Need a little help

[Scoop]

I have hit a bit of a stumbling block.

One of my great-great grandfather sisters Ann Duff (b1860 Lethendy & Kinloch) had a child James Mealmaker Alexander Duff (b1884 Lochee, Dundee, Angus).

I can find them in the census for 1881, 1891, and 1901. I can't find if any of the two of them ever married or even when they died.

The father of James is registered as unknown at the time but when I first started researching I was informed by someone else that it was thought that James Campbell Mealmaker b1865 Dundee, Angus was the father. There is an RCE associated with the birth certificate but so far I have been unable to make head nor tail of it. James (the father) went on to marry an Agnes Dickson in 1900 in Glasgow and died in Dennistoun, Glasgow in 1915.

There seems to be no connection between Ann and James (father) in anything I pull up so I can't understand why the person would think this, other than giving James (son) Mealmaker as a second name.

Anyone shed any light on this or point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

[AndrewP]

Hi Scoop,

It is not uncommon for an illegitimate child to have the father's surname as a middle name. However, the presence of a name within a name is stops short of being proof of fatherhood. So unless you can find a reputable document that names this man as the father, (in my opinion) you can only regard it as speculation.

All the best,

AndrewP

[nelmit]

I have hit a bit of a stumbling block.

One of my great-great grandfather sisters Ann Duff (b1860 Lethendy & Kinloch) had a child James Mealmaker Alexander Duff (b1884 Lochee, Dundee, Angus).

I can find them in the census for 1881, 1891, and 1901. I can't find if any of the two of them ever married or even when they died.

The father of James is registered as unknown at the time but when I first started researching I was informed by someone else that it was thought that James Campbell Mealmaker b1865 Dundee, Angus was the father. There is an RCE associated with the birth certificate but so far I have been unable to make head nor tail of it. James (the father) went on to marry an Agnes Dickson in 1900 in Glasgow and died in Dennistoun, Glasgow in 1915.

There seems to be no connection between Ann and James (father) in anything I pull up so I can't understand why the person would think this, other than giving James (son) Mealmaker as a second name.

Anyone shed any light on this or point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance.

Could this be Ann in 1881?

Dwelling: 2 Ogilvies Road
Census Place: Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203483 GRO Ref Volume 282-3 EnumDist 18 Page 16
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Anne LITTLEJOHN W 43 F Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Sacking Weaver
Alexr. F. LITTLEJOHN U 9 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Elizabeth F. LITTLEJOHN 6 F Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Dau
Occ: Scholar
Anne DUFF U 20 F Kinloch, Perth, Scotland
Rel: Boarder
Occ: Sheeting Weaver
Peter BALBIRNIE U 24 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Engine Fitter At Works
John CAITHNESS W 70 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Lodger
Occ: Carpenter

Annette M

Later - sorry should have finished my first cup of coffee before replying I thought you couldn't find her on census records.

[nelmit]

I have hit a bit of a stumbling block.


The father of James is registered as unknown at the time but when I first started researching I was informed by someone else that it was thought that James Campbell Mealmaker b1865 Dundee, Angus was the father.

Thanks in advance.

I can't be sure it's him without looking but a James Campbell Mealmaker died in Dundee in 1867. Can't believe it's not the same one on the IGI born Dundee 1865 to William and Fanny Jackson.

How about posting the RCE in the gallery to see if anyone can help with that?

Annette M

[AndrewP]

Hi Annette and Scoop,

I see there was another James Campbell Mealmaker born in 1868 in Glasgow. Given the rarity of the name, I would suggest that this one is probably another son to the same family given the same name folllowing the death of the older son.

All the best,

AndrewP

[nelmit]

Hi Annette and Scoop,

I see there was another James Campbell Mealmaker born in 1868 in Glasgow. Given the rarity of the name, I would suggest that this one is probably another son to the same family given the same name folllowing the death of the older son.

All the best,

AndrewP

Yes I saw that one Andrew - different parents - I discounted it because of his age but you never know.

This chap seems a bit young too but...........

JAMES MEALMAKER ALEXANDER

Event(s):
Birth: 15 APR 1865 Airlie, Angus, Scotland

Parents:
Father: JAMES ALEXANDER
Mother: JESSIE MEALMAKER

Dwelling: Morgan Lodge Forfar Road
Census Place: Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Source: FHL Film 0203487 GRO Ref Volume 282-4 EnumDist 23 Page 21
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
James ALEXANDER M 46 M Lintrathen, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Head
Occ: Janitor & Gardener
Jessie ALEXANDER M 43 F Airlie, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Wife
James M. ALEXANDER U 15 M Airlie, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Janitor & Gardener
Thomas A.M. ALEXANDER U 13 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
David M. ALEXANDER U 10 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son
Occ: Scholar
Isobel ALEXANDER 8 F Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Daur
Occ: Scholar
John E. ALEXANDER 4 M Dundee, Forfar, Scotland
Rel: Son

Regards,
Annette M

[Scoop]

Thanks for all of your help so far.

Annette - I've posted the RCE in the gallery under cerificates - help with deciphering. The title is James Mealmaker Alexander Duff b1884.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1295

It seems that I have made a mistake. I was acting on an email I received from someone who contacted me when I was first starting out. I discounted the Alexander name because her father's first name was Alexander. The father that I suspected it could be was very young (19 ?) so this could be a factor in mystery, if that is what it is

It would still be nice to find out what happened to Ann and James (Son) Alexander after the 1901 census.

Gallery URL added - AndrewP

[emanday]

Very difficult to read, but I'm sure I'm only seeing two surnames, Duff and Greig.

[nelmit]

Very difficult to read and I am missing a few vital words but I know somebody else will fill them in.

In the fourth column of entry No 1911? of the register of births for the year 1884 it gives the name of this child's mother and James Greig, Cab Proprietor on the authority of a cerificate? in the form of .......?

In a citation relating to the palimony of a male child ..born Dec 12 ? 1884 at the residence of Ann Duff, powerloom weaver .address..James Greig, Cab Proprietor ....address.........on this 4th? day of january 1885 / found that the ...? said child was ...(thought it said legitimate then changed my mind - it looks as though it ends ...inal) and both of the parties informed.

That's my best shot - it looks to me like his father was James Greig but I stand to be corrected.

Regards,
Annette M

[Isabel H]

After a lot of squinting here's my attempt:
District of St Andrew, Burgh of Dundee.
In the fourth column of entry No. 1911 in the Register Book of Births for the year 1884 I give the name of this child's mother and James Greig, Cab Proprietor on the authority of a certificate in the form of substitute(?) 1(?) to the following effect:-
In an action relating to the paternity of a male child ? born December 1st (12?) 1884, at the instance(?) of Ann Duff, powerloom weaver, No 5 Laing (?) Street, Dundee found James Greig, Cab Proprietor, No 87 Mary(?) Street under the Sheriff Court of Forfarshire (Dundee District) on this 11th(?) day of January 1885 found that this said child was the legitimate child of the father informed.
January 17th(?) at Dundee