The Stocks in Scotland

James Stocks told so many lies about his background. This is an attempt to unravel his family. What do we know that is true

• He had a sister Beatrice who married a McGill - this comes from the Canadian Army checking out his next of kin claim. This I can find. in Leith, in 1895

• This gives Beatrice's age and therefore birth in 1872 as Beatrice A Stocks and illegitimate. But we do know that her mother was Jane Stocks

• Beatrice's 1895 marriage also gives that her mother Jane Stocks susequently married David Campbell. The marriage cert for that gives it as 1875

• 1901 census Beatrice is at at 20 Ferrier St , Leith with David Campbell, her stepfather (or maybe he was her biological father)

• And in 1891 Jane is in Leith and we can follow her back in time

• Which leads us to 1881 census with the family at Wilkie Place, Leith. Note that she married as Jane Morgan, and the 4 children are called Morgan, including Beatrice. Jane herself is not there. Beatrice was registered at birth as Bearice Stocks, but David (b1862) Alexander (b1869) Edward (b.1866) were registereed as Morgan. It looks as if William Morgan died between 1871 an 1881 in Cranston. Indeed the death records show his death in Cranston in 1871

• And again living at Cranston in 1871

• Jane Stocks married William Morgan in 1856 in Preston Pans. And 1861 census has her at Cranston

• James Stocks gives his date of birth in various statements as between 1867 and 1874. Scanning for a James Stocks in Midlothian during this period does not bring up any answers (a James Stocks born in Leith in 1874 has differeent parents)

James Stocks