A Puzzler.....

Post by **emanday** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:48 pm

........So, did they have to do that, correctly, before he could adopt Agnes?

DavidWW · Post by **DavidWW** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:17 pm

emanday wrote:........So, did they have to do that, correctly, before he could adopt Agnes?

Given that there was no formal, legal adoption process in Scotland for many decades to come, quite simply, yes, of course he could, but then, they may have believed that it was necessary to organise a formal registration of wee Aggie's birth back in Lesmahagow, once it had been realised by all the parties involved that such a registration had not originally taken place. ................

Whether or not there are extant Lanark Sheriff court records, and whether or not these possible records could shed any light on this situation can only be a matter for speculation !, and further research at NAS in Edinburgh.

Unlike in England from 1837 to 1875, when registration in England became compulsory, registration of BMDs in Scotland was compulsory from the beginning of statutory registration on 1st January 1855, and registrars were tasked with going out into the community that comprised their district to ensure that all relevant records were properly registered !!

David

Post by **emanday** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 11:15 pm

Have to admit, it's a really intriguing puzzle. I wonder how many late registrations there were, and what kind of periods of delay were involved.

It's when you see things like that you tend to ponder on what these people's situations were.