RCE's - Gr Grma is referred to as "Poor"

bn08jr · Post by **bn08jr** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 7:16 am

Hi,

I have discovered that my gr grandmother had an illigitamate child before she married my gr grdad. On the RCE, she is always referred to as "Poor Catherine Wallace". The father is never referred to in this way and so far I have not seen anyother RCE's that refer to the mother of the child as "Poor". Has anyone else seen this? I don't think it means monetary, so I am wondering if it is something else?

Barb

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 8:59 am

Hi Barb
...welcome to Talking Scot

I've seen this a couple of times now with my own relatives, as have some other TS members and I begin to think it was a standard form of wording in this particular situation.
See:
http://talkingscot.com/forum/viewtopic. ... t=poor+rce
the two links half way down that thread which show other RCEs with similar wording to yours, and Anne M's thoughts at the bottom of the first page:

I'm pretty sure it means that the women had public assistance to pursue the action through the court, whatever the equivalent of legal aid would be then. Russell's about right though I don't think it came from the parish.

Best wishes
Lesley