Agnes Douglas Tait

[Neilr65]

I am after some help.  I am looking to find a birth certificate for Agnes Douglas Tait born on 15th September 1915 we believe she was born in Berwick Upon Tweed  Mother was Robina Robertson and father was George Tait (fisherman).  This is my mother in law and we have  marriage and death certificates but can find no trace of any birth.  We have been told that her parents died when she was very young and was brought up by her grandmother in Oxton in the Scottish Borders.   I have tried BMD and can find nothing, I have also tried Scotlands People just in case she was born on the Scottish side of the border, but no joy. 
I have run into a brick wall and would appreciate any advice or direction that could be offered.

Regards

Neil

[Radcliff]

Hello Neil,
What is the significance of the middle name Douglas,

A few questions,if she didn't know her parents could her grandmother called her by another name,

did she have any brothers or sisters ,

do you know if her parents married and where,

where did her parents die,

Margaret A Tait,mother Douglas,1913 Alnwick,

[Neilr65]

Hi,
Thanks for the interest.  My mother in law was a very reticent person and divulged very little of her background.  The only reason we know her maiden name and fathers name is from her marriage certificate.  We have no idea when or where they died or if she had any brothers or sisters.  She certainly never mentioned any during her lifetime.  I don't know if her  parents were ever married, we were only told that they died when she was very young and she was brought up by her granny.

That is the only piece of information we have that may look promising.  When I was living in England, she used to come to visit us and we would take her down  down the A68 and at a place between Soutra and Channelkirk in the Scottish Borders  there was a derelict cottage and she told us that she lived there as a child.  I have carried out a 1901 census check in that area  (1911 not available till April) and there are Robertsons living in that area but unfortunately no Robina.   

I have also found a George Tait from Northumberland who was killed in action in August 1917, but I think this is quite a tenuous link.   It seems very strange that I have a Dob yet can't find a birth certificate, would appreciate any advice/ideas.

Neil

[davidft]

Have you looked at the English 1911 census as I see there are six Robina Robertson's living in the Tynemouth \ South Shields including one Robina Douglas Robertson. If you can look at these records you may find some further clue.

(You say that Agnes's mother died when she was a youngester. This could be a coverstory to hide the fact she married and moved away. Have you looked for a death of the mother and which grandmother looked after Agnes - was it the maternal or paternal grandmother?)

[Neilr65]

Thanks very much for the info.  I can believe that the mother may not have died and it was a way of covering up but do not know for definite.  We do not know which grandmother looked after her, but we assumed it would be the maternal grandmother especially if the father had disappeared.  Robina Douglas Robertson seems a very strong  link and would be a very big coincidence if she were not related.  I am going to enter what details I have an try and buy a birth certificate from the National Archives, but again the information is only as good as the person who entered it.

Cheers

Neil

[danuslave]

Hi Neil

I put this on your other thread (now locked), but in case you didn't see it


Probably a complete red herring but the name caught my eye.  Birth registration

1915 TAIT ROBINA AGNES  F  ST MACHAR  ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN   
GROS Ref 168/02 0651

No more details without paying £10 to get the extract     

Linda

[Neilr65]

Thanks for the replies.  I had spotted Robina Agnes Tait at St Machar, there are similarities but also a few questions. It is possible that her father who was, according to her marriage certificate a fisherman could have had a trip to Aberdeen, but my mother-in-law always maintained she was born in Berwick.  I intend to visit the Scottish National Archives during the Easter break so will look up that extract.
Regarding marriage certificate for her mother and father, we can find no trace at all either in England or Scotland.  She was very reticent about her past and maybe there was something she was not happy about and did not want anyone knowing.  I will put a post on the Scottish side of Roots chat and see what it brings.
I know of a cottage where she said she lived as a child near Oxton in Scottish Borders and know it was still standing but derelict in the 1980s.  I am trying to find the name of the cottage, unfortunately the main piece of information that could help me would be the 1921 census, but that is a long way off before it is released.
I sent an email to the archivist in the Scottish Borders trying to find the school records for that period but they believe they are still held in the school.   I emailed the head teacher about a month ago but never received a reply.  I might go down there when I next get a day off, it is not too far.
I love a good mystery and this is  proving a  real challenge

[KGarrad]

Just found this - it's a long shot I know.

March qtr 1914  Glendale, Northumberland  Vol 10b page 1035

TAIT, Agnes D   Mother's maiden name Duncan


Child's name is almost 100%.
Date is slightly out
Glendale is very close to Berwick