Clarification of Birth Details and WW1 Grave

[Mundell]

I am posting this on Midlothian Section as this person lived most of his life there.

On June 20th 1893 at Buckhaven, Fife, James Walton was born to Jessie Walton. No father is mentioned but at the side of this record there is a comment regarding paternity that I cannot quite make out. Can anyone help me with this entry?

If there was a paternity claim, where might I find out more about it and would there be any documentary records that I can access?

It looks as though James was then brought up by Jessie’s sister, my Grandmother and her husband, Alison (Alice, nee Walton) and Walter Marsden

On the 1901 Newcastle census James is listed as a son i.e. James MARSDEN.  Might this just be an assumed surname?  Might there be a formal adoption and if so, how can I access this information?

In 1895 at Stockton-on-Tees Alice and Walter’s first son, Walter, was born and he also appears on the 1901 census along with another younger son, Richard, born in Edinburgh.

Alice and Walter Marsden then had 2 more children, Janet and Sam.  Alice was subsequently widowed and remarried Robert Glendinning MUNDELL in 1909 in Leith. They had one daughter, Robina.

The 1911 Leith Census lists all of the children as step-children surnamed MARSDEN, except the final daughter of this couple, Robina MUNDELL.

Robert Glendinning Mundell died in WW1 and I have found his war grave in Weymouth

Walter Marsden (Jnr) died on 10th March 1918 and his war grave is at Tincourt New British Cemetery, France.  However, he is listed as Walter MUNDELL, (not Marsden).

I understand that James also died in WW1 but have been unable to locate any information of his whereabouts.  I don’t know if he enlisted as WALTON, MARSDEN or MUNDELL.

Can anyone help me find out what happened to James?

My Grandmother mourned and spent part of every subsequent Armistice Day thinking of these three losses, for the rest of her life.

My thanks for any responses.  Mundell

Image cropped , copyright

[tidybooks]

Hi Mundell,

If you go back to Scotlandpeoples website, threshold be an option to pay an extra 2 credits to look at the RCE (Register of Corrected Entries), should give the info you require there.

Tom

NB corrected to 2 credits.

[ecksdochter]

Hello Mundell,
     The abbreviated note in the margin of James Walton's BC reads:
          Paternity of Child found by Decree of Court.
          See Register of Corrected Entries (RCE) Volume 4? Page 184.
          Dated 10th February, 1894 & Initialled by Registrar.
     Looks like she won a paternity case in which case the father's name would be added to BC.
     As per tidybooks post, bring up BC again. At the top of the page alongside View Page Before/View Page After Buttons, there should be a View RCE button. I think it's 2 Credits to view.
     Good luck with your search.
               Regards,     Dod.
         
     

[Templar75]

Hi Mundell,

                if my friends can correct me if I am wrong but in those days adoption did not need any paperwork, I had an Aunt who was adopted by my Gran and I am sure that was it no solicitor or anyone.

Do you know what Regiments they were in and their Army numbers.

Cheers.

Archie.
 

[ev]

Hi Mundell ,

Looking at Scotlandspeople , Minor Records 1914 - 1921(including Service Returns) -

No deaths showing James Walton or James Marsden b. c1893.

One death showing for a James Mundell age 19(b. c1896) but this seems to be -
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/681723/MUNDELL,%20JAMES%20EDGAR

CWGC has no likely J. Mundell deaths , don't think he would have used that surname anyway.


ev

[Mundell]

I have been away so I apologise for this delay

My thanks to everyone who has responded to this query.

I have now purchased more credits with 'scotlandspeople' and have the corrected information regarding paternity.  This document refers twice to the mother as 'Poor Jessie Walton', and I wonder why the term 'Poor' was applied.

Regarding the whereabouts of James Walton/Marsden/Mundell, I am no further forward. I do not know what regiments or any service numbers, and cannot find any death certificates in the Scottish records. Any further suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks again.  Mundell

[RJ_Paton]

The term poor would have been used to show that she satisfied the conditions for what was the equivalent of " legal aid"

[Mundell]

Thank you R.J. Paton.  That is a fine explanation.

[Mundell]

Comment to Archie 'Templar75'

Thanks for your suggestion regarding an assumed surname. 

James's 'brother', Walter Marsden is listed as Walter Mundell on his war grave marker at Tincourt New British Cemetery, France, so presumably any death certificate would be in this name.

Wouldn't a birth certificate or formal name change document have to be presented for a death certificate, or were the rules more relaxed in those earlier years?

Regards,  Mundell