Allan Neill Private Royal Army Service Corps service number 224240/ 2202110

[SHUSHIE]

This could be a complete red herring, but on Googling Carl Colson, this came up

https://www.carlcolsonknives.com/

It's based in Florida where Carl lived, so I wonder if there is any connection as it's an unusual name? Might be worth emailing them and asking?

Already done that no reply has yet but It seems they only had 2 daughters? So unless he uses his granfathers name for the business he would be called whoever the girls married?

[groom]

That's a brilliant piece of detective work, Annette. So it looks as if Margaret kept her first and third child but was unable to care for the middle one.

It would be lovely if we could trace that child born 1941 who went to America, as she would be a full blood sister to the one born 1942.

[SHUSHIE]

Going back to Margaret's arrival in 1948 her mother shown as a Mrs. McClure - just checked SP and a Jeanie McGuffie Milroy married a Walter McClure 1924 Maybole (the year after Margaret's birth).

And now for the object of this thread - Allan Neill - and 'eureka'!!

Margaret Handlin Milroy married said Allan Neill 30/1/1940 Carrington, Midlothian, details as follows:

Allan Neill 22, plumber, of 11 Sanghree (??hard to read) Cottages, Rosewell, son of Allan Neill, coal miner, and Agnes nee Houston
Margaret Handlin Milroy 17, of Edgelaw, Gorebridge, dau. of Jeanie Milroy, afterwards married to Walter McLure, ploughman (fathers details just has a line through it).

Witnesses were a Jessie R G Milroy and Thomas Cooke.

(His parents married in 1917 at Galston (Ayrshire) and as he was 22 in Jan.1940 when he married Margaret he was probably born late that same year - SP shows an Allan Neill birth in 1917 Hamilton (Lanarkshire) which may possibly be him.

Possible birth for a daughter with the Christian name previously mentioned plus initials J.R in 1941 at registration district George Square (Edinburgh).

So, did Allan Neill and Margaret divorce?   I can't see any casualty for this name being killed in WW2.

Just checked on SP for a death entry for an Allan Neill bc.1917/8 and there is just one in 2009 Edinburgh Central so possibly him and if the couple did divorce he probably would have remarried too.

Whatever happened, clearly Margaret had care of her firstborn daughter and presumably something happened around/soon after the birth of their 2nd child so without knowing the details don't think we should malign the lady too much.   Allan could have deserted her and she simply couldn't cope with a newborn baby and a toddler.

So, at least we now know who Allan Neill was and that he and Margaret had indeed been married.

Annette

Thank you Annett can I ask where is this info from the marriage of Margaret and Allan so I can send for the marriage cert I cant seem to find the index for it.....

[groom]

If you register with Scotlands People and buy credits you can actually see the certificate straight away on line

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

30 credits will cost you £7.50 and it costs 6 credits to see the certificate, leaving you 24 credits to look for the births of both parties. Much cheaper and quicker than buying certificates in England. 

[Annette7]

That's a brilliant piece of detective work, Annette. So it looks as if Margaret kept her first and third child but was unable to care for the middle one.

It would be lovely if we could trace that child born 1941 who went to America, as she would be a full blood sister to the one born 1942.

Something to keep in mind searching in the US is that although she arrived in the US as 'Colson' unless Carl legally adopted her real name was Neill.

Unfortunately, you cannot view the birth certificates of Allan Neill born 1917 or Margaret in 1923 and would have to order the birth certificates via Scotlands People - it costs £12 each.   You can view birth certificates before 1917 but not 1917 and after.

Annette

[SHUSHIE]

If you register with Scotlands People and buy credits you can actually see the certificate straight away on line

www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

30 credits will cost you £7.50 and it costs 6 credits to see the certificate, leaving you 24 credits to look for the births of both parties. Much cheaper and quicker than buying certificates in England. 

Thank you both so much I have the marriage cert, my lady will be well pleased she has family even blood cousins just wish I could reunite her with a sibling or info on her father fingers crossed.....

[SHUSHIE]

That's a brilliant piece of detective work, Annette. So it looks as if Margaret kept her first and third child but was unable to care for the middle one.

It would be lovely if we could trace that child born 1941 who went to America, as she would be a full blood sister to the one born 1942.

Something to keep in mind searching in the US is that although she arrived in the US as 'Colson' unless Carl legally adopted her real name was Neill.

Unfortunately, you cannot view the birth certificates of Allan Neill born 1917 or Margaret in 1923 and would have to order the birth certificates via Scotlands People - it costs £12 each.   You can view birth certificates before 1917 but not 1917 and after.

Annette

I have searched Rosalind Neill/Milroy/Colson in UK can not find her yet on the Boat/plane out of UK to USA it states Brit born, Carol Ann I can find mother Milroy so she is 100% her child with Colson, Is it possible Rosalind was NEVER registered here father not being present? also need to ask either of you if you have any knowledge of babies fostered or adopted or whatever through the Red Cross? during the 2nd WW and why from Islington London to a place in Scotland? what is your opinion or any knowledge of this ...TIA another thing Rosalind what it could be shortened too used later in life?

[Annette7]

I did say earlier that I had found Rosalind's birth - I've been avoiding saying her name as against Rootschat policy as probably still living.   details removed by Moderator Whilst you can see the birth entry to view birth certificate you would have to purchase it as a cost of £12.

So, at this point, I would say both the Neill children were indeed the children of Allan Neill - sometime between 1940 and 1942 he joined the army and possibly transferred to a camp in England.   Whether Margaret moved too is speculation but she was certainly here when she had the 2nd child.   We can only speculate on what happened next but she must have returned to Scotland at some point for the 2nd. child to end up there but I personally doubt Carl Olson was in the picture as early as 1942.   For whatever reason she returned to England at some point where she was living as Margaret Olson (per electoral rolls) in 1946/1947 Wandsworth with Jean R.G. Milroy (a witness to her 1st wedding).

We simply can't know or second guess what the situation was - clearly her marriage to Allan Neill broke down but exactly when/why we don't know.

Annette       

[SHUSHIE]

 Can you PM me this info on Rosalind to keep so I can send for the berth cert to make sure Neill is the dad? It  still don't explain why Colson took a child she already had to USA has a family yet left behind the other who was also Neill's that she gave away? don't make sence Colson sounds like a good guy, so confusing