William Gordon (1908)

Born 2 Oct 1908 in Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Jemima Rushford — married 18 Aug 1930 in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland

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Biography

William was born on the 2nd October 1908 ^[1]. He was the first child born to Grace Gordon and her husband John Gordon, who had married in June that year ^[2]. His place of birth is given as 46 Park Avenue, Cowdenbeath.

At the time of the 1911 Census, 2-year-old William is living at 48 Park Avenue in Cowdenbeath. His father's occupation is given as coal miner.

William married Jemima Rushford in 1930 ^[3]

His wedding certificate is interesting because he and Jemima were married by declaration before witnesses and then obtained a Sheriff's warrant to have a marriage certificate issued. This was an entirely legitimate method of marrying in Scotland, in some ways equivalent to a civil marriage in England, and brings up interesting points about the definition of marriage and the position of the Church^[4].

According to oral history given by his sister Helen to her granddaughter Louise, William was a baker at Reekie's bakery.

Sources

1. ↑ Statutory Register of Births in 1908 in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife, page number 264, entry number 790, Document ID: 1908 GORDON WILLIAM [Statutory Registers Births 410/790]. Accessed via scotlandspeople.gov.uk .
2. ↑ Statutory Register of Marriages in 1908 in the Parish of Beath in the County of Fife, page number 41, entry number 82. Document ID number GORDON, JOHN-SIMPSON, GRACE 410/00 0082. Accessed via scotlandspeople.gov.uk
3. ↑ Statutory Register of Marriages in 1930 in the District of Dunfermline in the County of Fife, page number 79, entry number 157. Document ID number 424/00 0157. Accessed via scotlandspeople.gov.uk .
4. ↑ http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/