Great grandmother's real name problem

[LesleyB]

Just a warning that the copy on scotlandspeople seems to omit the father

Could he possibly be on the previous page?

[AndrewP]

Just a warning that the copy on scotlandspeople seems to omit the father

Could he possibly be on the previous page?

Benjamin is indeed at the foot of the previous page.

All the best,

Andrew

[raymonda63]

I thought it must be on the other page....but I just ran up a huge bill to Scotlandspeople and I am trying to save money!!

Anyway..tracing Benjamin White I find he marries in Tranent 1872 as stated with parents John Watson (deceased) and Jane Smith. He signs as Benjamin Watson White. He is 19 and from Newton. In his death certificate of 1936 he is 83 years old and this puts his birth around 1853. He is called Benjamin White (formerly Watson). Parents John Watson and Jane Smith as in MC.
In 1871 census he 17 and is a servant at a farm in Penicuik. No Watson in name. Birthplace Liberton
In 1861 Census he 6 years old and is in Liberton with Janet Smith and another son Robert White. He is named Benjamin Watson and Janet's son. His birthplace is given as Inveresk. Janet Smith is 43 in 1861. So if she mothered Benjamin she was 37 at the time.
I can't find a Watson/Smith marriage except for Calton, Glasgow.
In the 1851 Census, Janet Smith is in Drum Street, Liberton with an Englishman called John Smith. He has either died or gone by 1861. Janet's birthplace is Tranent around 1818. I cannot find her death certificate.

So I got intrigued by this birth of Benjamin. After a lot of guesswork I found an illegitimate White birth in Liberton 1855 to an Elizabeth White in the parish of Newlands. The child is male and unnamed and her third child after a girl and a boy. She is 25 years old with no date of marriage. Witnesses are "teachers". Within a year she would give birth to Thomas with no father named.
In 1861 Census Elizabeth is in Liberton unmarried with three children - eldest son Thomas aged 4 and two daughters.

Could she have been Benjamin's mother and Benjamin was adopted by Janet Smith?

Also..should I make this a new thread?

[nelmit]

Here is you Janet in 1851 at Inveresk -

Janet Smith 30 b Newton
Jane Whyte 3 b Musselbro'
Robert Whyte 7 Mo b Musselbro'

The other one is still with John Smith in 1861.

Regards,
Annette

[raymonda63]

So could this be as simple as Janet in Inveresk in 1851 is unmarried with children to a man called Whyte and between 1851 and 1861 Benjamin is born to this man Whyte? This would mean that later Jane/Janet marries a man called Watson?

This record on Scotlandspeople is almost illegible. Where did you get the information from. I need to investigate other resources