I followed up with another brick wall from the family on the same thread but perhaps I should isolate it here?
"Anyway..tracing Benjamin White I find he marries in Tranent 1872 as stated (on the other thread) with parents John Watson (deceased) and Jane Smith. He is named 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 is 17 and is a servant at a farm in Penicuik. No Watson in name. Birthplace Liberton
In 1861 Census he is 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, a Janet Smith is in Drum Street, Liberton with an Englishman called John Smith. He has either died or gone by 1861.
Janet's birth is 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?"
There was one response from nelmit:
nelmit wrote:Here is your 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
