wood

[porty]

Searching for step grandparents Donald and Mary Wood ne Gray, they married in 1875 in the Gorbals Glasgow. when my grandmother was 6 months old they brought her up as there own child.

My grandmothers birth certificate has her named Mary Millar Whitelaw, born 1885 in Bridgeton Glasgow, her birth mother was Annie Whitelaw living at Alexander street Airdrie, no fathers name.

anything on any of these names would be great as am going round in circles.

[MonicaL]

Hi Porty 

What sort of information are you trying to find?

Have you got marriage/death/census details for the Woods? Have you managed to make any inroads into finding out who Mary's mother, Annie was?

Monica

[porty]

Hi Monica,
 I would love to find my grandmothers birth mother, only info i have is birth certificate 1885 for Mary Millar Whitelaw Illegitimate, born 6th April 1885 at 68 Main Street Bridgeton Glasgow.
mother Annie Whitelaw 34 Alexander Street Airdrie Glasgow.
 have a letter handing my grandmother over to the Woods as there adopted daughter age 6months signed by her mother.
Cannot find any info on Annie whitelaw in census around this time also dint know what age she was .
I have the Woods marriage certificate and two census with my grandmother on them, also named on her wedding in 1906 as her parents. Annie whitelaw just seems to have vanished from her life which is so sad.
 always wondered if the Woods were relations or friends .
cheers May

[Lodger]

Hi Porty,
If I were you, I'd look for the subsequent marriage of Annie Whitelaw. In most cases of illegitimate births the mother is quite young and goes on to marry a few years later. You may find her still at the Alexander St address.

Good luck,
Lodger

[MonicaL]

These kind of searches are often guess work May, just picking up on possible clues to try and trace people. I think from what you have said, if a letter was written by Annie when she handed over Mary to the Wood family, I would guess that they probably were not family and they wanted something in writing to confirm the handing over of Mary to them (all of this well before the start of the legal adoption process and laws in the 20th Century). I would think that the Woods family could either be friends or connected to them in some way. Other possibilities are that some charitable group/church may have arranged the adoption.

However, with my optimisitc hat on  There is an interesting possibility in the censuses. Going by the address on Mary's birth entry, there is this possible Annie. Two things stand out: the lodger in 1881 and the address for the 1891 census entry which seems very close:

1881 - all the Whitelaw family born in Old Monkland:

Elizabeth Whitelaw 44
Annie J Whitelaw 19,
John Whitelaw 17
Elizabeth J Whitelaw 12
James J B Whitelaw 10
Joseph Wood 31, lodger, engine fitter born England
Wm B Williamson 53, lodger, labourer, b. Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire

Address: 121 Springburn Rd, Glasgow Maryhill

1891:

Elizabeth Whitelaw 54 b. Langloan, Lanarkshire
Annie Whitelaw 29, b. Boot Machinist, b. Coatbridge Lanarkshire
John Whitelaw 27, railway clerk b. Glasgow
Elizabeth Whitelaw 22, Boot Top Fitter b. Glasgow
James J B Whitelaw 20, Coal Masters Bookkeeper b. Glasgow

Address: 111 Alexandra Parade, Dennistoun, Glasgow


What was the occupation of Annie on Mary's birth cert?

Monica

[MonicaL]

No obvious clues from who was living at 34 Alexander Street, Airdrie in 1881 and 1891:

1881 - everyone born in Airdrie except for visitor:

Janet Lithgow 58
Helen Munro 33
Robert Munro 31
Thomas L Munro 2
Margaret A Munro 1 Month
Margaret Munro 40, visitor, Cook Domestic Servant b. Edinburgh

1891:

Jane McLay 60, annuitant, b. Calder, Lanarkshire
Archibald McLay 26, Boiler Maker b. Airdrie
George McLay 19, Grain Store Man b. Airdrie
James McLay 13 b. Airdrie
Elizabeth Allan 70, sister, annuitant b. Calder, Lanarkshire
Peter Auld 28, boarder
John McDonald 28, boarder

Monica

[porty]

Hi Monica,
Annie Whitelaws occupation is lemonade bottle wirer, also Mary born at different address from mother, 68 Main street Bridgeton wonder if this was a relatives home. Will look for a  subsequant marriage for Annie, interesting there was a Joseph Wood in the Whitelaw family, her adoptive parents did not have any children of there own.
May

[MonicaL]

Very high occupancy of the address 68 Main Street (showing as bordering Calton rather than Bridgeton) in 1881 and 1891. Over 150 people, made up of multi households. No Whitelaws 

[porty]

Hello again,
had a look for marriage of Anni Whitelaw but not much luck, none at her last address. Bridgeton is in the district of Carlton , wonder if she was visiting someone at main street and had her daughter there.

May