Janet Burns born 1881 Glasgow.

[jeddah]

Have hit a brick wall with this one so hoping someone might be able to help.
Janet Burns was born (to all intents) in Glasgow in 1881. Her marriage cert states her parents as John Burns and Margaret Scott. ( Her married name being "Ändrew".) Have her history after her marriage. However, cannot trace a marriage between John Burns and Margaret Scott.
Tried everywhere I can think of. Any assistance really appreciated. Thanks. Jeddah.

[Pam Downes]

Janet Burns was born (to all intents) in Glasgow in 1881.

What is your proof for this?

Her marriage cert states her parents as John Burns and Margaret Scott.

Does the marriage certificate give her age, and if so, does that agree with a birth in 1881?
Or are you basing her birth year on the age on the marriage certificate?

Is she the Janet Burns who married John Andrew in 1901 in Cadder registration district?

In the 1901 census, there's a Janet Burns, aged 20, born Glasgow, living in Cadder with her widowed mother Mary E, who was born in Ireland.
In the 1891 census, Janet, aged 10, born Glasgow, is living in Cadder, with her parents John and Mary Ellen, both of whom were born in Ireland.
However, I'm a bit concerned about the fact that if Mary IS Janet's mother she would have been 46 when Janet was born. Not impossible, but possibly doubtful.

If you search ScotlandsPeople birth registrations for Janet Burns born in 1881, there are two entries. One in Cambusnethan registration district, where she would appear to be living in 1881, and 1891, with parents Philip and Mary.

The other has a mother's maiden name of Ash, and there's a marriage registration for a Charles F Burns and an Elizabeth Ash in 1881, both events occurring in Hamilton registration district.

I think first of all you need to invest a few pennies in that birth certificate with the mother's maiden name of Ash.

[Lesley Robertson]

Does the census show a baby of that name? Of course, she could have been born too late in the year, but it’s worth a look.

[jeddah]

Hi Pam,
did look at the 1891 Census which shows a Janet age 10 the daughter of John Burns and Mary Ellen. If, as you say, Mary Ellen is the mother, she would have been a bit too old I reckon. So I have already discounted this one. However both Janet's marriage cert and her death cert show her mother as Margaret Scott. That's where I come to a standstill!!
Cannot find a marriage between John Burns And Margaret Scott. Thanks all the same. Jeddah.

[Pam Downes]

Jeddah - what people say in a document, and what the actual truth is, quite often varies. Witness people who age only five years in the ten years between censuses and who give three different birthplaces in three censuses.
My great-grandmother led me a merry dance because when she married she said her father was called Thomas. Oh no he wasn't. She was illegitimate, but had been brought up by her grandparents. Thomas was her grandfather.

To further muddy the waters, there are times when the vicar has written the wrong information. In the Church of England, Bishop's Transcripts were supposed to be copies of the entries in a parish register. More than once names have differed. e.g. parents in a baptism named as William and Elizabeth in the PR, and William and Mary in the BT.

Is there more than one entry on the marriage certificate 'page' for Janet and John? Check the names of the other parents in those entries.

[jeddah]

Hi Pam,
this family history stuff sure is infuriating!!! Know exactly what you mean by trusting names on certs. Like you, only this is my own grandmother, who had led her own daughter (my mother) to believe that her father was called Francis. Funnily, though, Francis was her grandfather and he died two years before she was born. She was actually illegitimate, and furthermore, she had said she was married five years before she actually was in order to cover the birth of my mother's brother!!!!! I reckon a lot of our ancestors will be turning in their graves after what we all have found. Best laid plans etc etc. Thanks. Jeddah.

[Jomot1]

Did she died in Scotland? If so what does her death certificate say about her parents?

[Lesley Robertson]

Two maybes.
People did make mistakes on certificates - my Great Uncle got his mother’s forename wrong - she had died when he was very young and presumable just called her Mum (or similar).
Do you have Mary Ellen’s deathcert? Women often had babies in their middle 50s, but they also died when their children were small. Whoever you think might be mother Mary, it’s worth tracing her post-Janet life/death.

[jeddah]

Yes she did die in Scotland and her parents are given as John Burns & Margaret Scott. Still can't find the marriage of John & Margaret Scott though. Cheers. Jeddah.

[jeddah]

Hi Lesley,
thanks for contacting. Don't have Mary Ellen's death cert. Might have to obtain. Jeddah.