Thomas Fitzgerald

[CaroleW]

From a pm - mother was Charlotte Fitzgerald.  However - no 1919 marriage for her in Scotland.  There is a marriage in 1919 in Romford on freebmd of Charlotte R Fitzgerald to Reginald W Miller.  Is that her?

Death of Charlotte R Miller in 1954 Middlesex aged 63

Birth in Greenock 1894 of Charlotte Ross Fitzgerald

[grossan]

CaroleW.    Yes - details of Charlotte Fitzgerald are correct - she was Thomas’ mother
                 Thank you for looking.  Grossan

[CaroleW]

Both her parents were Scottish but Thomas was 5yrs old when Charlotte married which suggests he was probably fostered/adopted by somebody from birth.

I'm not familiar with Scottish policy on adoption - would his birth cert have any annotation re subsequent adoption?

[Forfarian]

Both her parents were Scottish but Thomas was 5yrs old when Charlotte married which suggests he was probably fostered/adopted by somebody from birth.

I'm not familiar with Scottish policy on adoption - would his birth cert have any annotation re subsequent adoption?

Yes, it would, if it were a formal adoption.

However formal adoption did not come in until 1930-ish so it's unlikely that he was formally adopted, in which case there would not be a annotation on his birth certificate.

I reckon your best bet is the 1921 census. If you are lucky he will be living with his maternal grandparents but listed by his father's surname.

There is another possibility. If his mother and her family were unable to keep him, he could have been boarded out and his keep paid for by the Parochial Board. If so, and if the Greenock Parochial Board survive, there could be a record of him and how he was dealt with.

To find out about the Greenock Parochial Board I'd start with the Watt Library https://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/community-life-and-leisure/heritage-services/watt-library. They may not have the documents themselves but they should know whether or not the docs have survived and if so where they are.

[CaroleW]

Charlotte's father was Thomas b 1863 - he died in 1909 aged 45.  His mothers maiden name is shown as Ross

Her mother is shown as Ellen and there is a death in 1931 in Greenock for an Ellen Miller Fitzgerald which may be her.  No mmn shown

There is an 1890 marriage - Thomas Fitzgerald to Helen M Wilson

If you do search the 1921 - her mother was b 1868 Renfrewshire & is Ellen on both the 1901 & 1911 censuses


1891 - all b Renfrew unless shown otherwise

Martha Wilson 40    Head b Ireland
Margaret Wilson 17     Daughter pupil teacher
Elizabeth Wilson 14       "
Thomas Fitzgerald    27    Son-in-law b Luss Dunbartonshire
Ellen Fitzgerald  23     dtr

ED 17   schedule number 72 Line 8

1881 - children b Renfrewshire - adults b Ireland

David Wilson 36 Head master plasterer
Martha King Wilson    36    Wife
James   11    
Ellen M  13    
Margaret Wilson 6    
Elizabeth Wilson 4    
James King 76    Father in law joiner
ED 23 schedule number 171 Line 15

1871

David Wilson 26 b Ireland - plasterer
Martha  b Ireland
Ellen M  3    
James K Wilson 1
James King  60 father in law b Ireland
Martha A King neice 8 b Ireland joiner
ED    18 schedule number 70 Line 23

[grossan]

Thank you so much - this is such helpful information to have.  I appreciate you spending time on my request for information
Grossan

[Forfarian]

Her mother is shown as Ellen and there is a death in 1931 in Greenock for an Ellen Miller Fitzgerald which may be her.  No mmn shown.

There wouldn't be. I think they have only got as far as about 1910 with adding mmn to the deaths index.

[grossan]

Sorry to appear so ignorant but could you tell me what mmn stands for - something about maiden name perhaps?
Regards. Grossan

[MonicaL]

Exactly that  MMN - mother's maiden name.

Women's maiden names have an important place in Scottish research. Married women never legally lose the right to use their maiden name which is why the maiden name features so prominantly on documents.

For example, when searching for a death of a married woman in Scotland, both surnames are recorded on the registration (along with her parents' names, including her mother's maiden name...and so on  ). Married women will often be referred to as, for example, Mary Thomson or Johnson.

Scotlands People are undertaking a major indexing programme to include the deceased person's mother's maiden name. It is a really useful search aid that will help enormously in narrowing down search results on the index page. Look forward to seeing it completed. As always though, the details are only as good as remembered by an informant to a death 

Monica