By: John Law

John Law — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:48:17 +0000

Ive just read your article “Illigitimacy & Adoption” found it very intresting.My dad died as a result of a car accident 1995 my mother in 1986.My two brothers and sis never new who dads parents were we had a number of “aunts” cousins etc.but always a mystery how exactly we were related dad behaved as though they were his family and indeed they shared our surname Law.He often mentioned Isel Hall and the Lawson family who lived there.On the day of his funeral we were talking to a dear family friend who had known dad all his life,she was in service at Isel in 1921 when dad was born,I asked her if she could throw any light on the subject her answer was a bit of a shock.She said now that dad was gone it wouldnt do any harm to tell us he was the son of a maid also in service (died 1950)her name being Amy Law the sister of two “aunties” who lived next door (died in ,60s)he was the result of a leaison between Amy and the lord and master “in the linnen cupboard” although she was 32 at the time, not a slip of a girl.She was packed off to Dumfries to give birth,I have postcards from her to her sisters post dated to confirm she was there at that time.No ref. to any child though.This is where things take a turn.Two years ago I was given a lap top so I decided to have a go at “the tree” eventually,using info from the dear friend which I had no reason to doubt built up 300+ relations.Just prior to Xmas last year talking to my niece who is also into trees she told me my oldest bro.her dad had some papers etc in a drawer that came from my dads house when she looked through them she found a birth cert.with the name Douglas(dads first name) Whitelaw with the same d.o.b.reged Dumfries mams name Elizabeth (clerkess) no dad, witnessed by grandmother Helen Whitelaw.I have someone check records and they cant find any Helen Whitelaws or Elizabeths in the area on census records.The address of the birth is given as 9 Rae street this does exist now flats Ive been trying to find out what it was in 1921.My dilema now is could our friend be wrong is the cert. a true record if so how did Dad come to Cumberland to be brought up by his aunts.Ive been told as you confirm that adoptions weren’t registered till 1927 I have noticed that on my christening cert. dads name is given as Douglas White Law but this is only on mine.My dad was brought up staunch methodist Amys uncle and dad were trustees of the chapel in Blindcrake in the late 1800′s they were all regular chapel goers so I feel sure dad would have been christened.As you see its all most intreguing

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:43:34 +0000

Thanks for writing this informative post. This is a great starting point for people like me.

Sent from my Android phone

By: Gary Moffat

Gary Moffat — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 05:20:17 +0000

Great information, I just bookmarked you.

Comments on: Uncovering Family Secrets

By: John Law

By: Terry

By: Gary Moffat