This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Forfarian Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.ans.general/5993.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Go to www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk (SP) and invest in a few credits. I see from www.familysearch that Donald McDonald and Ann Sinclair had three children in Brechin between 1856 and 1863, and in all three cases the children's surnames are listed in the index as 'McDonald or Sinclair'. This suggests that Donald and Ann were not married. Does Donald Jr's birth certificate confirm this, either by saying 'illegitimate' or by not giving the date and place of the parents' marriage in the normal way? If Donald Sr and Ann were not married, you need to try to find them in the census. Isabella Millar McDonald or Sinclair, born 24 November 1856, and Georgina Ross McDonald or Sinclair, born 21 August 1859, should be in the 1861 census (unless they died in infancy) aged 4 and 1 respectively, and in the 1871, aged 14 and 11 together with Donald, aged 7. Assuming that their parents were living together, this will tell you the their ages and birthplaces. Finding the grandparents may not be easy, unless they married after Donald Jr's birth, in which case the marriage certificate should tell you the full names of both sets of grandparents.There is one such marriage in 1876, but beware of assuming that, just because the names match, this is the same couple. There are two index entries at SP for marriages of Georgina Ross McDonalds. One of these could be your Donald's sister, and if so her marriage certificate should tell you whether her parents were deceased. There are also two listings of marriages of Isabella Mill*r McDonalds. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.