Jane O'Donnell and her son John O'Donnell

[Silverhoop]

Hi,

Bit of a stab in the dark here but lets go:

Just had the DNA results from Ancestry and it has linked me to a tree of someone else that has a Jane O'Donnell (1905-1985) having a son John O'Donnell (1926-2000) with my Grandfather Joseph McNally (1903-1958)

I suppose it could have happened but I have never heard of this (Not that it would have been boasted about )

I had a look at birth certificates on ScotlandsPeople but there are numerous John O'Donnell's born in 1926 and I'm not paying for every single one (Got to love ScotlandsPeople for charging for everything)

Anyone know if I can find a census for 1931 or have any pointers how I can check this out. I have written to the person on Ancestry but haven't heard back from them

Thanks everyone

Gerry

[CaroleW]

1931 census won't be released for approx 8 more years

There are 5 John O'Donnell births in Lanarkshire in 1926

Have you contacted the tree owner to find out more details? 

SP has 2 deaths in 2000 - one aged 73 mmn O'Donnell in Glasgow  & one aged 74 mmn Mathieson in Dunbarton

His BMD certs  may not name a father - many illegitimate births didn't

[Neale1961]

The public tree gives you date and place of birth for John O’Donnell, so it is very easy to reduce your options on Scotlands People down to about two.

[Silverhoop]

Hi Neale,

I know. There is 1 candidate on ScotlandsPeople that meets the criteria but as there is no image available it means forking out £12.50 to check if it is the right one and then there is always the chance that the father isn't listed so deemed pointless.

I'll hopefully hear back from the person on Ancestry before I make the plunge and spend the £12.50

[Silverhoop]

Hi Carole,

As soon as I posted this it dawned on me the 1931 census wouldn't be available for another 6 years - Eejit!!!

When looking for the birth certificates there is no image available so for each one I'd have to pay the £12.50 for a copy of the certificate and as you say the father might not even be listed.

Hopefully the owner of the tree will get back to me with something.

[sancti]

If the father attended the registration the birth would also be recorded under the name McNally

[Silverhoop]

Here's hoping.

I've mailed the person on Ancestry and so far no reply so I've taken the plunge and ordered the birth certificate of John O'Donnell.

Just waiting for it now and hopefully it has the fathers name on it.

[Silverhoop]

Just to close out the story if anyone is interested.

The lady on Ancestry never got back to me so I eventually bit the bullet and purchased a copy of the birth certificate on Scotlands people.

Got it through and we are indeed related, however, it was not my Grandfather that was the father but his brother.

Sadly, when I met up with my siblings recently and told them of the story they all seemed to know and also told me that the brother was shipped out to America when his parents heard he had became a father where he set up home, got married, had children, joined the navy all before drinking himself to death.

Still, at least the case is closed for me now