Copland - Aberdeenshire

[cavegirl]

Hello everyone

I am posting on behalf of a dear friend of mine who needs some help with her Scottish ancestry and I am struggling to help her!

My friend's Great Grandmother was called Jane Lamond Copland born 1860, daughter of John Copland and Mary Davidson.

She went into service at a young age and on the 1881 census she is shown as a kitchen maid at Crosscanonby, Cumberland.  She gave birth to an illegitimate daughter in 1887 in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire called Christina. Jane was the servant of the man who fathered the child and my friend believes Jane married him in secret - but cannot find a marriage record for it and the father is not named on Christina's birth certificate.  Allegedly the family found out and made them annull the marriage - but neither myself or my friend know whether that would be a realistic possibility? My friend thinks they may have had a 'Marriage by Declaration' again isn't sure though...

In 1888 Jane remarried to a  John Milne and they had a son John - they are shown living together on the 1901 Scottish census, with Christina named as Cissie Milne.

Any help or opinions would be gratefully received by both of us.

Thank you for taking the time to read

Best wishes
cavegirl
x

[MonicaL]

Hi Cavegirl

Have you been able to find Christina in the 1891 census to see where she was? This looks like Jane and husband John Milne in 1891:

John Milne 28, stonecutter, b. Woodside, Aberdeen Sh
Jane Milne 29, b. Aberdeen
John W Milne 1 b. Woodside, Aberdeen Sh

Address: 50 Barron St, Woodside, Aberdeen Old Marchar

Why does your friend think there was a marriage of any kind? Dates seem tight!

Monica 

[cavegirl]

Hi Monica

I know - the dates do seem a bit tight don't they? The child's birth certificate states her as illegitimate and born in 1887.  But my friend seems convinced there was a marriage at some point.  My friend has had no luck finding her on any census other than the 1901...

All she has to go off is that her Grandmother told her they were married and it was anulled - because his family found out and didn't want him to be associated with a servant girl (but it's all hearsay I guess isn't it?)

My friend mentioned marriage of declaration and wondered if that might have happened, but isn't sure.  I don't know whether that's a possibility.

Would there be Bastardy Bonds one could look for to see if that shed any light?

Thank you for your swift reply - very much appreciated
x

[MonicaL]

Was this all in Cumberland? Not sure of what records would be available there  Might be worth asking the question on the Cumberland board here on RC.

I've tried looking for Christina in 1891 but no joy so far. Certainly mother and husband John show in 1891, with newborn John.

What was the name of the reputed father? Maybe she is down in England for 1891?

Monica

[cavegirl]

Thank you again for your kind reply!

Well, now - I spoke to my friend again last night - she said Christina was baptised as Christina Lennard Copland - she says no-one else in the family has the name Lennard so is wondering if that is after her real father? Other than that she has no idea what he may have been called only that Jane was reputed to have been whoever the father was' servant! But I might be onto something with the Lennard...

Thanks for your help thus far - very much appreciated x

[MonicaL]

...Don't suppose any reputed father's name was used in either Christina's marriage or death entries, or I am sure your friend would have picked this up. Was the middle name Leonard (and variants) ever used for the children of Christina?

I've gone up and down the 1891 census transcript, and nothing at all for her which is a pity.

Monica

[cavegirl]

Hello again!

My friend says the Lennard is used on the birth certificate - but nowhere else...although I'm going to ask her to double check again just to be sure!

I've been searching the 1891 census in Cumberland but as yet no joy, and I wish to thank you for taking the time and trouble for also searching the census too. 

It's a tangled web alright...

Thank you for your time and care thus far
x

[MonicaL]

Just one thing to consider.....

I don't think Jane's parents, John Copland and Mary Davidson were married going by the wording on the registration of their children's births on IGI:

1. JANE LAMOND COPLAND Birth: 20 JUN 1860 Old Machar, Aberdeen
2. SUSAN COPLAND OR DAVIDSON Birth: 10 APR 1865 Forgue, Aberdeen
3. CHRISTINA HOGG COPLAND OR DAVIDSON Birth: 04 MAR 1867 Inverurie, Aberdeen
4. ROBERT COPLAND OR DAVIDSON Birth: 15 AUG 1869 Inverurie, Aberdeen

Not sure how legible the birth registration image for Christina is from SP. Is there any possibility that it reads a variant of Lamond for her middle name like her mother Jane (to save time on lots of searches for a potential father with a surname of Leonard).

What was the address for Christina's birth in Peterculter? We might get some clues from the 1891 census at that address.

Monica

[flst]

Hi, out of curiosity I looked up the birth certificate. Tha address given was St.Mary's Place,Peterculter. Jane's occupation was a papermill worker. Perhaps Christina's father worked at the mill rather than being her boss? I found only 1 Leonard in that parish in 1881 census. He was John, born 1859 in Peterculter, & was an ag.lab. Obviously there's no proof who Christina's father was  but I thought it worth mentioning.  Perhaps Christina was living with a relative in 1891 (maternal or paternal) or was fostered out?