Twins or the same birth registered twice?

[mulberry-rose]

I have come across quite a baffling situation. 

Archibald Wilson (1878) & Elizabeth Ferguson (1878) married at Morpeth District in 1901 in Northumberland.

There are two births registered a few pages from eachother

Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson Morpeth 10b 457

Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson Morpeth 10b 462

Elizabeth Snr died as a result from childbirth on 23 January 1902 at Scotland’s Gate, aged 24.

Mary E F is quite easy to trace, she is with her uncle Robert Ferguson in the 1911 and 1921 census at Ashington. She was baptised on 26 January 1902 at Choppington.

However I’ve no sign of “twin” Elizabeth F.

Elizabeth F according to birth record was born 6 January 1902 at Scotland Gate. This was signed by her father on the 20 Feb 1902. Her mother is not marked deceased.

However Mary E F’s birth shows a difference, her mother Elizabeth is marked as deceased and the informant is her uncle Robert Ferguson “in charge of the child”. Registered on the 10 Feb 1902.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Neale1961]

I would have a look at the addresses on the certificates. Are they different?
What are the dates of birth on the 2 different records?
What details are exactly the same? It is not clear from your post.

Without seeing the records, it is hard to say. Might be the same birth registered twice?

[Kay99]

If the two birth dates are the same my first thought was that her uncle re-registered her birth adding the first name Mary .   If she was baptised as Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson already maybe her father had omitted the first name Mary in his distress after his wife's death when he registered her birth?

Kay

[LizzieL]

If they are twins there will be a time of birth on the birth certificate. I also think that this is the same birth registered twice. What happened to Archibald after his wife's death?

[LizzieL]

The death notice in the Morpeth herald is indexed under the name FERGUSON not WILSON

"FERGUSON - At Scotland Gate on the 23rd ult, aged 24 years, Elizabeth Wilson, daughter of Robt. and the late Mary Ferguson, of Guide Post."

No mention of her being the wife of Archibald, which seems strange. But he must have been around if he registered the birth on the second certificate.

[Skaife]

I’m not sure which year this begun but I think that twin births also have the time of each birth on the birth certificate.

[emeltom]

There appears to be only one baptism and that is for Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson. Nothing found re Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson

https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/684d458286557455d45374ac/mary-elizabeth-ferguson-wilson-baptism-northumberland-choppington-1902-01-26?locale=en

[mulberry-rose]

I would have a look at the addresses on the certificates. Are they different?
What are the dates of birth on the 2 different records?
What details are exactly the same? It is not clear from your post.

Without seeing the records, it is hard to say. Might be the same birth registered twice?

Unfortunately Mary’s birth is cut off so will have to get the PDF version. The places both state Scotland Gate although Mary’s baptism specifies Strong’s Buildings.

[mulberry-rose]

If the two birth dates are the same my first thought was that her uncle re-registered her birth adding the first name Mary .   If she was baptised as Mary Elizabeth Ferguson Wilson already maybe her father had omitted the first name Mary in his distress after his wife's death when he registered her birth?

Kay

I would agree although Robert was the first one to register the birth 

Mary’s birth date was cut out on the digital copy so can’t see what it was.

6 January - Elizabeth F Wilson born at Scotland Gate

23 January - Elizabeth Wilson (Snr) dies from childbirth aged 24 years at Scotland Gate

25 January - Elizabeth Wilson (Snr) death registered by husband Archibald Wilson

26 January - Mary E F Wilson baptised at Choppington

10 February - Mary E F Wilson birth registered by uncle Robert Ferguson “in charge of the child”

20 February - Elizabeth F Wilson birth registered by father Archibald Wilson