-named rather than the mother.  It seems strange that John Brown didn't know who his grandmother was.  Any ideas?

Whilst I'm not related to / researching this family myself, I've stumbled across something that might be of interest to you.

My niece and her husband bought a desk at auction a few years ago, which contained a number of old degree scrolls, army medical discharge papers, marriage and death certs for David Rutherford Adams, his wife Isabella and their son John Campbell Strathie Adams.  She passed them on to me, knowing I was interested in family history, to see if I could trace their rightful owners.  Sounds like it could be you!