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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Argyllshire => Topic started by: Catherine A on Monday 27 July 09 16:34 BST (UK)
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Having hit a brick wall in searching Aitken forebears i just had 2 breakthroughs in one day. I now know Hugh Aitken, born c.1849 in Glassary, married Susan Wilkie, born c. 1858, and that Hugh's father was not an Aitken but appears to have been Donald Crawford of Glassary, born c.1832. Donald subsequently married a Mary something of Glassary and had several Crawford children. My difficulty is now 2 pronged:
1. I cannot identify Hugh Aitken's mother, who I suppose must have been an Aitken for him to have that surname, but I can find no Aitkens in the area at all other than Hugh himself in the 1841, 1851 census or 1861 census.
2. Susan Wilkie had a brother (one of several) called John, born c1854, but there appear to have been 2 John Wilkies born in roughly the same year in Glassary and both had a son called Hector. The one I have initially identified as "mine" is married to Isabella McLean (tentative identification beased on 2 sons having McLean in their names), and Hector is Hector McLean Wilkie, killed in action 1917. Now my Susan is definitely the child of Peter Wilkie born c1830 and his wife Susan also born c 1830, both of Glssary. Can anyone help me identify the correct John line - either with Hector the war hero or Hector not a war hero? Hector - as I have him - had siblings John, Christina, Peter and Duncan. Sorry, can't remember the alternative version!
Oh and I am also trying to find out the maiden name of Catherine Crawford, born c.1801 in Glassary who was Donald's mother, and the name of her husband.
Any help appreciated.
Catherine
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NB am uploading what I have so far, right or wrong!
Catherine
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Hi Catherine
Good puzzle you have there :) First thing, the reason why Susan's entry is not showing on IGI is that likely the family surname was variable. The children's birth entries are showing under MCQUILKA(E)N. To parents Peter McQuilkan and Susan Gillies show the following children on IGI - all entries in Glassary:
1. JAMES MAC QUILKAN Birth: 10 MAY 1855
2. SUSAN MAC QUILKANBirth: 23 DEC 1856
3. MALCOLM MACQUILKEN Birth: 07 APR 1859
4. PETER MACQUILKAN Birth: 31 JUL 1861
5. DONALD MACQUILKEN Birth: 23 MAY 1863
6. WALTER MACQUILKAN Birth: 21 AUG 1864
7. DUNCAN MACQUILKEN Birth: 01 MAY 1866
8. DUNCAN MACQUILKAN Birth: 06 MAR 1867
9. CATHERINE MACQUILKENBirth: 22 FEB 1869
10. ISABELLA MACQUILKEN Birth: 28 JAN 1872
11. HUGH MACQUILKAN Birth: 23 JUL 1873
Monica :)
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On the 1861 census, Peter father shows a birth place of Kilfinan. His likely birth/ christening entry:
PETER MCQUILKIE Birth: 30 MAY 1831/ Christening: 08 JAN 1832 Kilfinan, Argyll
Parents: JOHN MCQUILKIE and CATHERINE MCLEAN
Monica
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Catherine
Have you viewed the marriage certificate for Hugh and Susan to see what it says about their parents' names. What do you have that shows Donald Crawford as his father?
You probably have this already, but it helps to set it down anyway. This looks to be young Hugh staying with the Crawfords in 1851 showing as 'nephew' to head, Archibald.:
Archibald Crawford 29
Catherine Crawford 52, mother
Donald Crawford 22
Catherine Crawford 17
Peter Crawford 13
Hugh Actkin 2 b. Glassary
Address: Inverca, Glassary
Monica
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From the 1841 census, this is a big entry. Looks like two Crawford families living together. The second family that from the 1851 census with young Hugh there. The 1841 census is the most limited in terms of info so no relationships show within households:
Donald Crawford 35
Cathrine Crawford 30
Mary Crawford 12
Peter Crawford 9
Margret Crawford 7
John Crawford 5
Christian Crawford 3
William Crawford 4 Mo
Mary McCallam 75
John Crawford 21
Cathrine Crawford 40
Archibald Crawford 20
Donald Crawford 12
Cathrine Crawford 8
Peter Crawford 3
Flora Crawford 6 Months
Address: Inverca, Glassary
This entry will show on FreeCen http://freecen.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl (just make sure you tick the relevant census year at the top) which is transcribed by volunteers and may be clearer or you could view the original image on Scotlands People.
Monica
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This looks to be Susan and brother John and Malcolm in 1881:
John Wilkie 27 wood worker b. Glassary
Malm Wilkie 22 brother, wood worker b Glassary
Susan Wilkie 24, sister formerly Laundress b. Glassary
Catherine Inglis 41, visitor b. Glasgow
Address: Killinochonoch, Glassary
Regarding a possible marriage for brother John, I can only so far see this entry in 1891:
John Wilkie 36, asylum attendant b. Glassary
Isabella Wilkie 30, b. Argyll, Muckiarn
Cathrine Wilkie 6
Hector Wilkie 4
John Wilkie 10 Months
Address: Asylum Cott, Lochgilphead, Glassary
Two things would concern about this entry. Firstly, the change of occupation and secondly the lack of family names for the children :-\ Again, I think you would need to view likely marriage entry to confirm John Snr.'s parents to be certain it is the line you are following (Peter and Susan).
Monica
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First thanks all. Monica, yes I saw that last record and used it. However I don't understand the McQuilken reference - is that the first susan's name? (Susan born 1830 who married Peter Wilkie?) Or is that an alternative to Wilkie? What is IGI? ???
As for the 1841 census I didn't get that set of records coming up at all - but then 3 months ago I didn't get the recod from 1861 which listed Hugh as grandson to Catherine Crawford. I found the death record for Hugh and that's how I got his wife's name. I shall look through the Crawfords and see what I can make of them. Many thanks for the help.
However when I told my brother about the Crawford thing (having also just seen something that listed Hugh's father as a Donald but I am not sure what that was now!) he laughed and said he remembered Dad telling ghim we were an illegitimate Crawford line. My first thought had been that mother was a Crawford and male Aitken was gone, and mother maybe dead, but the name Donald as father made me think it was the father who was the Crawford.
Thanks again, Catherine
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Hi Catherine
I think Wilkie and McQuilken surnames are one and the same. The births were registered under McQuilken (Peter Snr under McQuilkie). I don't know anything about the variants on this name but it looks like, as with many names, the name changed to Wilkie over the years.
Did Hugh Aitken's death entry show Donald Crawford as his father but mother's details blank? It would be worth you looking at his marriage entry also as this would have been information he gave himself. It may turn out that he never knew the name of his mother if he was brought up by his paternal family.
Monica
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This looks to be the banns/marriage of Susan and Peter, actual extract from the OPRs:
SUSAN GILLIES and PETER MACQUILKAN
Marriage: 16 JUN 1853 Glassary, Argyll, Scotland
Monica
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Regarding John Wilkies and Isabella, certainly looks like her surname may have been McLean. There is a submitted entry on IGI with these details:
ISABELLA MC LEAN Birth: 14 MAR 1861 Aird, Muckairn, Argyll, Scotland
Parents: HECTOR MCLEAN and CHRISTIAN TURNER
Also this possible 1861 entry:
Hector McLean 21, lab. tenant b. Kilbrandon, Argyll
Christian McLean 21 b. Muckairn
Isabella McLean 1 Month b. Muckairn
Mary McKichen 71, dairy maid b. Torasa McUll, Argyll
Address: Aird, Muckairn
Monica
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You are quick, Monica! Regarding the Crawford entry mentioned earlier with Hugh Actkin as nephew, if he was Donald's son he would have been Archie's nephew. Could have been Catherine's I suppose, though. The 1861 census has him as Catherine's grandson. The 1871 census has them as Wilkies. The 1901 census is what made me think Isabella's a McLean since Duncan is listed as Duncan McLan [sic] Wilkie. When I subsequently found a war death record for Hector McLean Wilkie with the same birth date as my Hector I figured that must be him, but later found a second Hector with different siblings but a father John too. Same dates. Everyone was listed as born in Glassry or Kilmichael (which initially I hadn't realised ar the same place!).
Here's the 1901 record (address Gate Lodge):
John Wilkie 42
Isabella Wilkie 38
Hector Wilkie 14
John Wilkie 10
Christina Wilkie 8
Peter Wilkie 5
Duncan McLan Wilkie 3
And the 1871 record (address 3 Ballamonach ):
Peter Wilkie 40
Susan Wilkie 40
John Wilkie 17
Malcom Wilkie 12
Peter Wilkie 10
Donald Wilkie 8
Watie Wilkie 6
Daman Wilkie 4
Susan Wilkie 14
Catherine Wilkie 2
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Anyway I have 100% more than I had last week!
Many thanks
Catherine
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Sorry I missed one of your earlier questions. IGI is the International Genealogical Index which is free to search at www.familysearch.org. It is particular good to for Scotland for the period post the start of official registration in Scotland from 1855 up to around 1874 when the LDS stopped doing this work. Entries before 1855 are mainly from the Old Parish Registers of the established Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). Check the entries as to whether they are actual extract or member submitted entries (such as the one for Isabella McLean b.1861). You need to verify submitted entries as they can be plain wrong ::) Entries which are actual extract from the statutory registers or the Old Parish registers you should be able to find corresponding entries on Scotlands People.
Monica
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I think in your position I woud double check the marriage entry for Hugh and Susan. You are right in thinking at this stage, without verifying it, that Hugh could have been the son of a Crawford daughter. This would make more sense to me and explain why he shows under the name of Aitken in the Crawford household. Quite often with illegitimate children, they would take the surname of the reputed father if known to them. The fact that he shows as Aitken in 1851 makes me think that the mother may have been a Crawford daughter. If he was the son of Donald or one of the other Crawford sons, I would expect Hugh to show under the surname of Crawford...not Aitken.
Monica
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::) There are a number of trees on Ancestry for Hugh Aitken and Susan Wilkie.
On the one I am looking at, parents for Hugh show as Hugh Aitken and Mary Crawford....
Mary Crawford's parents show as William Crawford and Catherine Campbell. A number of children show on IGI to this couple, including at least son Archibald's birth matching what we saw on the census.
You have access to Ancestry...why don't you have a look. Lots of info on there!
Monica
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It's a good tree backed up with certificates etc. They have attached the marriage cert for Hugh and Susan so no need to go hunting for it ;) Also included is Hugh's death cert with parents' details left blank, so not known to the informant. This is why it is always better to look for verification from records that the person themselves provided info on rather than rely on the informants at death (in this case, one of Hugh's sons) to know this information. Not unusual for grandchildren not to know the names of grandparents or sometimes worse, get them wrong and send you off on a wild goosechase :'(
The tree I've been looking at is the MacArthur/McPherson one.
Monica
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Yes I do have Ancestry, Monica, but haven't had that yet as a hot link! That sounds promising, thanks. Catherine
ps Have got myself in a tangle in Ancestry now as the tree there is not updated, I find the Genes one better. I use Ancestry to research and Genes to record. Can't even get my damn tree up! Doh!
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With Ancestry, from the HOME screen, you will see the option to search for an ancestor by putting in names. It comes up on the middle of my page the search screen but you may have different settings/layouts. Simply put in under father/mother's names Hugh and Susan's full names and press search and you will see the seven entries coming up.
Not sure what you mean about the Ancestry tree not being updated?
Monica
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I added another 130 individuals to my Genes tree over the weekend, but have not yet added them to my Ancestry one simply because I prefer the Genes layout. I know it's possible to transfer them acrss but that's a technological step too far! ;D
Catherine
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Why don't you put a post up on the Technical Board...sure someone will be able to help :)
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/board,285.0.html
Is your tree the other one (not the MacArthur/McPherson) ?
Monica
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Well thanks to your help Monica this is what the tree looks like now! Oops, just noticed, missed off Catherine's surname, Campbell. And some extra Wilkies. Been a long day...
The other tree - dunno! Might be, what's it called? Mine's just called Aitken tree!
Catherine
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Looking good Catherine ;D
By the way, I think Donand Crawford's wife Mary was also Crawford....I'll leave you to figure that one out!
I would have a look a the other tree (MacArthur & McPherson Tree) and compare notes and perhaps make contact with the other tree owner. You're both working on the same lines!
Monica :)
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Good Morning, Monica. I shall do that, it was a useful tree. Viewing the results as a tree would be easier, you can then see at a glance what they have that you don't. Anyway I have updated it so the version above is now correct- except for Mary Crawford! I have a similar problem in two other family brances, particularly one who is great aunt on grandmother's side, great aunt on grandfather's side and great grandmother too! Keeping it in the family makes family treeing a real headache!
However we referred earlier to alternatives. I have a 2nd Peter Wilkie, similar birth date, Glassary, married to a Euphemia, and a second John with son Hector McLean Wilkie married to a Louisa. Looking back at this and the fact that of the children of John and Isabella only Duncan has the middle name and it actually reads McLan not Mclean I think my identification of Hector as the soldier must be wrong, as the soldier is specifically McLean Wilkie, so is probably Louisa's son. In which case I may be wrong about Isabella neing a McLean. Back to the drawing board....sigh.
Kind regards
Catherine
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Hi there<
dont know when you'll read this, but anyway just joined roots to let you know Im great grand daughter of Peter Wilkie & Susan Gillies. my grandfather was William Allison Wilkie and his father was Walter Wilkie b. 1864 who married Mary Allison
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Hello Allison, As you can see I don't seem to have a William. However we must be related! Maybe we can share some info? I have obviously gone wrong a few times with this line. Catherine
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bit confused with how to reply, you'll probably have 2 from me?!
the records I have are from scotlandspeople on line. My grandfather (William) used to visit his Aunt in Minard(Lochgilphead area) when he was a child. hve just dug up record of Susan Wilkie(Gillies) death recorded on 16.1.1880.
Hector Mclean Wilkie b. 18.10.1886, assylum cotts. to John Wilkie assylum attendant and Isabella Wilkie nee Mclean with a date underneath her name 19.9.1884(?) he is the one on war memorial
Have lots more, but not sure of what is of use to you? I fell by the wayside for doing my family tree but hoping to get into it again. have met lots of relv. that didnt know of and have taken some N.Z family over to Jura to see where my Mckay side were from. Have you been up to Lochgilphead to see war memorial? regards Rhona (name not Allison)
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Hello Rhona, some useful bits there for me! I went to Lochgilphead many years ago knowing dad came from there but it weas long before I got into this and we were only there an hour or so. It's one of those things on my To Do list. My job gets in the way of a lot of research time so I tend to do it in fits and starts. My biggest hitch is locating any ancestors for my first Hugh Aitken (on tree above). I have hit a complete stone wall there. Maybe this Scotlandspeople can help, can't recall if I have used it before - probably! Unfortunately I also hada puta crash recently and lost all my records and trees, though all are printed off. Have to re-do them! Very time consuminf.
Catherine