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Hi, I'm trying to find out more about my paternal Grandfather - Robert Oliver. (Also known as John/Jock/John Robert!) Born 11 2 1899 in Linlithgow, Scotland. I'm struggling to find out more about his side of the family as I don't know much to start with and it would also appear he was illegitimate and maybe adopted. His Father's name is not on the birth record although on Grandad's marriage cert it's listed as Robert Allen Oliver (deceased). His Mother was possibly called Janet Oliver, as was her Mum. Grandad married Hetty Beveridge in London in 1931 and they had my Dad: Ronald Oliver (known as Bob, RAF, 1932) and another son - Francis (known as Frank, 1931). Nanny and Grandad and Uncle Frank and his Wife Claire moved to N.Z. in 1965.

This is all I know for definite and i'd reaaaaaaaaally, reaaaaaaaally appreciate anyone who knows anything more about him or his family! as i'm hitting a huge brick wall!

Many thanks, Dawn Oliver :D D :D

:-D :-D :-D :-D

Have you looked in 'search all trees' to see whether anyone else on GR is researching this?

What was his mother's name as per his birth cert?

Im confused :-S

Is his surname Oliver or Riccarton?

Riccarton is a location.......in southern Scotland . Now classed as Borders..would have probably been Dumfriesshire at the turn of the 19th century

Linlithgow is in West Lothian...somewhat further north

I may be wrong but, I think Riccarton is an area in Linlithgow, maybe Dawn will confirm on her return

Could this be him? But Janet is 47 years old!

1901 Scotland Census
about John Oliver Name: John Oliver
Age: 2
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1899
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: John Oliver
Mother's Name: Janet Oliver
Gender: Male
Where born: lgowshire, Linlithgow
Registration Number: 668
Registration district: Linlithgow
Civil parish: Linlithgow
County: West Lothian
Address: Riccarton
ED: 9
Household schedule number: 20
Line: 11
Roll: CSSCT1901_357
Household Members: Name Age
John Oliver 50
Janet Oliver 47
Euphemia Oliver 9
Annie Oliver 12
John Oliver 2

Could John & Janet be his grandparents?

Possibly his mother?

1901 Scotland Census
about Janet Oliver Name: Janet Oliver
Age: 21
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Relationship: Serv (Servant)
Gender: Female
Where born: Linlithgow, linlithgow shire
Registration Number: 661
Registration district: Abercorn
Civil parish: Abercorn
County: West Lothian
Address: Craigton
Occupation: General Servant Domestic
ED: 1
Household schedule number: 61
Line: 17
Roll: CSSCT1901_354
Household Members: Name Age
Thomas Nimmo 38
Jeannie Nimmo 36
Jeannie D Nimmo 7
Thomas B Nimmo 6
Mary A Nimmo 2
Anna F Nimmo Under 1 Month
Janet Oliver 21
Elsie Simpson 15
John W Nimmo 3

John & Janet did have a daughter Janet who matches the servant in 1901:

1891 Scotland Census
about Janet Oliver Name: Janet Oliver
Age: 11
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1880
Relationship: Daur (Daughter)
Father's Name: John Oliver
Mother's Name: Janet Oliver
Gender: Female
Where born: Linlithgow, Linlithgowshire
Registration Number: 486
Registration district: Muiravonside
Civil parish: Muiravonside
County: Stirlingshire
Address: Myrehead Farm Cottage
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 1
Household schedule number: 43
Line: 24
Roll: CSSCT1891_152
Household Members: Name Age
John Oliver 43
Janet Oliver 38
Isabella Oliver 14
Agnes Oliver 12
Janet Oliver 11
William Oliver 9
Helen Oliver 7
Margaret Oliver 6
Annie Oliver 2

Hi everyone,

First of all so many thanks for your replies, everyone on here is so friendly and keen to help, it's fab and i'm so appreciative!!

Hi Reggie :), thank you, yes i've looked at other people's trees - the only mention of Grandad is on the tree of a lady we are related to on his Wife's side so we pretty much share the same info there :P Since posting on here i've had a (some may say very small :P) breakthrough. I managed to find recently what I was hoping was Grandad's birth cert on Scotland's People but wasn't totally sure, but, having got my hands on a certified copy recently it turns out it is him - have confirmed this by the entry number on both. That's my long winded way of saying his Mum is definitely Janet Oliver, as is her Mum who was present when his birth was registered.

Hi Gins :), sorry for the confusion!! Grandad's surname is Oliver and the place he was born is Riccarton, Linlithgow, Scotland.

Hi Tempest :), yes, that's right :)))))

And last but by no means least, Hi Margee :). I really don't know what to say!! This looks soooo promising :)))) The only thing that's confusing me is that on Nanny and Grandad's marriage cert his Dad is down as Robert Allen Oliver, (Butcher, deceased). Bearing in mind I now know people aren't always known by the names you'd expect i'm just wondering a) is it poss that Grandad was actually 'adopted 'by his Grandparents or b) maybe by another branch of the family c) something totally different!

Thanks so much for the details you've listed, i'm going to go and have a look now :))

And again, thanks so much to everyone who has responded.

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

Names given on marriage certs are not always factual

The shame of illegitimacy caused many people to invent fathers when they married............and 'deceased' fathers are often 'suspect'

I don't know about Scottish adoption, but in England/Wales, there was no legal procedure until the mid-1920's.

Hi Reggie,

Thanks for the info. Yes, a very different time so I can understand the need to do that. I understand from my elder brother who spent time with Grandad that in his experience the subject of Grandad's Father was quite a sensitive subject that was never spoken about hence I suppose why we know nothing about him today.

I didn't know that adoption was only legally formalised in the mid-20's so that's something else i've discovered there!

Thanks again for taking the time to help, Dawn :)