Hello Rhoda, thanks for your reply. Margaret Lawson (mother) is the informant on the birth certificate. Written in a different hand to the rest of the certificate so I presume it is Margaret's handwriting. In the first column, mum's name is given as Williamina Shaw or Lawson. I have always taken this to mean her mothers maiden and married names. Regards, Leonard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rhoda Overson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 4:45 AM Subject: Re: [Lanark] The Scotsman 1817-1950: William LAWSON > Hello Leonard > > It was usual in Scotland for the birth registration to make clear that a > child was not 'begotten' by the mother's husband, where that information > was provided by the mother. There would, of course, have been numerous > occasions when that information was not provided. The discrepancy in the > death details for your grandfather is odd. Who is named as the informant on > your mother's birth certificate? > > Rhoda