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I know you all have a mystery in you family trees but I haven't had one before and just thought you would all like to know!! See below in a mo!!

My grandfather Thomas Ferguson was born in Dundee January 5th 1880 along with his twin brother Michael. Three days later 8th January 1880 the deaths of Thomas and brother Michael were recorded at the registry office in Dundee. The following year Thomas aged 11 months is in the 1881 census in Dundee living with his family in Dundee no Michael though. I know my grandfather lived until well on into the 1900 so this is my mystery!! Just thought I would let you all know. Betty

But the census was 15 months after the death of the first Thomas! Plenty of time to hatch another one! Anne

Hi Anne, No Thomas was 11months old in the 1881 census. Betty

So he was conceived in April/May 1880. Four months after his twin brothers died, wasn't he?? Ooooops no I've got it wrong haven't I!!!!!! Perhaps his age was written wrongly on the census?? Sorry - no good at maths! :-)) Anne

Are you saying that when the twins' parents went to register their births they were entered as deaths by mistake? The other Scottish mystery is.... why can't scottish policemen on TV dramas pronounce the word 'murder'? It always comes out as 'Marrrt-darrr' and as soon as I hear the word I fall about laughing and have to turn over and watch something else. In every other respect the Scottish accent is a thing of beauty.

This is the mystery Anne, no other birth of a Thomas Ferguson except the one who was recorded as having died in 1880. Betty

No Paul, twins born on 5th January but died 3 days later, both of them recorded as having died January 8th 1880 of Dibility whatever that is. Betty

His age is correct on the 1881 census he was 11months, on the 1891 he is aged 11 years old. On the 1901 he is recorded as being 20 years of age. He then married in 1903. Betty

Debility is defined as: generally, weakness in function, loss of ability. Used commonly of organic and motor functions, occasionally of cognitive. (Well at least it wasn't marrrrt-darrr!)

O I could really marrrrt-darrr you Paul, we never say that it's always murrrrrder. Betty

You've started me laughing again Betty!

Paul we were alway told at school that we must pronounce our rrrr correctly therefore all Scottish people say murrrder, rrrun, rrrowing, rrrabit and rrrubbish. Betty

Betty, I remember this from when you posted about it before, but I thought there were two different Thomas birth registrations, and that yours was the 'other' one? Have you looked at both Thomas birth certificates (if there were two, perhaps I am misremembering?) and at Michael's birth cert as well, and also, at both death certificates, to make sure what the names of the parents are on all of them? Kate.

Hi Kate, I don't think the parents of Thomas and Michael had enough time to register the births before the twins died, I found the deaths register from ScotlandsPeople. And the 1881 census, 1891 census and 1901 census of Thomas with his family, also have his marriage details in 1903 when he married in Dundee, all off Scotlands people.. Sorry should have added parents names are the same. Betty

Sorry Betty, been busy on the Tips Board and I only just noticed you had replied back to me on here; I will have a look tomorrow if I get the chance, to refresh my memory, because something is nagging at me saying there were two families and the twins were from a different family from your Thomas, but I can't remember the details now. Kate.

Hi Kate, Thomas Ferguson's parents are John Ferguson and Elizabeth Ferguson (nee Sullivan) and I know this is my Thomas Ferguson because he married my Grandmother Mary Carney in 1903 in Dundee. Betty

Betty, if your Thomas Ferguson was born Jan 1880, surely he should have shown as 1 year and about 3 months on the 1881? I suppose there COULD have been time for a subsequent child to have been conceived and born early, in July 1880, but it would hav ebeen a seven-months child. Beverley from Perth

There is another Thomas born to John Ferguson & Elizabeth Sullivan on Nov 26 1880 (certificate 282/02 0745). It was often very important to families to maintain family names which is why you often see the same name being reused. The 11 months in the 1881 census will just be a mistake, possibly by the enumerator. Also have you seen the original census page or just the trasncript on Scotlandspeople or the 1881 census CD. Like all transcriptions there are mistakes on that so maybe that's where the error crept in. Barbara

Hi Barbara, I will check out the other birth you found, just to say on the 1891 census Thomas Ferguson is aged 11, on the 1901 he is aged 21. This is would mean he was born in 1880. Betty