What does it mean if the Register General of BMD published a notice for an applicant to submit evidence for the births of his children who were born before 1854?
My ancestor David Sword lived and worked in Edinburgh as an iron and brass founder. He moved away when the children were relatively young and it is unclear how much contact he had with his wife and two sons who remained in Dundee. In 1868 the following notice (transcribed below) was published in the newspaper, and then was re-published several years later in 1871 (implying that he did not submit the required evidence). Despite the re-publication, I have not been able to find any evidence that his sons births were ever registered. Approximately 5 months after the second notice was published he and his wife left Scotland. The newspaper notices have me very confused because they make it sound as if David filed the petition to register his sons but then did not want to submit the evidence that was required to fulfill the registration. Would it have been possible that his wife or sons made the request and he didnt want to support it?
Dundee Courier
Tuesday May 12 1868
Page 1
Notice
A PETITION has been presented to the Sheriff of Forfarshire at Dundee David Sword, Ironfounder, Fountainbridge Foundry, Edinburgh, and residing in Edinburgh, for warrant to the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in Scotland, to Register the Births the Petitioner's Sons, David and James, born respectively on 12th December, 1845, and 29th June, 1849; and the Sheriff-Substitute has appointed intimation of the said Petition be made at once in each of the Dundee Advertiser and Dundee Courier and Angus Newspapers, and the Petitioner to adduce evidence in support of his Petition; and parties interested to be heard, within the Sheriff Court-House, Dundee,
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