James Robertson Ross - 1878 birth to Margaret Ross and John Crombie?

[tapi]

My great grandfather James Robertson Ross was born in 1878 and baptized in the Parish of Fintray in Aberdeenshire to an unwed mother, Margaret Ross. The family tale is that the father was a man named John Crombie and that she had in some manner petitioned that he be listed as father. I’m not sure if there would be such things as court records. The trouble is a lot of our family tales are vague versions of the truth so whether she actually did something formal I couldnt say, but I’d like to be able to! I do know there are several John Crombies in the area at the time, so it’s a name that exists. I also know that as of the 1891 census she is living with young James as a domestic servant to a John McKnight with his daughters. I’m keen to know the story of his parentage if such a thing is possible. I lose track of him in the 1901 census (too many James Rosses!) and then he immigrated to Canada with his wife Isabella Sheret. I’m interested in putting as much of his story together as I can

Thanks for any tips

[Neale1961]

Do you have his 1906 marriage certificate, and does it give a name and occupation for his father?

[Neale1961]

There is a register of corrected entries attached to his birth certificate.

It names his father as John CROMBIE, farm servant, Kinghorn, Newmachar.

His mother is recorded as Margaret ROSS, domestic servant, Ross Hall, Newmachar.

- dated 20 February 1879; District of Kintone, Aberdeen.

[Neale1961]

Looking at the 1881 census for Aberdeen, I can see 2 possible John Crombies, both unmarried.

John Crombie age 32, living in Belhelvie, a farmer’s son, born in Echt.

John Crombie, Age 35, living in old Machar, a general labourer, born in Belhelvie.

[Forfarian]

The family tale is that the father was a man named John Crombie and that she had in some manner petitioned that he be listed as father. I’m not sure if there would be such things as court records.

The should be. The RCE that Neale found will tell you when which court decided that John Crombie was the father, but it might be a little difficult to determine which of the possible John Crombies he was.

There are two web sites that offer, among others, information about paternity cases: https://www.oldscottish.com/Fathers-Found-C.html and https://www.scottishindexes.com/paternitysearch.aspx but so far neither of them lists your Margaret Ross and John Crombie. Both keep adding information all the time and it may be that they just haven't got as far as that particular case yet.

[Neale1961]

The paternity case was in the Sheriff court of Aberdeen and Kincardine on 7 Feb 1879.

[tapi]

First of all: wow! You guys are amazing!

I got as far as the 1906 marriage certificate which lists his mother (deceased) and no father.

Thank you!

I am planning a trip to Scotland from Canada with my dad to see all the places our family is from. I really appreciate this help in piecing the story together (and telling fact from fiction!).  On the plus side, we did know that James was working at a distillery prior to his marriage. I expanded my 1901 census search past Kincardine and Aberdeen and managed to find him last night - James Ross was working and living at Glenlivet in 1901 so we’ll be forced to go there too for a tour 

I’m genuinely thankful for your time and effort!

Brooke

[tapi]

There is a register of corrected entries attached to his birth certificate.

It names his father as John CROMBIE, farm servant, Kinghorn, Newmachar.

His mother is recorded as Margaret ROSS, domestic servant, Ross Hall, Newmachar.

- dated 20 February 1879; District of Kintone, Aberdeen.

It looks like he has 2 birth certificates- one has the 2 corrections attached. I stopped at the first and absolutely missed this. Thank you so much!

[Forfarian]

Explanation of why there are 2 birth certificates.

A birth had to be registered in the district where it occurred. If, however, the usual residence of the parent(s) was in a different district, the registrar or the birth district had to send the details to the registrar in the district of residence, and he then copied the information into his register, thus generating a duplicate record.