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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: Steven1314 on Friday 07 August 09 22:57 BST (UK)
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Hi I have been researching my great great grandfather and my great great great grandfather both called Donald Anderson. I know from 1841 census that they were both born in Strath on Skye. I have located Donald McKinnon Anderson juniors death certificate from 14/12/1875 when he died aged 38 so I thought his birth year would be circa 1837. Donald senior died 24/5/1876 aged 82 so again I thought this would make his birth year circa 1794.
Donald junior moved away from Skye to become a police officer in Alloa whilst Donald senior was a crofter of 2 acres.
Basically I am looking to find out if there is anyway I can trace their births. I have tried Scotlands People but to no avail. Also is there any places I can check for records of crofters from this time and what may have happened to Donald and his croft. His eldest son Rodrick became a fisherman and did not follow his father as a crofter.
I have both Donalds on all the censuses from 1841 up to their deaths.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Steven
PS. Donald junior's mother was called Mary McKinnon and Donald senior's mother was called Mary McKenzie and father was called Rodrick Anderson.
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Hi sorry to drag up my earlier post but would anyone know where I could go to search further into my relatives who originally came from Skye?
No one is alive that I can speak to so I just wondered if Skye would have records of births etc. I have managed to locate deaths of Donald Jnr and Donald Snr but no luck on the birth front.
Any help would be greatly appreciated if not its just a dead end which isn't unusual in researching.
Thanks
Steven
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Hi Steven
My stepfather was an Anderson from Sleat and it was very difficult to get records. ClanMacDonald have good records and also Rental records of crofters.
Strath is Broadford area though so probably different Andersons, but there are still Andersons in Torrin so they may be related.
Even though the son is shown as a fisherman he may still have worked the croft.
I'll have a look at my Anderson stuff in case I have any certs that were not mine.
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Hi,
Can't help you directly, sorry. But I just wanted to metion something that was of interest to me, as I have crofters in my line too (from the Highlands, near Ft William). I visited Skye last year and picked up a very interesting book by David Craig called On the Crofter's Trail.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crofters-Trail-Craig-David/dp/184158455X
It's largely about the Highland Clearances and covers many areas, including Canada. But it gives a wonderful oral history of the crofting tradition from descendents of the crofters left behind in many areas, including on Skye. And it's very moving in places. It's a while since I read it, and my uncle has borrowed it now so I can't check, but I can't recall seeing Anderson's named specifically, but sevaral family names are mentioned, so you may spot one.
There are many old croft buildings littering the Skye landscape and, if you haven't been there yet, I'd recommend a visit before they disappear. The Museum of Island Life is of particular interest, as it is actually located on an old croft. http://www.skyemuseum.co.uk/
Also, it's my understanding that crofters, as they lived on the edge of the land, and eeked out a living however they could, were also considered fishermen. So I wouldn't discount finding Roderick as a crofter too.
Regards, Ann
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Thanks very much for replying I had almost given up hope. I think I may have taken the line as far as I could but through another forum someone recommended that I try my local family history center run by Church of Latter Day Saints.
I have obtained some information on what records I might need to order so might give it a bash.
I think because Donald was born prior to 1855 it is harder. I am pretty sure it must be circa 1838 and because I know his parents names if I manage to find a certificate I will know if its correct.
If you find anything that would be great
Steven
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Steven
As Ann and Cwoody have mentioned, records can be patchy.
I can only see these entries for two of the sons of Donald and Mary (McKinnon):
1. RODK. ANDERSON Christening: 25 FEB 1824 Strath, Inverness
2. JOHN ANDERSON Birth: 12 OCT 1828/ Christening 24 DEC 1828 Strath, Inverness
Monica :)
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Steven
As Ann and Cwoody have mentioned, records can be patchy.
I can only see these entries for two of the sons of Donald and Mary (McKinnon):
1. RODK. ANDERSON Christening: 25 FEB 1824 Strath, Inverness
2. JOHN ANDERSON Birth: 12 OCT 1828/ Christening 24 DEC 1828 Strath, Inverness
Monica :)
Just saw them, Monica. As they're extracted entries there could be an OPR for these brothers so it might be worth another look at SP.
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One big problem though regarding Donald Snr. is that there are no OPRs showing on http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hughwallis/IGIBatchNumbers/CountyInverness.htm#S for Strath before these dates:
Earliest births: Batch code C111192 - 1815-1854
Earliest marriages: Batch code M111192 - 1823-1854
Monica
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Hi CWoody :)
Just checked on SP, and the two sons entries showing on IGI are the only two showing on the SP OPRs index unfortunately. Nevertheless, maybe something on them regarding sponsors etc. that might prove useful.
Monica
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I had a look as well!! At least it looks like they used the Church of Scotland for those christenings so that's a help.
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My curiousity got the better of me so I had a look at the entry for Roderick. It's a bad image but he was born in Torrin which is near Elgol.
Steven, if you wish to have the image, perhaps you could send your email address by PM.
Have looked at his death and Roderick's address in 1902 was 4 Torrin. Are you familiar with Torrin? It's really quite rocky so a crofter would have had a hard time trying to make a living there.
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Thanks so much Woody and Monica nice to hear from you again, you helped me recently with my Hillicks family and great to have you helping me with Donald.
As I said to Woody re a PM I found out so much on Donald Jnr including that he died in 1875 in Alloa whilst on duty as a policeman. He slipped on a piece of orange peel, broke his leg and died a few days later. I found local newspaper cuttings from the time and also found where he was buried in Alloa but unfortunately in a very old cemetary with no headstone. His widow remarried another policeman and lived until 1915.
However just cannot find Donald's birth. On another forum a member gave me details of the local family history centre run by Mormons and told me to order film for Parish Church of Strath number 990672 item 5 which contains baptisms from 1820 to 1854 and marriages from 1823 to 1854.
Re Donald senior I know that he died on 24/5/1876 and his parents were listed as Rodrick Anderson and Mary McKenzie. Donald jnr's mother Mary McKinnon died on 13/6/1870 with parents listed as Niel(Nick) McKinnon and Janet MacLeod. Don't know if this information can help you.
Thanks Steven
PS Woody will email you with my email address
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Can't find Flora's birth (Donald's sister) but have found via SP that she married a Donald MacKinnon in 1860 aged 25 and died on 26th March 1913 aged 80 with parents listed as Donald and Mary and still in Strath.
Steven
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Got your email address, Steven, so will send that cert.
It's good that you got those credits as well! It all helps. When you get a freebie it allows you to look at the maybes as well as the definites.
I have my doubts that you will find the births of Donald and Flora. It's very likely that the book didn't survive. However, it could be that it is the same book as Roderick and John but the writing wasn't legible, the writing on the OPR for Roderick is far from clear. If that's the case then as people get better at transcribing the impossible, the image could well become available.
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Thanks Christine if its in a book then is it best to say look under SP for all Anderson's born in Strath around say 1836 to 1838.I know that he died in 1875 aged 38 and I would guess his age on the death certificate would be accurate.
If the handwriting was very poor do they just not bother transcribing onto Scotlands People?
If I try to get the films via a Family History Centre I take it I just trawl through the years and pay close attention to the handwriting?
So far he is the only ancestor I have completely drawn a blank on. I think I too obsessed with Donald and just need to move on!!!!!
Might just try to look up some of the censuses for Donald Snr and his father Roderick
Steven
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I tried that, no joy!! SP do what they have to, I suppose. They have so many books and will look at them if asked so it might be worth an email. I reckon they would charge you for it, though.
My mother's family are Campbells from Duirinish. Three out of eight (that I've traced) children were on OPR but not the rest. There could be more who died pre-1855 as well.
It does tend to consume you so my advice would be to look at other stuff in connection with the family. There are new records coming along all the time so it may yet turn up.
He was born, he married and he died, it's just that you don't know exactly when! The Police Minute book may well show his date of birth.
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Thanks Christine did you mean that you tried all the Anderson's around 1838? If so thanks as don't want to duplicate anything. I am sure I tried something similar ages ago but didn't cover all the names.
Oh well on with the censuses for Roderick
Steven
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I had it as a saved search as I was looking for a Donald Anderson b. in Sleat. Sleat records are very patchy though.
The search I did was Don*Anderson b. Inverness from 1790 - 1854.
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Thanks Christine not much luck with Roderick on the 1841 census just Donald snr's son. As I mentioned earlier managed to find Flora's marriage and death (Donald's sister) but again no luck with the birth.
Thought I may have found Donald snr parents deaths but no luck was hoping they both died after 1855 but may have been prior to this.
Will keep looking and wait with anticipation if you should get lucky with Donald jnr's police record. However you have done enough already so please don't put yourself out on my behalf.
Thanks for all your help this weekend
Steven
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No problem, I was happy to help. Now you'll be planning a trip to Skye!! ::) ;D
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I think looking at the original film through LDS is a good idea :) I know sometimes on SP they show some, particularly 1851, census entries with 'no image' and yet ancestry have the details on their transcripts (never figured that one out!).
As Christine has mentioned, the quality may be poor on the register but if you have the time and patience when viewing the film, you might be able to find some nugget ;)
Monica
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Thanks Monica.
Can't understand why I can't find Donald Senior's parents on the 1841 or 1851 census as I would have thought they would still be alive. Any suggestions of where to perhaps widen the search?
Steven
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Doesn't look like they were alive by the time of the censuses :-\ Not surprising though, they could have been born anytime from 1760-75 as an estimate if Donald Snr. was born c. 1797. Donald Snr could also have been a later child which could have made them born even earlier.
Is there something like a family history group or society that specialises in Strath records? You may have to investigate alternative sources to see whether you can see any references to the families.
Monica :)
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Thanks Monica will look into and also try the LDS family history centre.
Onwards and upwards finishing off my Harrower roots from Tillicoultry which has proven a lot easier!!!
Steven
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Tried a different Branch of the Anderson's via Donald's brother Roderick. Looks like he took over from Donald Senior and family lived at the croft in Torrin and were there until 1930's until records are no longer available so looks as though part of family stayed on in Torrin. Also found out that part of the Anderson's also emmigrated to Winnipeg in Canada in 1911 so there is still plenty to investigate.
Steven
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Wasn't sure whether to use this post or begin a new one but basically I have started branching out with the Andersons though Donald (born circa c1838) who is my direct ancestor and in particular starting focusing on his brother Roderick who was born on 25/2/1824 in Strath and married a Peggy (Margaret) Munro on 31/1/1861 and he died at number 4 Torrin on 25/6/1902.
Many of Roderick's ancestors seemed to live on at around 3 or 4 Torrin and I can trace up until the 1950's when the records are too new for me to able to search via Scotlands People. Basically I am trying to find out if any living Anderson ancestors are still living at Torrin. I don't want to bother people or be a pest but thought that they might know where many of the Anderson's are buried or have any more details on the family.
Would anyone have any idea who to contact about cemeteries in Skye and I suppose if its worth taking the research any further. I know the last thing I would want is an ancestor turning up at my door and I am not looking to do anything of the kind but I suppose I am looking for more information on the family and to find a grave or photo would be amazing
Does anyone have any suggestions or do you think its better to let it lie
Regards
Steven
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Hi sorry to drag this thread back up but I have hit a brick wall.
Would anyone know I would begin to trace burials or any obituaries in the local papers. I tried the local library but had no luck.
I have been researching my great great grandfather and my great great great grandfather both called Donald Anderson. I know from 1841 census that they were both born in Strath on Skye. I have located Donald McKinnon Anderson juniors death certificate from 14/12/1875 when he died aged 38 so I thought his birth year would be circa 1837. Donald senior died 24/5/1876 aged 82 so again I thought this would make his birth year circa 1794.
Donald junior died only age 38 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire when he slipped on a piece of orange peel whilst on beat as a Policeman, he broke his leg and died a few days later. I wondered whether his parents would have placed an obituary in their local newspaper.
Would anyone have any more ideas before I close the door on this one
Steven