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Hi Kate, I never thought about another birth either when it said Thomas was 11 months in 1881 census, I think census taken about April time. I thought it couldn't be another birth because of age he was in census, but there you go, she had another and named him Thomas too. Betty

Glad to see it's sorted out, Betty! Now I know why I thought it was two families, it was because the births were so close together. Kate.

Hi Everyone, I have just searched the birth that Barbara mention on Scotlands People and there is another birth of a Thomas Ferguson on the 26th November 1880, to the same parents, my great grandparents. The first birth of twins Thomas and Michael was on 5/1/1880. Death of twins Thomas and Michael 8/1/1880. Birth of second Thomas Ferguson 26/11/1880. (my grandfather) Mystery solved, thanks to everyone, special thanks to Barbara for finding the second Thomas Ferguson's birth!!! Betty

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

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

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

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

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, 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

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.

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

You've started me laughing again Betty!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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