I may be asking the impossible

[Lodger]

Carluke Session records. Several entries on pages 342 & 343 relating to Alexander's birth and parentage. "8th May 1791 Betty Morton, presently residing in the upper town of Cambusnethan, confessed herself with child and gave up John Stewart, coal-hewer at Gillhead in the parish of Cambusnethan as the father of her child and said that the child was begot when she was a servant in this parish".

John was, after a couple of attempts, made to appear before Carluke Session, where he first denied being the father and then finally admitted to "uncleaness" with Betty!

In my opinion, Betty must have been born in Carluke parish, if she she had been born in Cambusnethan, given the fact that she was, at the time of the entries made in the Carluke records, actually living in Wishaw (Cambusnethan parish) she would have been brought before Cambusnethan Session. I noticed there was a couple of entries for parochial relief in Carluke Session records for "Betty Morton in Law" (Law is a village, very close to Wishaw but in Carluke parish) this may or may not be her, it could even refer to her mother or grandmother but, it may be a clue to her origins, it can't be ignored until it can be discredited.

John Stewart was a coal miner at Gillhead, this is in modern-day Wishaw, an area in the Dimsdale part of the town, about 2 miles from Law village. It gives us a clue to his residence and, perhaps more can be found?
I'll have a look through any records I have for the name Stewart at Gillhead.

[Ann Baker]

I think she's Carluke parish. The fact she was up before the Carluke Kirk Session and the baptism was there points that way

[David Nicoll]

Have you looked at the Elizabeth Morton who married in Carluke in 1791?
Otherwise running out of candidates.

That should be Eilizabeth perky auto correct!

[Ann Baker]

I have but nothing to confirm she's the Betty I'm looking for. Definitely a possible tho

[Lodger]

Ann, on the 1865 death certificate for Alexander, how is his mother recorded? Is she Elizabeth (or Betty) Morton ..... subsequently ...... (another name) or is she simply Morton?
If there isn't another surname I'd be inclined to think she was never married.

Going back to the birth entry of 1791, are there any sponsors names? Any area of the parish? Any clues at all?

[Ann Baker]

Hi

The death cert says Elizabeth Morton, Domestic Servant, Deceased.

Baptism doesn't have any sponsors

'Alexander natural son to John Stewart and Betty Morton in Cambusnethan parish born 2nd March and baptised 28 July 1791'

Thanks

Ann

[Ann Baker]

Just looking through notes I made years ago and I found an old email suggesting she'd married a James Russell which is the 1791 marriage David is referring to.

I looked to see if they had any children and came up with nothing. Still not finding anything on that front. I did wonder at the time if she called the baby Alexander after her father rather than John cos he was a bit of a baddie so looked for baptisms across Scotland as a whole.

There were 3 possibles where dad's name was Alexander. First one was in Glasgow 1776 which would have made her 15 at the time the baby was born. Second one was in Livingston in 1774 when she'd have been 17 and last one was in 1765 again in Glasgow. They're all very possible tho if she was 15 then John was a baddie indeed.

I didn't find any in Carluke

Thanks

Ann

[Lodger]

Going by that wording, I think the birth would have been in Carluke parish, not Cambusnethan.
also, if the Alexander who made the poor relief application in 1862 is the same man, he states he was born in Carluke. All the other details in the application seem to confirm that it's the same person.
He is residing at Morningside, which is Newmains. He is married (although no wife's name is given) and his 3 children are - Alexander, Marion and BETTY.

As to his death certificate, I would say, going by the wording, Elizabeth never married.

[Ann Baker]

So....

The Alexander Morton who is in the Poor books is married to a Christian Weir. I've found 5 children with both parents listed on SP.

Andrew b 1760
Betty b 1763
James b 1765
Christian b 1768
Marion b 1770

Not finding an Alexander tho.