Family mystery

[MJayne]

My Gran told me a family story and I would love to try and figure it out. Her mother, Sarah Bell Scott (born 25/06/00 in Glasgow) had a sister named Catherine (not sure of spelling) who emigrated to the States. Apparently, Catherine took her younger sister, who was only a baby at the time, with her without telling her mother (Janet). When Sarah (my Gran's mother) suggested they catch up with Catherine before the ship left, Janet said not to bother. This sounds to me as though this young girl was more than likely Catherine's own daughter. Janet was already 39 on the 1901 census and Sarah herself was 9 months. Catherine had to have been born after Sarah as she is not listed on the census. So, assuming Catherine was at least 16 when she emigrated (and we think she was probably married before she left but don't know who the husband was), Janet would be at least 55 - rather old to have a child young enough to be described as a baby. Plus, I'm thinking that Sarah surely should have known who the child's mother was, but this is the story she told my Gran - maybe just a way of covering up the illegitimacy thing.

Another wee bit of the story is that, during the war my Gran's American cousin, Harold McGhee/McGee who was in the US army, visited them whilst he was based over here. He took my Gran, who was about 16 at the time, to the movies and she was mortified to think what people were thinking when they saw her with a "yank". Apparently, that got you a bit of a reputation so she took great pains to inform everyone that he was her cousin! Anyway, he was apparently the son of this "abducted" baby girl.

So, to start with I am trying to find Catherine's birth. This is proving difficult even though I know exactly who her parent's are (John Ferguson Scott and Janet Fisher Scott (previously Greer as she was a widow) m.s. Dick. Sarah's birth was registered in St Rollox, Glasgow so Catherine will likely have been born in the same area or thereabouts.

I also thought to try and find her possible marriage as this would give her name for checking emmigration records which might also name her young companion.

I am having no luck so far and rather than spend a small fortune on SP checking every Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn, etc Scott, I thought I would ask you kind folk if you had any bright ideas.

My goodness, that was long winded.

Cheers!

Jayne

[SarahND]

Hi Jayne,
I'm having trouble squeezing these generations to fit the story. So... let's say that Catherine was born at earliest in 1901 just after the census. She turns 16 in 1917 and gives birth to a daughter. This daughter turns 16 in 1933 and has a son Harold... Even with these extremely short generations, he is too young to join the army for WWII!!! Or have I misunderstood your post? I'm confused...

All the best,
Sarah

[nelmit]

A free search on SP brings only 1 result for a *ath* Scott born at St Rollox between 1901 and 1908. Might be worth a look.

Regards,
Annette