birth recorded twice in 1874

gmg · Post by **gmg** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:55 am

I have a birth which appears to have been recorded twice in two different parishes.
The birth was first recorded in the parish of New Luce. This record was signed by the mother. The child was illegitimate.
The second record , in a neighbouring parish, is a direct copy of the first transcribed by the second registrar. Under the details of the registrar in the last column it states -'April 6th Transcribed at Kirkcowan. John McCallum Regisrar' Written up the side of the register it appears to reference the 'Record of Birth, New Luce.'

Would anyone be able to tell me why two records exist?

Post by **AndrewP** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:14 am

Hi gmg,

Welcome to TalkingScot

The double recording of births in that era is quite common. It is normally where the child was born away from the mother's normal home address. The birth was registered in the registration district where the birth took place, and then that information was transcribed in the registration district of the normal residence.

This was most common for a first child (illegitimate or not), for which the mother often went to her mother's house for the birth.

All the best,

AndrewP

gmg · Post by **gmg** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:57 am

Hmmm! Thank you for this. I had been thinking along similar lines but cannot find any reference to the mother (Jane)'s parents on any of the censuses for that county. I have Jane's parent's names from her marriage cert and know that at least her mother was alive when the baby was born in 1874 but no record of her in New Luce in 1871.

I also cannot find a record of Jane's birth in 1855 - thought it should be in the SR's but no luck there so far.

Thanks

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:48 pm

gmg wrote:Hmmm! Thank you for this. I had been thinking along similar lines but cannot find any reference to the mother (Jane)'s parents on any of the censuses for that county. I have Jane's parent's names from her marriage cert and know that at least her mother was alive when the baby was born in 1874 but no record of her in New Luce in 1871.

I also cannot find a record of Jane's birth in 1855 - thought it should be in the SR's but no luck there so far.

Thanks

Do you want to give us a name and we can try and help?

Regards,
Annette m

gmg · Post by **gmg** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:53 am

Would be great if you could help with this.

Childs name Annie McCallum (b.1874 registered New Luce and Kirkcowan, Wigtownshire).

Mother Jane McCallum (b1855c place unknown).

Jane's parents (from Jane's MR in 1876) James McCallum (deceased) and Jane nee Kennedy. I have no record of Jane or her parents before 1876.

If what you say is true then Jane's place of residence in 1874 must have been Kirkcowan.

I have struggled with this for some time!

Jen

killearnan · Post by **killearnan** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:05 pm

Jen,

A couple quick questions so some of us who like a challenge can help.....

1. What was Jane's husband's name? Have you found them in the census after their 1876 marriage? If so, where did she say she was born?

2. Did her mother live with them during a census? If so, where did the elder Jane give as her birthplace? if not, have you tried finding her elsewhere? Or finding her death record?

3. Have you found James McCallum's death record? If Jane was born around 1855 and he was deceased by 1876, it is likely that his death record is on-line at Scotland's People, if he died in Scotland.

4. Is the John McCallum who is the registrar at Kirkcowan part of the family?

BJ

gmg · Post by **gmg** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:26 pm

Hi BJ thanks for your interest.

1. Jane (jnr)was married . Her birthplace on 1881 census is registered as Kirkcowan but I couldn't find her in the SR's. I did wonder if she might have been born earlier in the year before the records began in 1855

2. No mother living with them at any time before 1901. Have searched all the local census' for Jane senior. I'm sure I searched the death records for James earlier in my research - will check on SP and get back on that one.

3. Ditto - Jane (snr) ROD.

4. Interesting you should mention John McCallum. He had a daughter Jane around the same time and I had initially been seriously following his line - until I discovered that Jane (jnr) had married 2 yrs after the child was born.Her MC named her father as James and her mother as Jane Kennedy.
This fits in with mention of a Kennedy link in the family. The 'Kennedy's were from Stranraer' was common folklore in the family and I have found a Jane Kennedy in Stranraer who would be the right age - but no ROM yet.
I don't think John McCallum is part of the family. He and his family ran the local school. I think they came into the area from elsewhere.
Jen

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:37 pm

Here is that McCallum family in 1851.

Obviously not Jane's mother but interesting that her maiden name is Kennedy.

Again probably coincidence but they are living in Penninghame where Jane junior's husband was born.

Name: KENNEDY or MCCALLUM , Janet
Address: Schoolhouse of Penninghame (895)
Parish: Penninghame
Relationship: mother of John
Marital Status: widow
Occupation:
Age: 63
Born: Killin Perthshire
Household No: 6/63

Name: MCCALLUM , Duncan
Address: Schoolhouse of Penninghame (895)
Parish: Penninghame
Relationship: brother of John
Marital Status: unmarried
Occupation: TEACHER Assistant
Age: 22
Born: Comrie Perthshire
Household No: 6/63

Name: MCCALLUM , John
Address: Schoolhouse of Penninghame (895)
Parish: Penninghame
Relationship: head of household
Marital Status: unmarried
Occupation: SCHOOLMASTER of Penninghame
Age: 31
Born: Killin Perthshire
Household No: 6/63

Name: MCCALLUM , Margaret
Address: Schoolhouse of Penninghame (895)
Parish: Penninghame
Relationship: sister of John
Marital Status: unmarried
Occupation: HOUSEKEEPER
Age: 24
Born: Comrie Perthshire
Household No: 6/63

Regards,
Annette M

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 6:35 pm

I know this is probably way off mark but have you seen this birth?

JANET MCCALLUM Pedigree
Female

Event(s):
Birth: 02 FEB 1855 Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland

Parents:
Mother: ANN MCCALLUM

Regards,
Annette M

gmg · Post by **gmg** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 10:03 pm

Ohhh! I'd forgotten about these McCallums!

Annette
I don't think the Portpatrick one is her as her MC says mum was Jane Kennedy.

I'd forgotten about this family in Penninghamme - came across them way back and discounted them because I couldn't see where they fitted in. There is another John McCallum who is Headmaster of the school in Kirkcowan in 1871. This is the one who was Registrar!

I hope this is not another of these complicated ones where the child was brought up by her grandparents as their own and put their names on the MC!