1796 born Kirkden Parish -David Foord

[jkhansen]

Just to be for sure a couple of words - it is written from a 1796 birth record (attached) from the parish of Kirkden, (Forfarshire, Angus)

Last entry:
April 23rd David Ford in Gask ... .. (had a)?
Natural Son Baptised David                   
David Foord

Question - is it a normal thing to right 'natural son'? I am having a problem finding more details about the mother!
Thanks in advance for help
JKH

[emeltom]

David Ford in Gask had a natural son baptised.


Could well be that the child was illegitimate. Perhaps the mother had died in childbirth and the father was taking responsibility.

Emeltom

[Rosinish]

As there's only one other entry visible (signed by the mother), can you check the ones above/below as I think it may only be the father named on them but either parent signed?

Edit..."is it a normal thing to right 'natural son'?"

Indeed although other terms are were used too.

Annie

[Rosinish]

Have you changed your attachment?

If David died in Scotland post 1854 both parents should be named on his DC if known to the informant.

Annie

[GR2]

It is not unusual for mothers not to be mentioned in baptism registers. These are not signed - the name at the side is the child's name as an aid to finding. The spelling of the surname would now be Ford. In the North East of Scotland this was pronounced Foord or Fyoord, hence the variant in the register.

As the child is illegitimate, you should look in the minutes of the kirk session (if they are extant for that period) as the mother's name will likely be found there.

[Rosinish]

As the child is illegitimate, you should look in the minutes of the kirk session (if they are extant for that period) as the mother's name will likely be found there.

If you're unable to do this yourself, you may be interested in this service (reasonably priced)

https://www.oldscottish.com/kirkden.html

Annie

[Wolseley]

Natural son (or daughter) in Scottish parish registers means that the child was illegitimate.

Also, one line of my ancestors lived in Kirkden and, from what I have seen of the Kirkden parish registers, the mothers were not mentioned in baptismal records until the early 1800s.