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James Marshall Cooper Cormack or Deans
from Deans and Stout
by Paul Finch
Born 1895 107 High Street, Edinburgh. His birth certificate carries the following statement.
“Robertha Cormack wife of James Allan Deans. Who she declares is not the father of the child and further that she has had no formal communication with him since they ceased to be together in August 1892” Signed Robertha Deans.
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The next record on James Deans is the birth of his Daughter Josephine Deans in 1915 in Edinburgh Maternity Hospital.
Her birth certificate states “Illegitimate”, Father: James Deans serving member in the 1st Batalian Gordon Highlanders. Mother: Margaret Smith living at 8 Haugh Street, Edinburgh.
One month later 15/03/1915 James Deans marries Margaret Smith. Their address - 5 Saunders Street, Edinburgh. This property is rented by Bertha Deans (record from the valuation roll)
James Marshall Deans is killed 26/09/1917 Ypres, Belgium a casualty of WWI. His pension records lists his beneficiary as his daughter Josephine. The military record uses the middle name of his father Allan rather than Marshall.
His wife Margaret will re-marry in 1920 to William Steell. Their first and only child William will be given the middle name James. Margaret dies in 1955 in the Western General Hospital.
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