Find Ancestors

Hi all,

I am trying to solve a family mystery in my fiancee's family!

My fiancee's grandfather was born illegitimate on 3rd December 1919 in Glasgow to a Jane McFarlane (born 1888). The story that we've been told is that she was engaged to be married when she fell pregnant to a man in the Royal Flying Corps. Unfortunately he died in a flying accident sometime after they conceived George between March and December 1919.

There is also mention of the surname on Jane's death certificate and George's birth certificate by the name of Carruthers. We've found a George Carruthers in the Royal Flying Corps but whether that's him or has any relevance we don't know. Jane never married married but another interesting thing about Jane is that she carried around a sort of medallion that she made into a bracelet and wore for the rest of her life until she died unmarried in the 1960's. The name engraved on the bracelet was McVean. Neither of these names have been found in the tree except a visitor to her father in the 1881 census....

I am desperately trying to find out what happened with George's father so if anyone has any idea who he is, know of anything surrounding this or of any relatives, we'd be so grateful as my fiancee's family having been looking for years with no joy. We think there may be an American link but we don't know where or if there is one. We have a medal from a run or race from Detroit in the 1920's which was for a George McFarlane. This is potentially Jane's father.

Any help, please send our way as we are desperate for news!

Thank you in advance,

Catherine.

Have you got Jane's birth certificate for information about her parents?

Are you claiming that her fiance was definitely in the RFC?

Thank-you

We haven't got a birth certificate I don't think but my mother-in-law is looking through documents incase.

We were always told that his father whoever he was, was in the RFC.

You say there is mention on George's birth certificate of a Carruthers? In what context was the name mentioned? As father?

Also on this board with no answers.

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/military_chat/thread/1340346


Please Catherine, only post on one board so all the information stays together and different people don't spend time and effort putting the same information on different boards. :-)

Presumably you have a copy of grandfather's BC? if not, then it can be purchased or downloaded from http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/

As he was illegitimate, it probably doesn't name his father, but there may be some clues.

Have you checked out the WW1 deaths on http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx
See if there are any deaths not only for Carruthers, but also McVean.

To be honest, when it comes to illegitimacy, with out 'living memories' its very difficult to identify a father.

Carruthers is the middle name of Jane we've just discovered on her death certificate. George's wife has said that she thinks that it was an Iain McVean who the bracelet belonged too when he was in the RFC.

Apologies - Will only post once!

Is this relevant?

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about George Carruthers
Name: George Carruthers
Regiment or Corps: Royal Army Service Corps, Royal Flying Corps
Regimental Number: M2/034855

It doesn't say if any medals were awarded - the only notation is Comm 29.05.17 which I would read as meaning Commissioned 29 May 1917

It could be but only if he's in the Flying Corps. Does it say?

Can you give us the names of Jane's parents please? Did she live in Glasgow? What address is given for her on George's birth certificate please?

Jane would have been old enough to vote by 1918. Have you checked out the voters rolls please?

Yes

The first line says (A) Carruthers- Corp RASC – rank Pte – Reg no M2/034855
2nd line says (B) George – Corp RFC – rank and reg no left blank

According to Wiki, the RFC started off life as an arm of the British Army (hence the Royal Army Service Corps designation) until it merged Royal Naval Air Service on 1 Apr 1918 to form the RAF.

The 1918 date is probably too simplistic!

Could this be relevant ?

1901

Name: George Carruthers
Age: 14
Estimated birth year: abt 1887
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: George Carruthers
Mother's name: Margaret Carruthers
Gender: Male
Where born: Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Registration Number: 644/3
Registration district: Dennistoun
Civil Parish: Glasgow Dennistoun
County: Lanarkshire
Address: 4 Comely Park Place <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Occupation: Loery Boy
ED: 20
Household schedule number: 111
LINE: 10
Roll: CSSCT1901_273
Household Members:
Name Age
George Carruthers 52
Margaret Carruthers 41
John Carruthers 17
George Carruthers 14
Charles Carruthers 12
Thomas Carruthers 8
Edward Carruthers 3

Mother in law says she can't find his birth certificate so we'll have to order it annoyingly! The Carruthers is from Jane's death cert - She is Jane Carruthers McFarlane... None of us knew about that!

Jane's parents were George and Flora. Jane was born in West Kilbride with her brother Neil born the year before in 1887. It appears that George (1919) is the only one to be born in Glasgow....

Is this Jane's death?

England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
about Jane Carruthers McFarlane Name: Jane Carruthers McFarlane
Probate Date: 29 Aug 1962
Death Date: 19 Jun 1962
Death Place: Renfrewshire, Scotland
Registry: London, England

Original reads:

"McFarlane or MacFarlane, Jane Carruthers otherwise Janie Carruthers of 51 Hillview Drive, Clarkston, Renfrewshire died 19 June, 1962 at Glasgow. Confirmation George McFarlane.
Sealed London 29 August."

1901

Name: Jane Mcfarlane
Age: 13
Estimated birth year: abt 1888
Relationship: Daur (Daughter)
Father's Name: George Mcfarlane
Mother's name: Flora Mcfarlane
Gender: Female
Where born: West Kilbride, Ayrshire
Registration Number: 620
Registration district: West Kilbride
Civil Parish: West Kilbride
County: Ayrshire
Address: Well St Williamfield
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 142
LINE: 4
Roll: CSSCT1901_238
Household Members:
Name Age
George Mcfarlane 64, Joiner
Flora Mcfarlane 53
Neil Mcfarlane 14
Jane Mcfarlane 13

Could Jane have claimed poor relief when she had her son? I am not sure when the records go up to but many have survived for the Glasgow area and are held at The Mitchell Library. They have been indexed.



EDIT

Mitchell Poor Relief Records



Glasgow City Archives hold registers for the following areas:
Glasgow, 1851-1948
Barony, 1861-1898 (part of Glasgow from 1899)
Govan, 1876-1930 (part of Glasgow from 1930)
Bute, West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire (not Paisley), often dating from 1845

A return of the most destitute families and individuals within the police jurisdiction of Glasgow was prepared by the Police Superintendent, 1841, and can be viewed in the archives search room.

When visiting the archives search room, you can access databases of applications for Glasgow, Barony and Govan to c.1925 and for the County Council areas up to 1900.

Records are generally closed for 100 years for children and 75 years for adults.

1891 Scotland Census
about Jane McFarlane Name: Jane McFarlane
Age: 3
Estimated birth year: abt 1888
Relationship: Daur (Daughter)
Father's Name: George McFarlane
Mother's name: Flora McFarlane
Gender: Female
Where born: West Kilbride, Ayrshire
Registration Number: 620
Registration district: West Kilbride
Civil Parish: West Kilbride
County: Ayrshire
Address: Dunalblia
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 157
LINE: 4
Roll: CSSCT1891_217
Household Members: Name Age
George McFarlane 58
Flora McFarlane 44
Neil McFarlane 4
Jane McFarlane 3

So this is Jane's family for ref.


1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
First Name FLORA
Last Name MCFARLANE
Relationship WIFE
Condition MARRIED
Gender Female
Age 44
Year Of Birth 1847
Occupation -
Birth Town LOCHGILPHEAD
Birth County ARGYLLSHIRE
Birth Place -
House Name DUNALBHA
Street -
Town -
Parish WEST KILBRIDE
City -
County Ayrshire
Registration District WEST KILBRIDE

GEORGE MCFARLANE HEAD 58 1833
Occupation JOINER
Birth Town KILMARTIN
Birth County ARGYLLSHIRE

FLORA MCFARLANE WIFE 44 1847

NEIL MCFARLANE SON 4 1887
Birth County AYRSHIRE

JANE MCFARLANE DAUGHTER 3 1888
Birth County AYRSHIRE


And George in 1881


1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
First Name GEORGE
Last Name MCFARLANE
Relationship HEAD
>>Condition WIDOWER
Gender Male
Age 49
Year Of Birth 1832
Occupation JOINER
Birth Town KILMARLAN G
Birth County ARGYLLSHIRE
Birth Place -
House Number 11
House Name -
Street MYRTLE STREET
Town -
Parish CITY
County Lanarkshire
Country SCOTLAND
Registration District KELVIN
Archive Reference RG11

GEORGE MCFARLANE HEAD 49 1832 KILMARLAN G
Transcription
JEANIE MCVEAN VISITOR 28 1853 Occupation HOUSEMAID
Birth Town LARGS
Birth County AYRSHIRE



1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
First Name GEORGE
Last Name MCFARLANE
Relationship BOARDER
Condition UNMARRIED
Gender Male
Age 38
Year Of Birth 1833
Occupation JOINER
Birth Town KILMARTIN
Birth Place -
Birth County ARGYLLSHIRE
House Number 79
House Name -
Street GROVE STREET
Parish ST GEORGE GLASGOW
Town -
City -
County Lanarkshire
Country SCOTLAND
Registration District MILTON

Jane's father would have been in his 80s in 1920. Perhaps the medal belonged to another relative?

All those records are right! Interesting to see the Carruthers bit.... Could that be potentially her changing her name to George's possible father to get rid of the stigma of having an illegitimate child??