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Moray (Elginshire) / Trying to trace my g-g-grandfather (I think!)
« on: Wednesday 12 January 05 02:50 GMT (UK) »
Hi all!
I joined these fora in sheer desperation. I am trying to trace a Donald Balfour Sr to ascertain whether he might be the father of my great-grandfather, Donald Creighton Balfour. He (DCB Sr) was born in Elgin in 1872 (according to Scotland's People) but the funny thing is when I spent five credits to view the detailed entry, he wasn't listed on it. My great-grandfather was born in 1894, so it's quite feasible he could be his father, but the problem is that, according to my great-uncle, he was a bit of a shady character (DCB Jr) in that he like to cover up his past as much as he possibly could.
I have a copy of DCB Jr's certificate for his marriage to my great-grandmother, Muriel Fonçeca, which was in April 1914 in Bella Coola British Columbia (the first of his three marriages and, from what I can ascertain, he didn't bother with the inconvenience of divorce with any of them!) he lists his father as Donald Creighton Balfour. Now, I don't know whether that's because a) he didn't know who his father was (though I suspect that if he didn't he would have said).
OK, I know I'm doing this backwards, but my brain is muddled. My uncle John (my paternal grandfather's brother) has told me that Donald was a very private person and had attempted to cover up much of his past. He (John) suspects that he was a foundling and was fostered from a children's home at the age of around three. DCB Jr was illegitimate (we're 99% certain of that)
So, how do I go about finding out if the 1872 DCB was my paternal great-great-grandfather? Incidentally, I can find no record of him in the 1891 census (he would have been 18 or 19) but SP doesn't have the 1881 (when he would have been 8 or 9).
They were both born in Elgin - if this should have gone in the Aberdeenshire forum, could a mod move it?
If anyone could give me any leads, I'd be more than grateful. Basically, I just want to know whether he just re-entered his own name (for something to fill the space) or if I've struck gold?
I attach a copy of the marriage certificate, in case it's useful. Incidentally, I should add that I do not have the original in my possession - this was scanned by a kindly soul on a genealogy newsgroup.
Any - and all - info gratefully received!
I joined these fora in sheer desperation. I am trying to trace a Donald Balfour Sr to ascertain whether he might be the father of my great-grandfather, Donald Creighton Balfour. He (DCB Sr) was born in Elgin in 1872 (according to Scotland's People) but the funny thing is when I spent five credits to view the detailed entry, he wasn't listed on it. My great-grandfather was born in 1894, so it's quite feasible he could be his father, but the problem is that, according to my great-uncle, he was a bit of a shady character (DCB Jr) in that he like to cover up his past as much as he possibly could.
I have a copy of DCB Jr's certificate for his marriage to my great-grandmother, Muriel Fonçeca, which was in April 1914 in Bella Coola British Columbia (the first of his three marriages and, from what I can ascertain, he didn't bother with the inconvenience of divorce with any of them!) he lists his father as Donald Creighton Balfour. Now, I don't know whether that's because a) he didn't know who his father was (though I suspect that if he didn't he would have said).
OK, I know I'm doing this backwards, but my brain is muddled. My uncle John (my paternal grandfather's brother) has told me that Donald was a very private person and had attempted to cover up much of his past. He (John) suspects that he was a foundling and was fostered from a children's home at the age of around three. DCB Jr was illegitimate (we're 99% certain of that)
So, how do I go about finding out if the 1872 DCB was my paternal great-great-grandfather? Incidentally, I can find no record of him in the 1891 census (he would have been 18 or 19) but SP doesn't have the 1881 (when he would have been 8 or 9).
They were both born in Elgin - if this should have gone in the Aberdeenshire forum, could a mod move it?
If anyone could give me any leads, I'd be more than grateful. Basically, I just want to know whether he just re-entered his own name (for something to fill the space) or if I've struck gold?
I attach a copy of the marriage certificate, in case it's useful. Incidentally, I should add that I do not have the original in my possession - this was scanned by a kindly soul on a genealogy newsgroup.
Any - and all - info gratefully received!