Primarily I am looking for a Robina Horn(e). In the 1901 Census her address was 'Sunny Side', Park Place, Stirling in the parish of St Ninians. She worked as a servant and lived with Duncan and Elizabeth Robertson (both 64) and their daughter Jessie (40). This is the only census record I can find for Robina. While there are other Robina Hornes, no information matches her. Her place of birth on the census was Alva, Clackmannanshire and she was approximately 23 (born about 1878). I have been unable to find her birth registered with the Scotland's People website.
In 1899 Robina had an illegitimate baby boy with a farmer called William Menzies Dryden (of Midtown Farm, Cambus). William was already married with a son (Jeanie and William). The child was called Adam Dryden and was boarded with a couple called James and Margaret (nee McKay) Dow. Adam is listed in the 1901 census as staying with James and Margaret at 16 Lower Bridge Street, Stirling. In 1901 Adam was formally adopted by James and Margaret and named David Dow (my Paternal great grandfather) . I have the adoption document and Sunny Side, Park Place, Stirling is given as Robina's address. Having searched I do not think the solicitors exist anymore.
William Dryden and family emigrated to Canada in the early 1900's but that is another story
Would be grateful for any help or suggestions.
SLHS adds;
There is no house on Park Place displaying the name Sunny Side today. It is a road including several substantial villas where servants would have been employed. Duncan & Jamieson's Street Directory of 1868-9 lists a John Robertson, grocer, as living at Number 19; however, new houses have been built since that time and all probably renumbered. There was a well-known Stirling grocery store called Robertson and MacFarlane c. 1900 and this might be the proprietor, the sort of person who would live on Park Place and have servants. Street Directories can be accessed via the National Library of Scotland website, Licensed Digitial Collections tab and it might help to check some of those around 1900.
Any help in finding Robina Horn's birth or other details would be appreciated. There must also be a story about what happened to her later - she has evidently been able to continue working with the Robertsons, in spite of the illegitimate baby.