The meaning of an unmarried Mother in Law

[Geoff Rogers]

Hello

I have two consecutive Scottish censuses (1861-71) for an ancestor and his family which has staying with them a Helen Fergusson who is stated as a Mother in Law and who is also unmarried. Would she say she was unmarried instead of a widow or does Mother in Law mean something else in Scotland, ie an Aunt etc. I do not have any Fergusson's in my family tree and I'm trying to work out if she is family.

Thanks
Geoff Rogers

[AndrewP]

Hi Geoff,

My best guess would be that she was the unmarried mother of the spouse of the head of the household of that census entry.

All the best,

AndrewP

[Geoff Rogers]

Hi Andrew

The spouse has both parents so I'm still in the dark. I think my best bet is to have a look for her death record and see what details are on it.

Regards
Geoff

[Falkyrn]

The term "in law" has changed over the years at one point it was used in the same way that we now use the term "Step" as in step mother.

If she had been widowed this would have been clearly stated although she may still have used her maiden name after widowhood - the relationship is strange given her alleged unmarried state and Step/mother in law status.

Is this information from a transcription or the original ?

[trish1]

As Falkryn mentions I have seen "in law" often used to indicate a step mother. I'm wondering if it is possible that the mother of the head of the family died young (or was incapacitated) and the unmarried Helen Fergusson raised him - as we would perhaps call a foster mother today. Given the spouse has both parents living (are they together?) I would think the relationship is with the head of the household

Trish

[Geoff Rogers]

Hi

They are both original census documents and both give the same details apart from her age which went from 66 to 72 and occupation which went from Domestic servant to border. The census states she was born in Edinburgh and the censuses were for Balquhidder, Perthshire.

Personally I don't think she is realated at present. Also as far as I can tell no one has come from Edinburgh in my family tree.

Regards
Geoff