This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Packman Russell Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/ReC.2ACI/2475.1 Message Board Post: Hi Margaret. Yes: because he was illeg, when he was born he was registered by his mother, naturally using his mother's surname (the father was not mentioned). At some stage he took or was given his natural father's surname, to which he was quite entitled. There may have been an argument over fatherhood - the Register Of Births may even have a reference to the settlement of the dispute which would be recorded in the Register Of Corrected Entries. The 9 year old nephew of Joseph Russel is Alexander Packman, a scholar born Keith. He cannot be one of 'my' Packman family due to his age and place of birth; I therefore don't know who he is. Note the Russel spelling - this is a perfectly valid variation and may even give a clue when sorting out Russel(l) families. Elizabeth Packman never married, and died a Housekeeper on 20-9-1892 age 63 at Quarryhead, Rathven, her son Joseph Russell [sic] was present and the informant. Her parents are given as Joseph Packman Crofter (deceased) and Mary Packman ms O'Bryan (deceased). Source: death register 1892-Rathven-129. Since she's not a blood-relative any more detail I may have is buried away in my original notes and not readily to hand. Regards Howard