Two families or three? This is my biggest dilemma.
- Is Bridget Scott (mother of Patrick, b 1883) the same person as Bridget Orsmby (mother of John (b 1866), Mary (b 1868), Michael (b 1870) and Thomas (b 1873))? The mother’s name is clearly stated on all of the civil records.
- There is no record of a marriage between a John Stanley and Bridget Scott in the period concerned. I have also looked at surrounding counties to be on the safe side. Was theirs a ‘common law’ marriage? In other words, they behaved as if they were married but legally speaking they were not married at all.
- The informant for Patrick’s birth was John Stanley. I have to assume that he knew his wife’s maiden name. Had he been celebrating the birth rather enthusiastically and temporarily forgotten?
- Patrick was baptised as well as being registered with the civil authorities. The same mistake (concerning his mother’s maiden name) would have had to be replicated. Furthermore, his mother would, presumably, have been present at the baptism. Even allowing for strong accents, it is not possible to mix up Ormsby and Scott. Phonetically they are about as far apart as it is possible to get.
- Was the name Scott some form of family joke that has been perpetuated in the official records?
- Was there a reason why they did not want to acknowledge the Orsmby name by 1883? For example, had there been a family rift?
- Was Patrick the illegitimate son of John Stanley and Bridget Scott? This seems highly unlikely. Patrick regarded Mary (later Muldoon) as his sister. She is cited as his next of kin in 1902. He is staying with her in 1911.
I am open to suggestions that may resolve this little difficulty.