Newbie needs help - John Duncan

[nesral51]

Hi fron NZ just signed up minutes ago.
Have been trying to find info on my grandfather John Minto Duncan born 15 Oct 1909 Edinburgh Scotland to an Elizabeth Hall, no father recorded Im not sure when he came to New Zealand he married my grandmother in 1932 in NZ.
I was told but are unsure he had siblings: Kenneth, Paul, Jessie and Jo not sure where born or if they have the Duncan surname. There has been mention he may have been adopted.
On ancestry when searching I find a Reginald Hall born on this day in Edinburgh, illegitamite to an Elizabeth Hall.
Would you think this is him and poss adopted out and name changed?

[carol8353]

HI there,and a warm welcome to Rootschat.

I can't see a relevant John Duncan b 1909 on a passenger list to NZ,or Oz.

The only thing I can think of is have you found him(under either name!) on the Scotish 1911 census yet,available on Scotlands people,that may confirm siblings?

I'm sure others will be along soon with more suggestions.

Carol

[diddymiller]

welcome to RC.

i checked that birth on SP and although the index comes up with John Duncan:

1909
DUNCAN  JOHN
M
ST GILES  EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN

_  the actual entry on the page is for Reginald Hall as you say - no mention on the entry of John Duncan.

this would suggest that the name 'John Duncan' was given to the scottish authorities when the registration was made. not sure whether the name would have been changed later. mihgt be worth contacting SP to ask about the policy.

certainly though this is the one you want.

Diddy

[mcwacky]

Hi Nesral

I also checked SP for the John Duncan birth, there was an RCE (Correction of Entry in Register) that stated that Reginald Hill's name was changed on 2nd June 1910 to John Duncan. The name change was also recorded in St Giles.

There was one other birth in Edinburgh in 1909 for a John Love Duncan... but it's unlikely this is the correct one.

I thought the name change might have come with a marriage, but there is no marriage recorded for Elizabeth Hill to a Duncan in Edinburgh in 1910 or between 1909 and 1926, in fact. There is one marriage on SP for 1926 between Elizabeth Hill and a Duncan (surname) though.

There are no John Duncan's of the right age (between 1 and 2) listed in the 1911 census for Edinburgh.

[mcwacky]

PS - the name change appears to have been a simple name change. I have seen other RCEs that relate to adoption and they usually say 'adopted' in them. Then again, formal adoption became more prevalent later - around 1930s - so in 1909 they might not have noted it on RCEs. The RCE doesn't give a reason for the name change, nor does it say who instigated it.

The RCE does appear to be linked to a later record ref: R 72/3/3857 - so you might be able to get something out of the GRO with that ref, if you can prove you are a living relative.

[nesral51]

Thanks guys for your help, I see you said there was no marriage between Elizabeth Hill and a Duncan was the 'hill' a typo? Her surname is Hall. John is a puzzle and my most difficult to find how he got to New Zealand, and presumably his siblings exist and possibily with the surname Duncan or if they are in New Zealand or UK, but likely NZ if John wasnt on the 1911 census. Hopefully more info will come to light from people more experienced than me.
Much appreciated

[mcwacky]

Yes, sorry, the 'hill' was a typo - I meant Hall. :-) The 1926 marriage was between a John Davidson Duncan, age 29, a bank clerk and Elizabeth Millie Hall, age 28 and took place in Edinburgh.

[carol8353]

That marriage can't be the one of John's parents,it would mean that Elizabeth was born in 1898 to be 28 in 1926........she had John(Reginald) in 1909 

Carol 

[nesral51]

Thanks for that Carol i was going to suss out the 1926 marriage, but no the Math doesnt add up
Lovely spring day in New Zealand, lambs and daffodils abound :-)

Kim