Utterson/Kerse - Berwick upon Tweed 1890's

[kevb]

Hi,
I am trying to trace the parents of my wife's Grandmother, who was given up for adoption in about 1915. She was born to a Jane Utterson, and the BC shows her name as Phyllippa Russel Docherty Utterson, 42 Westend Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed: 31-Aug-1915... I think the G.Gran might have had the surname Kerse before she was an Utterson.

Phyllippa became Phyllis McMorran after Adoption, and lived in Glamis,Fife, Scotland with adoptive parents John McMorran and Christina McMorran (Sim).

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Kevin

[kevb]

Additional information:
We think that "Jane Utterson" emmigrated to Australia soon after the adoption was completed, perhaps after remarrying?

[Lesley Robertson]

Hi,
I am trying to trace the parents of my wife's Grandmother, who was given up for adoption in about 1915. She was born to a Jane Utterson, and the BC shows her name as Phyllippa Russel Docherty Utterson, 42 Westend Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed: 31-Aug-1915... I think the G.Gran might have had the surname Kerse before she was an Utterson.

Phyllippa became Phyllis McMorran after Adoption, and lived in Glamis,Fife, Scotland with adoptive parents John McMorran and Christina McMorran (Sim).

Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Kevin

Does the birth cert say that Jane was married?
Could "Kerse" be Kerr/Carr - common Borders surnames. Utterson occurs quite frequently in the Borders as well.
Lesley

[kevb]

No, father is unlisted and we think the mother was "between marriages" hence adoption... I suspect this might be the mother as the dates fit, as does the area... could someone lookit up for me?

[kevb]

I finally have a copy of the BC of her grandmother, who was given up for adoption in between 1916 and 1920. The Gran was born to a Jane Utterson (Kerse), and the BC shows her name as Phillippa Russel Docherty Utterson, born at 42 West End, Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, on 31-Aug-1916. Jane Utterson is listed as being a Cook/Domestic on the BC.

I also have the text from a letter from Jane Utterson which formalises the adoption, it was dated November 1920, and originated from "Bedford Street, Edinburgh".

My wife's aunt, daughter of gran, said that gran spoke about being adopted and that her birth mum had moved to Australia.

I am looking for any details of Jane Kerse, when she was born, who she married to become Utterson, any emmigration records.

Thanks in advance

[ausgernor]

My family records are not good.... and the family is not really big on the whole who's who.... but here's what information I have.

My G-Grandmother was Jeannie (Jane?) Utterson, nee Kerse. Married to Adam Utterson and bore 2 children - James (born in Kelso, Scotland 1907, died Perth, Western Australia, 1992) and Nancy (dates unknown, believe before 1907). Adam Utterson died on active service (08-02-1915) in France during WW1. Jeannie did migrate to Australia and did remarry (Jeannie Philips)... whether in Scotland or Australia I don't know. I have included, below, an excerpt from a book regarding the servicemen of WWI which has scant detail, but might be a lead for you.

Utterson, Adam.
Lance Corporal 1041, 8th Bn. Royal Scots. Killed in action 08/02/1915, aged 29. Son of James and Mary Utterson, of Grantshouse. Husband of Jeanie Kerse (now Mrs Philips) of Bouralaming, Dowerini, Western Australia. Interred BOIS GRENIER COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

good luck with your search..... to the absolute best of my knowledge, none of my family are aware of another daughter, legitimate, adopted or otherwise. However, would be interested to hear what you find....
Best regards

[kevb]

Thanks for the reply. This is the second time Adam Utterson has come up as a possible match for Jane Utterson (Kerse)'s husband. I'd be interested to know if you have any records showing where he lived before going to war, or perhaps a marriage certificate, or at least details of the marriage.

[Shell James]

Hi kevb. These posts are a long time ago now. My name is Michelle Utterson, my father was Leonard James Utterson and my late grandfather was James Utterson, and I believe Jane/Jeanie was my great grandmother; I know she worked as a domestic before she left Scotland on an estate somewhere to settle in Australia. My grandfather gave me a photograph of his father which shows him in uniform in France. I knew of, though never met, James' sister Nancy.

[grisel]

Hi there

The index on Scotlands People has a marriage for Adam Utterson and Jane Kerse in Kelso, Roxburghshire in 1907. If you register and buy a few credits you will be able to download the image which should give parents' names etc

[grisel]

There is a marriage on SP for Jane Utterson and Richard Phillips, Edinburgh City, 1917 which sounds possible.

[kevb]

Hi kevb. These posts are a long time ago now. My name is Michelle Utterson, my father was Leonard James Utterson and my late grandfather was James Utterson, and I believe Jane/Jeanie was my great grandmother; I know she worked as a domestic before she left Scotland on an estate somewhere to settle in Australia. My grandfather gave me a photograph of his father which shows him in uniform in France. I knew of, though never met, James' sister Nancy.

Hi Shell,

I would be very interested in knowing if any of your family were ever told about Jane/Jeanie leaving a daughter behind in Scotland when she left for Australia.

[Shell James]

Hi Shell,

I would be very interested in knowing if any of your family were ever told about Jane/Jeanie leaving a daughter behind in Scotland when she left for Australia.

Hi. No, my Grandfather, James, told me only briefly about his past and never mentioned a sister left behind in Scotland.
Kind regards.

[kevb]

Ok, thanks anyway...

[Johan]

Hello Kevb, I wonder if this is at all helpful. My grandfather was James Utterson who died in 1970 age 90, brother of Adam Utterson, and lived most of his life near Grantshouse in Berwickshire. His father was James Utterson and his mother was Mary Utterson nee White. My mother was Helen Utterson born in 1919 and died in 1985, her sister was Mary White Utterson who died tragically in her early teens and her brother was James Utterson who died last March age 89. I heard my mother speak of her cousin Nancy who lived with my mothers family at Grantshouse for a long time and then when Nancy left for Australia, maybe late 1920's, they lost touch......until my parents were in Perth WA visiting my brother in 1976. My mother looked up the Perth telephone book and found only two entries under Utterson, both her relatives! One was Nancy and the other perhaps Nancy's nephew. I do not recall any mention of an adopted child.