Helen Forbes or Bruce

[denisekemp22]

Sorry have not been on for a while but have found some more info on my grandmother, Helen Forbes or Bruce.  I now think that she was born Helen Forbes and somehow taken the name Bruce when she had my father.  She gave birth to my father at Oldmill Hospital (poorhouse)  Aberdeen in 1933 and had 2 children prior to this date.  She left hospital after 22 days and my father was kept in for a further 7 days.  I managed to get a copy of the midwifery records and her age was given as 29 at this time, so asume that her year of birth would have been about 1903 ish.  I am hoping that the other 2 children have had children of their own, and maybe they are doing the same as me and I just might find out more about my family. If anyone has any information regarding Helen Bruce/Forbes, I would be very interested.
Thanks
Denise

[MonicaL]

Hi Denise

I've seen your posts over recent months - frustrating search for you 

One thing that stands out is the wording of your father's birth cert - Helen Bruce, formerly Forbes. It is quite specific. I take it to read that Helen's maiden name was Bruce and she was previously (formerly) married to a Forbes. In the case of remarriages, for example, the woman's details would be written up as Mary Smith (second marriage), formerly Jones (first marriage), maiden surname Brown. However, there are no marriages showing anywhere on SP for a Helen Bruce to a Forbes, and the only Helen Forbes/ Bruce marriage is too early, in 1904...so happens in Aberdeenshire.

You say in previous posts that your father was brought up by family. Have you ever established any links to the Bruce (or Forbes) surname through this family line?

The fact that she was working as a domestic servant in Kincardine but your father was born in Aberdeen also makes me think that she came 'home' to have the baby. Maybe her other two children were also being taken care of by other family.

Monica 

[denisekemp22]

Hi Monica

Very frustrating indeed.  I have only been able to find one Helen Bruce/Forbes death and that was in 1975 and her age was 88, I am assuming that its her.  The death was registered by a Wm A Bruce in Dundee.  I have searched for him and think he is one of 2 Wm's.  One is William Ashley Bruce born 1920 and the other is William Anderson Bruce born 1922.  I think I need to find out if one of them had Helen as a mother, if so, I need to track down his death cert and hope that it was one of his children who registerd it and try to get in touch with them.  I'm hopeful that I will get more info on Helen Bruce/Forbes.  Fingers crossed.

Denise

[MonicaL]

Given the age at death for this Helen, could she be the Helen who married in Aberdeenshire in 1904 I wonder (the Helen Forbes/Bruce marriage I mentioned showing on SP - no idea which is her maiden name unfortunately)?

Are the no clues from the family who brought up your father?

Monica

[denisekemp22]

Hi Monica

That could be the marriage of Helen Bruce. She would have been17 in 1904.  Will have a look on SP.  The only connection between the woman who brought up my father was that his middle name Stott, was her maiden name.  Dont we just love our families :-)  Do you think that my plan to follow up on the Williams is feasible?  Would appreciate your advice on this one.

Denise

[MonicaL]

Denise, have you and I PMed about this before (memory tired now, middle of school hols  ). These names seem familiar. I've just checked the marriage on SP for a Helen Forbes and x Bruce, the one from 1904, in Newhills Aberdeenshire, and I have already viewed it 

Helen Forbes, 18, domestic servant, living in Newhills, parents James and Margaret XXXstall. She married a John Charles Bruce, 23 farm servant, parents Robert and Jessie Connon. Do these names match the parents' details you have on her death cert?

This cannot be the mother of your father. She would have been c. 47/8 at the time of his birth in 1933. Not unheard of as we know today but quite unlikely 

If the woman that brought up your father had a maiden name of Stott, could she have been related to the father of your father I wonder. Quite often with illegitimate births, the child would be given the reputed father's surname as a middle name.

Monica

[MonicaL]

This looks to be the family of that Helen Forbes from 1891:

James Forbes 41, quarrier, b. Cluny, Abdnshire .
Margaret Forbes 32, b. Udny, Abdnshire
Maggie Forbes 8
James Forbes 6
Helen Forbes 4, Dyce
John Forbes 2
George Forbes 9 Months

Address: Smithy Croft, Dyce

Monica

[denisekemp22]

Hi Monica

Think we did speak abouth this before.  I seem to be going around in cirlces.  It just seems impossible that I cant find out anything about Helen Bruce/Forbes and the only logical explanation is the marriage that you managed to find, but as you say she would have been 47/48 at his birth and on the midwifery register her age is given as 29.  This is a mystery 

Denise

[MonicaL]

Are you anywhere near Edinburgh or Glasgow?