Where am I going wrong?!

[nelmit]

Hi All,

Thoroughly confused with this one and hoping fresh eyes (and brains) will help!

Mary Sharp married James Sellars in 1912. She says her mother is Margaret Sloan and father Alexander Sharp, a coalminer both deceased.

Here is who I think she is in 1891 at New Monkland -

Alexander Sharp 20 Coalminer born Ireland (haven't looked at the original but obviously his age is wrong)
Margaret Sharp 34 born Ireland
Alexander Sharp 15 born Greengairs, Lanark
Helen Sharp 13
Elizabeth Sharp 6
John Sharp 3
Mary Ann Sharp 1 born Kirkintilloch

I downloaded the most obvious birth but although the father's name and occupation match the mother's name is completely different. The couple stated they married October 28th 1883 at Co. Antrim.
Ok I thought there are two Marys who coincidently have a father named Alexander, coal miner.

I then decided to download brother Alexander's birth entry and his mother is shown as Margaret Sloan married October 28th 1873 at Co. Antrim. Now that's some coincidence!!

When I compare the 2 signatures of father Alexander who registered both of these births I am convinced he is the same person.

http://www.pixum.co.uk/album/sharingIma ... 340/page/1
http://www.pixum.co.uk/album/sharingIma ... 340/page/2
http://www.pixum.co.uk/album/sharingIma ... 340/page/3

I haven't found a death for Margaret Sloan/Sharp or Alexander yet either.

Hope you can follow this as my heid is burstin'! What is it I'm not 'getting'.

Regards,
Annette

[speleobat2]

Annette,

Try this one on SP:

2 1902 SHARP MARGARET MAINS SLANE F 40 AIRDRIE OR NEW MONKLAND /LANARK 651/00 0560

She remarried to someone named Mains if this is the correct one!

Carol

[nelmit]

Annette,

Try this one on SP:

2 1902 SHARP MARGARET MAINS SLANE F 40 AIRDRIE OR NEW MONKLAND /LANARK 651/00 0560

She remarried to someone named Mains if this is the correct one!

Carol

Certainly looks like her, thanks Carol - her first husband was Alexander Sharp a coalminer. =D> His death should be easier to find now hopefully.

It's, what appears to be, wee Mary's birth that really puzzling me though.

Regards,
Annette

[nelmit]

OK I've cracked it and this is a first for me....................................... Alexander gave his own mother's name when registering the birth of his daughter!!!!!

I found his death entry and his mother's name is the same as the name given on wee Mary's birth entry.

I'm off to bed now with a lighter head!

Regards,
Annette

[SarahND]

=D> =D> Sweet dreams, Annette!
I've seen that one before. The registrar asks, "What is the mother's name?" and he gets flustered and thinks it's HIS mother they are asking for...

Cheers,
Sarah

[trish1]

Lovely when you solve it =D> Wonder if the wife was the informant for all the other children?

I have one of those as well - I've also one where the vicar recorded a baptism with the child belonging to the grandparents instead of the parents. Fortunately the name of the child revealed the error (and grandmother was 60 years old at the time)

Trish

[speleobat2]

Wonderful! =D>

Have to watch those informants always. I have relatives who were sisters with three different fathers!

Carol

[Alan SHARP]

Lovely when you solve it =D> Wonder if the wife was the informant for all the other children?

I have one of those as well - I've also one where the vicar recorded a baptism with the child belonging to the grandparents instead of the parents. Fortunately the name of the child revealed the error (and grandmother was 60 years old at the time)

Trish

Greetings Trish.

I suppose it’s impolite to ask, but I will note that we have several examples of children being reared by their Grand Parents. To all appearances the youngest sibling in a “family” but in fact the result of an unplanned teenage pregnancy, with one of the first born daughter/s.

Some of my forebears were in their late 50’s and early 60’s when their last “natural” children were born (younger or second wives) so another soul added to the fold was not an issue.

Alan SHARP.

[trish1]

Hi Alan

Certainly not impolite in my genealogy to ask the question - it seemed to be compulsory in my 19th century families to be pregnant before marriage and quite a few were somewhat late in getting to the alter. There were also a number raised by their grandparents who did and at times did not turn out well.

Thus said, this particular child belonged to the son of the couple who were given as the baptismal parents. His wife's maiden name was the child's middle name - definitely an error of the preacher. I think the latter wrote down the surname & when he didn't have the parent names he checked back in his register and came up with the grandparents.

Trish

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings again Trish.

I knew from reading your post that your research was well founded. [Reference to 2nd Christian/given name.]

However I felt it was a good opportunity to re-stress that one must not approach such research from what are today's custom/s, and accepted norms. Back then the reality was quite different, and one must have a very open mind to explore all possibilities. As our research knowledge deepens, we come across expediencies that would not necessarily be immediately apparent.

The other point I find very interesting is the practicalities of Latin/Scott's law, and it's impact on an individuals "status". What would have been deemed illegitimate here in NZ, may not have been, back in Scotland.
..............................................

Annette - Sorry for imposing on your thread. Found it interesting because Alexander SHARP may well tie back to our Alexander’s of Renfrew and Lanark c1800.


Alan SHARP.