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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: Macharskin on Tuesday 14 July 09 12:57 BST (UK)

Title: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: Macharskin on Tuesday 14 July 09 12:57 BST (UK)

A SP download of a 1871 Orkney death registration has written in parenthesis under the name of the deceased, Margaret Symison, Widow of William Symison Sailor M.S. What does the M.S. mean - that's assuming I read it correctly? It looks very like the letters M.S. used to prefix the Maiden Surname in the names of parents column.

The next entry (for a William Wylie) seems to have Sailor M.S as well.

Regards, M.

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: MonicaL on Tuesday 14 July 09 13:10 BST (UK)

Merchant Service rather than Royal Navy perhaps?

Monica

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: sancti on Tuesday 14 July 09 16:38 BST (UK)

Along the same lines as Monica, Merchant Shipping

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: Lodger on Tuesday 14 July 09 16:48 BST (UK)

Without a doubt it's Merchant Service.

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: Macharskin on Tuesday 14 July 09 22:20 BST (UK)

Thank you. Seems obvious now!  :)

Kind regards, M.

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: jmgrgr on Monday 20 July 09 05:49 BST (UK)

If MS appears only for females, it means Maiden Surname, that is, the mother's maiden name.
- in 1855 the death Registration form had a column for Parents Name, Rank, Profession or Occupation. The mother's married name was given on one line. On the next line was Maiden Name followed by the mother's original surname.
- after 1860  the parents column was headed Name, Rank Profession or Occupation of Father and Name and Maiden Surname of Mother. The registar entered the mother's married name on one line and then MS Surname on the next.

e.g. the entry for a child of John Smith and Mary Brown would be in the form:
- John Smith,
 Occupation
- Mary Smith,
 MS Brown
 

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: Macharskin on Monday 20 July 09 11:41 BST (UK)

Hi jmgrgr,

The 1871 Death registration entry I have says in the column headed Name and Surname & Rank or Profession and whether Single, Married, or Widowed: Margaret Symison (Widow of William Symison, Seaman M.S.), and in the column headed Name, Surname & Rank or Profession of Father and Name, and Maiden Surname of Mother it reads William Taylor, Farmer (dec'd) Isabella Taylor, M.S. Dass (dec'd).

Accordingly I had presumed that the M.S. appended to Sailor had a different connotation; the deceased's maiden surname, Dass, appeared in the assigned column.  :-\

Regards, M.

Title: Re: Abbreviation on death registration entry
Post by: MonicaL on Monday 20 July 09 12:05 BST (UK)

Hi M

That then fits with this christening entry:

MARGARET TAYLOR     Birth: 15 AUG 1804/ Christening: 03 SEP 1804 South Ronaldsay, Orkney
Parents:WILLIAM TAYLOR and ISOBELLA DASS    

Five more christening entries show on IGI for these parents  :)

The initials MS in connection to Margaret's husband certainly relates to his occupation in the Merchant Service.

Monica