Jean's parents were Michael Bruce FORSYTH and Helen WHYTE, who had been married on 6Jan1881 at 59 Corrane St, Stirling. This house is still standing! It is a typical Scots late 19th Century 'close' or tenement building. In the late 1880s it would have been a perfectly respectable working man's address - located close to the railway station - possibly where Michael worked as a clerk at the Railway Clearing House.

Family stories say that the family contained a number of religious ministers and church was frequently attended, sometimes three times in one day. Michael was a great reader and illiterate people used to get him to write their letters. He had a red beard and smoked a pipe while reading in his study.

There is a Group Photo of about 30 unidentified persons with Michael and Helen FORSYTH in the centre. The background of the photo appears to be a solid bluestone wall of a building with 2 large windows. Michael is a bearded man with collar and tie. Helen is also photographed sitting in high straight-backed chair wearing a long dress with fur stole and cameo at her neck with a long chain going down passed her waist. Michael and Helen appear to be of similar height.

Michael Bruce FORSYTH was aged 4 at the time of the 1861 Census. The family lived at Back St, Keith. Michael was born at Keith, Banffshire.

His parents James Alexander FORSYTH and Ann Shand had grown up in the nearby towns of Huntly and Grange and were married on 23Aug1851 at Keith. James worked as a shoemaker, then a post messenger.

Helen WHYTE's father James was also a shoemaker. The WHYTE and MAILLER families had lived at Orwell in Kinross since the mid 1700s.