Ann CLARK birth...

[Courageous]

Hi All, after some years of doing various branches of my family tree, I have hit the proverbial wall !
My query is with finding the birth of an Ann CLARK of Petty, Invernesshire, abt 1840's but first some background:

John CLARK, born illegitimate 29 Aug 1878 at Crammond (Edinburgh), mother Ann Clark.

At John CLARK's marriage in 25 Apr 1902 at Corstorphine (Edinburgh), father stated as Hugh CLARK & mother as Ann CLARK nee FRASER.

Census's for 1881, 1891 and 1901 state Ann CLARK as coming from Petty, near Inverness and puts her birth in the 1840's. The returns have her status as unmarried or widowed.

Now, I have after much searching, came down to the most likely candidate that fits the birth of Ann CLARK, a church entry in 1838 at Petty:
Clark Ann, daughter of Hugh Clark & Isabel Fraser in ? Newton was born 15th July & baptised 8th Aug....

I think the story goes that Ann CLARK, daughter of Hugh & Isabel, leaves Petty and heads towards Edinburgh. Ann falls pregnant in 1877 and John is born in 1878 but is not present in the 1881 census with his mother at Crammond? As John grows up, he must ask questions about his farther and so when it comes to his wedding day and he is asked about his mother & father, he draws upon either what his mother has told him or said at the marriage. What could Ann say at this point? I think she draws upon names in her head as that of HER farther, Hugh CLARK and her mothers maiden name, FRASER.

What are thoughts everybody? Do I have enough to use this Ann CLARK as to go further back?

Regards, Stuart

 

[Ellie7]

If John Clark Birth Cert. says illig. Mother Ann Clark, and no father given, then father did not acknowledge John as son. Does not make any difference what he has wrote on Marr. Cert.Unless you can find Ann Frasers Marr. Cert. I see he also signed Ann Clarks death cert. stating maiden name Fraser. I see from a tree on Ancestry that all the Census after 1878 does not give Ann's status .You will have to look the Census after 1878 on Scotlandspeople to see if a status is given. My own thoughts are that as John was born illig. then he has done what many in his position do ,made up a father and a surname for mother. You also have to take into account in Scotland there were Common Law Wives. Had to last 5 years before they were acknowledged by the law, so if issue were born before the 5 years and father never ackowledged them, and he left before the 5 years were up, then son is still illig. I am not finding a marriage, and they are easier to find than a Bapts.

Ellie

 

[Ellie7]

Just had a look at John Clark's birth cert. on the tree I found. Sorry Ann Clark was never married. I have came across a few on my own tree. Even a son who changed his name after Father died.Used his Mother's maiden name .,and made up a Father for his second marr. and never told his offspring ,so he died a Walker.

1841
Gilbert Mcdonald
Age:20
Estimated birth year:abt 1821
Gender:Male
Where born:Ireland
Civil Parish:Beith
County:Ayrshire
---------------------------
1851
NameGilbert Walker
Age27
Estimated Birth Year abt 1824
Relationship Head
Spouse Margaret Walker
Gender Male
Where born Ireland
Parish Number615

Sister's daughter has him as uncle on her poor relief.
It was such a disgrace in those days to be illig. even for the Mother to be unmarried.

Ellie

 

[Ellie7]

Is this Ann Clark 1851 Census

Name:-Ann Clark
Age:11
Estimated birth year:-abt 1840
Relationship:-Daughter
Father: -Hugh Clark
Mother:-Isabella Clark
Gender:-Female
Where born:
Par Petty, invernessshire
Parish Number:-98
Civil Parish:-Inverness
County:-Inverness
Address:-4 Tap Lane
Occupation:-At Home
ED:-16
Page:-42
Household schedule number:-231
LINE:-3
Roll:-CSSCT1851_22
Household Members:
Name
Age
Hugh Clark 42
Isabella Clark 34
Ann Clark 11
Jan Clark 7
Catherine Clark 7
Isabella Clark 5
Janet Clark 2- Par Petty, invernessshire
----------------------------------------
Janet Clark
Gender Female
Christening Date 13 Oct 1848
Christening Place INVERNESS,INVERNESS,SCOTLAND
Birth Date 17 Sep 1848
Father's Name Hugh Clark
Mother's Name Isabella Fraser


Well did Mother Ann tell stories?

Ellie

 

[Courageous]

Hi Ellie, thanks for getting back so soon.

The 1881 census states Ann as being unmarried, as does the 1891 census but the 1901 census says widowed. I do not believe Ann ever got married, in any shape or form and from that, no father will be found for John.

John's marriage of 1902 reporting his mother as being Ann Clark and the mention of a Hugh Clark and a Fraser, and this matching Ann's own birth of 1838 is, to me at least, too much of a coincidence

And yes, the 1851 census in Petty of Hugh Clark, I believe is Ann and her family.

Stuart