Adoption

[kazza56]

I'm hoping someone has an idea of helping me with my GrGrGrandmothers lineage.
I have reason to believe she was raised by my ancestors (Pennycook/Porteous) but not actually a birth child of theirs. Did children get passed on to others if they were living in poverty?
Did other family members pass children on? Perhaps illegitimate?
How can I explore this avenue if the surname becomes a dead end to my search. I'm at a loss. Thanks for any suggestions.

[Forfarian]

The answer could be very different depending on when and where. Could you give us a little more to go on - dates, places, names and any other information you have about them?

[kazza56]

My GrGrGrandmother Marion Pennycook (James Pennycook/Helen Porteous raised her) born around 1823 in Cockpen, however no birth record can be found. I have done my DNA on MyHeritage and Ancestry and have no connections to either family name. However, I do have DNA connections to Edward McGill Neilson/Catherine Banks (B 1793) from the Invernesk area. They were coalminers and I have no surname connections that I can trace, only DNA. It seems that James Pennycook was a coalminer at some time. Could this be where Marion came from? She had other siblings but is "first born" and I can locate some records for the other children, but not Marion. I would appreciate any thoughts.

[GR2]

If she died after 1854, have you seen her death certificate? If so, what does it say about her parents?

[kazza56]

Yes, I have here Death Cert. from Scotlands People for 1886 at the Inveresk Combination Poorhouse. It lists her parents as James Pennycook and Helen Porteous. (No burial record for her).

[Rosinish]

My GrGrGrandmother Marion Pennycook (James Pennycook/Helen Porteous raised her) born around 1823 in Cockpen, however no birth record can be found.
However, I do have DNA connections to Edward McGill Neilson/Catherine Banks (B 1793) from the Invernesk area. They were coalminers and I have no surname connections that I can trace, only DNA. It seems that James Pennycook was a coalminer at some time. Could this be where Marion came from? She had other siblings but is "first born" and I can locate some records for the other children, but not Marion. I would appreciate any thoughts.

When/where/who did Marion Pennycook marry & what info. is on her MC?

Not all baptisms were recorded & not all have survived.

When you say James & Helen 'raised her'...where does this come from (what info.)?

Is Marion not listed as 'Daughter' on census records with James & Helen?

Have you viewed all marriages of siblings to see if Marion was a witness which would be quite a common thing being 'big sis'?

Surname DNA connections in your tree could be from other family members (female) via marriages.

Just because you don't have links to certain surnames means nothing until/unless you can prove otherwise.

I have found only a handful of DNA connections to my maternal lines i.e. to me, not enough people have tested to date.

Annie

Add...Your last message appeared while I was posting...

Why are you doubting who the parents of Marion are?

Not all burial info. is online.

[kazza56]

Thanks for your response Annie.
Marion Pennycook married James Hamilton at St.Cuthberts, Newbattle in July 1851.
I only have the Bann for the marriage, so no other names or witnesses.
I am using the word "raised" her because I can find no record of a birth or baptism. I can find birth records of her siblings on Scotlands People. (Thomas & Janet, twins, Chirstie, Helen etc)
On Census records, yes, she is listed as Daughter.
I will check the marriage certificates of siblings to see whether Marion is a witness. But, even if she wasn't a "birth sibling" she could still be named.
The reason I am questioning her birth is that with both Ancestry & MyHeritage DNA subscriptions, I would have expected that the name Pennycook would have appeared in one of the many thousands of DNA matches. But, as you said, the more people who test, perhaps the name will eventually appear.   
Marion's Death Certificate confirms her parents (whether birth or not) were James Pennycook and Helen Porteous.    I am still relatively new to genealogy so am still learning what is and what is not available.  As I said, I truly appreciate any suggestions.  One query, why would all the siblings be available on SP and not Marion's ? Regards.

[GR2]

I had a look at the minutes of the kirk session of Cockpen from 1816 - 1826. The only mentions of Pennycooks during that period were:

James Pennycook, carter, Hillhead, being fined 5/- on 23-7-1820 for breaking a fast day by yoking his cart

William Pennycook, joiner, Hillhead, being ordained an elder on 19-11-1820

[Forfarian]

One query, why would all the siblings be available on SP and not Marion's ?

By far the most likely explanation is that for some reason or other either no record of the baptism was made, or if it was it has not survived.

Just because there is no surviving record of the baptism doesn't mean anything more than that.

I wouldn't worry too much about an absence of DNA links.