Genealogy Chat

I have a John Burns Grant on my tree who was found on the 1871 census living with his wife Mary Jane in Lanarkshire.The census gave his date of birth as 1842 in Kirkaldy Fife Scotland. From their 1st child's birth cert - they married in 1870 in Plymouth but when I tracked them down he married using the name of Nathaniel Burns. I am sure it is the same man as the date matches exactly and the Burns is to much of a coincidence .He died in 1877 and was registered as John Grant. I can't find any John or Nathaniel Burns or Grant born in Kirkaldy in the 1840s to the parents listed on the death cert. Why did he marry using a different name? Could he have committed bigamy? Am I missing anything obvious?

Susan what were his parents names? Georgina.

Hi Georgina According to his death certificate his parents were a David Grant and Elizabeth, but no maiden name. I had thought Burns and have tried using that. Any thoughts you had would be appreciated! Thanks.

Susan I can find nothing on John Burns Grant or Nathaniel Burns Grant with parents David & Elizabeth. The Burns maybe nothing to do with his mothers surname it could be his grandmothers surname the scottish had a habit of keeping surnames as middle names. Did John/Nathaniel have any children? Georgina.

So he goes from Fife to Lanarkshire then all the way down to Devon to get married.... and the names aren't the same... I would be more than dubious on this one... His wife's name is quite common too.. Sarah :-)

Thanks for your replies. Will fill you in on how I have got where I have got to see if that will help? John Grant (or Nathaniel Burns!) married a Mary Jane Chapman who from her death certificate was born in Cornwall and using the names of her parents I have tracked her birth to 1849 in St Edoner. From John and Mary Jane's first child (Maria Chaman Grant born 1871 in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire) they were married in Plymouth on the 25th April 1870. I checked on Ancestry for the marriage and found a Mary Jane Chapman married on that date. Also for the same registry number I found Nathaniel Burns, no record of a John Grant anywhere. I have just ordered a copy of the cert so maybe that will help? My theory (I do love a good speculation!) is that John Grant was at sea and was a married man. The fact that they married in Plymouth is what is driving this theor? He met Mary Jane whilst ashore and they married. If was already married perhaps that is why he used a pseudonym? As I say all theoretical! In addition to Maria they had a son David Burns Grant born 1873. Would love your views! Many thanks for the replies Sue

Susan by 1881 Mary Jane had remarried and was calling herself Jane C... 1881 scottish census... Dwelling: 59 Scott Row Census Place: Dalziel, Lanark, Scotland Source: FHL Film 0203627 GRO Ref Volume 639 EnumDist 12 Page 21 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Rob. BARR M 40 M Sorngston ?, Renfrew, Scotland Rel: Head Occ: Coal Miner Jane C. BARR M 32 F England Rel: Wife Occ: Coal Miners Wife Maria GRANT 9 F Cambus Nethan, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Step Daur Occ: Scholar David GRANT 8 M Cambus Nethan, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Stepson Occ: Scholar Rob. BARR 3 M Cambus Nethan, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Son Eliz. C. BARR 3 m F Cambus Nethan, Lanark, Scotland Rel: Daur Georgina.

Thanks Georgina. I did now she remarried in 1877 to Robert Barr after John Grant's death but hadn't got round to getting the census for 1881.