Scandal and intrigue! Jessie Sloss / William McCulloch - Linkieburn, Muirkirk

[josey]

Wondered whether you had found William McCulloch Sloss [or Innes] on the 1901 census?

Josey

Later: Should have looked first!
Could this  be him? Haven't seen the original image, only a transcription.
82 Bridge St south side, Tranent
John Inness 44 dairyman born Tranent
Mary Inness 38 born Abercrombie, Fife
Andrew Inness 16 'other relative' assistant dairyman born Tranent
William Inness 9 scholar son born Tranent [same as 1911]

[MonicaL]

Josey, I thought this might be the family with William showing like this:

John Inness 44 dairyman b. Tranent
Mary Inness 38 b. Abercrombie, Fifeshire
Andrew Inness 16, son b. Tranent
William Inness 9 son b. Tranent

Address: 82 Bridge St South Side, Tranent East Lothian

Thought this fitted well with what John posted later for 1911:

Address: Bellevue Cottage, Bridge Street, Tranent
John Innes (Head) 53, Married, Dairyman, Employer. Birthplace Haddington, Tranent
Mary Innes (Wife) 47. Years Married: 26, Birthplace: Abercrombie, Fifeshire
William Innes (Adopted Son) 19, Single, Dairyman, Worker, Birthplace: Haddington, Tranent
Georgina White (Neice) 15, General Servant Domestic, Worker, Birthplace: Fife, St Andrews

Monica

PS: The only wrinkle is the birth place still of Haddington?

[josey]

Talk about 'crossed in the post'! 

[MonicaL]

 

Did wonder where the other son, Andrew from 1901 sprang up from. If I have the right entry for 1891, it shows just John a coal miner then and wife Mary, in Tranent.

Monica

[josey]

Perhaps he was an earlier adopted son? The *nc*str* transcription shows him as 'relative' & 'other relative'. 

I wonder if John's mother remembers an 'uncle' Andrew, 'brother' to her father?

Josey

[johnkingedinburgh]

Ah I wondered why I couldn't find John Innes in the 1901 census, I'd even tried looking for their neighbours in 1911 to find the page to see who was living at the address in Bridge Street (my grandad William Sloss Innes lived there until he died in the early 70s). 

It seems on the 1901 census his name has an extra "s" i.e. inness - which explains why I couldn't find them, thanks for that! 

So that shows that he had definately been adopted before Jessie's death in 1904. 

My brother asked my mum for the story again last night (which is probably the story given to her and she's never had any reason to question it). 

Official Story: William McCulloch and his wife - maiden name Jessie Sloss gave birth to William.  Jessie Sloss died and William McCulloch was unable to look after the child so had him adopted by John and Mary Innes of Tranent - who had twins that died and were unable to have any more children, hence the adoption.  William McCulloch would come through to see William and take him to hotels in princess street and buy him lunch.  William lived in a mansion which should have been left to young William, but solicitors tricked him out of it.  The family kept in touch with Sloss's and McCulloch's in Ayrshire even when my mum was born in the 30s. 

What really happened: William's wife had already dissapeared (presumed dead but not had chance to check yet) by the time William was born.  His birth certificate shows "Illigitimate" and his mother as Jessie Sloss, Domestic Servant.  The census shows that she was in the employ of William McCulloch.  His father, also William McCulloch had several illegitimate children with his servant before making an honest woman of her! 

So it would seem that William McCulloch got his servant Jessie Sloss pregnant, had the baby adopted by (I presume a good friend) John Innes, and periodically took him out to spend time with him.  The fact that Jessie went on to have another illegitimate child called John Innes Sloss makes me think that she became friendly with William's adoptive father, I'm not sure what happened to him. 

William McCulloch was a colliery manager according to the census, so he was probably comfortable but certainly not rich - he lived in a miners cottage with 6 windows - so the story of the fortune that was stolen by solicitors would seem to be just a story - after all if you're going to cover up an illegitimate birth you may as well make it a good one! 

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could track down how William McCulloch and John Innes knew each other?  I'm suspecting not, but you seem to be magician's at tracking stuff down so thought I'd ask! 

I've not heard of Mum's uncle Andrew (though one of her brothers was named Andrew born 1919) nor of an Uncle John, but will ask and see what she says! 

Thanks again! 

[johnkingedinburgh]

btw the official story on the German connection was that the Sloss's had a vineyard in Germany but flee'd Germany to escape persecution and settled in Scotland.  But again, like the stories of lost fortunes it may have just been a story. 

[josey]

One idea for the connection between William snr & John Innes - it may be worth finding out Mary Innes' maiden surname - she may have been a McCulloch.  Does the 1911 census say how long the Innes'  have been married, how many children they have had & how many survive? I don't have any credit left on SP unfortunately. 

Ayrshire is quite a way from Haddington.

Interesting that William jnr named a child Andrew.

Josey

[josey]

If I have the right entry for 1891, it shows just John a coal miner then and wife Mary, in Tranent.

Monica

And William McCulloch was a colliery manager, perhaps they met through mining?

Josey

Could this be William in 1871?
Riccarton Ayrshire
Cadgers Rd Goudier Land   
William Mccullock Age:   30 Head coal miner born Old Monkland, Lanarkshire
Margaret Mccullock   32 born Wichnor Lanarkshire
David Mccullock   7 born do
Thomas Mccullock   4 born do
William Mccullock   2 born Riccarton
However, can't find this family in 1881.