RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Ross & Cromarty => Topic started by: royd on Saturday 12 September 09 17:18 BST (UK)
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Hi fellow Rootschatters,
I am trying to help an elderly friend find her mother!! Here is the info she has passed on to me:
I am trying to trace my mothers roots, she was Diane Leslie Macleod, possibly born in India whilst her father Robert Macleod was serving there with the Seaforth Highlanders, I believe her to have been born 1906,after leaving India they spent time at Fort George, Inverness from there my mother went to live in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis with an Aunt Kate whose surename sadly I do not know, in the household there was a cousin Donald also cousin Ishbel, Diane said she went to school in Stornoway, I do not know which school she attended. Diane never ever mentioned her mother so I dont know perhaps she died at Dianes birth, I have no name for the mother but wonder if the Leslie in my mothers name is a clue, could it have been my grandmothers maiden name.
The first trace I can find of my mother is 1929 when she married my father Herbert R.J. Roy in Wandsworth London, can anyone help trace her prior to that.
On my parents marriage cert her father is said to be
Robert Macleod, Major, Seaforth Highlanders, deceased.
Now friends, should I put it on Overseas, Inverness, Stornoway, Military????Arghhh!!
I would dearly love to get this mystery solved for her - she has tried GR but I recommended Rootschat because I have had such fantastic help from the members on here - but she is a little overawed on how to use this site.
So, go on, where shall I post it ???
I am willing to be the go-between with questions and answers etc.
Yours trustingly ::)R.
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Hi Royd ;)
Looks like someone else is looking for your friend's mum.
Have you seen this -
http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?t=80426
Judy
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Thanks for that Judy. I don't know the site but I know who has posted that message. It seems that there is just no finding this elusive woman!!
Should I leave the post here or move it or ???? any ideas most welcome. :)
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Hi :)
Can you check on the birth place and year range, please?
I've been looking at the GRO overseas birth registrations (military and consular) and also at the Scottish ones for 1900-1908 but so far haven't found a registration under Macleod or McLeod.
Also, do you have an approx date for when/wher her father died ?
Gadget
PS - as you are trying to find her in Scotland, I'd say either Scotland - General, Ross & Cromarty (for Stornoway) or Inverness
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;D ;D ;D ;D
Not sure!!
I think I would put it on the Scottish board.
It is a pity that the Scottish 1911 census in not available yet, as she may appear on that.
I would also ask on the military board if anyone can tell you about army births registered in India. There may be a database somewhere.
Good Luck!!
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Sorry Gadget - we crossed! :D
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I'm trying to work out where the old School logs might be. Stornoway is now under Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and their archive service seems limited:
http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/servicepage.asp?snlid=2837&cnespage=/servicepage.asp&servicename=Archives%20-%20enquiries
It might be worth contacting them to see if they have info on schools and school records for that time period.
Pity that you didn't ask yesterday because I could have phoned them - not far away at the moment but I'm leaving on Monday :-\
Gadget
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Thank you both. I will go off and clarify what I can. Will get back as soon as poss but it depends on if I can get hold of her. I'll probably post this on the boards you suggest. Thank you kindly. :D
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Royd -
It's best to only post on one board at a time. Otherwise things get duplicated. Maybe a PM to one of the Mods would be the best. They can then decide which board this could be moved to.
Gadget
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Thank you Gadget. I'm waiting for a reply re date of death. I'll contact a Mod to see about moving it to Inverness. Thanks again. R
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Hi, back again!
Her father died in Weymouth Dorset in 1977
He was Herbert Robert John ROY
Just going to have a look at the schools site!
I can see I'm going to be busy! Ah well, if I can help somebody out its worth it!! ;D
Royd.
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So was she registered as Roy or M(a)cleod?
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Hi, have sent the query. Please bear with any delays!
I feel like one of the despatch riders!! lol R.
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Your friend is now here Royde
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Here go!
Quote:
Her maiden name was Macleod
her married name Roy
My father was Herbert R J ROY
her father was Robert Macleod I do not know when he died only know he was deceased prior to her marriage in 1929, says so on marriage cert
Unquote.
Does this help? R.
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Golly, am I now seeing things?
Has bravery conquered all?
If so, well done.
I am waiting to see about moving this to another board. Don't panic - it may help.
Meanwhile, you will be able to answer the questions yourself!!
R. ;D ;D
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Please bear with me as I am not computer literate and am 77 years old but I am trying
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Welcome to RootsChat, Dianes Daughter ... you can see how many willing and curious helpers are agog to help !
(And don't worry about being 77 or unskilled in computers ... you aren't the only one for both those things !)
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Hi, I have sent the Inverness mod a pm. Do they move the post or do I have to do it myself?
Sorry to be dense, but it is Saturday night!! Thanks. R.
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The mod moves !
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Welcome Diane's daughter.
I'm within 3 hours ferry of Stornoway. The others are hundred's of miles away :D
Mind you - Stornoway is Ross & Cromarty not Invernessshire :-X :-X :-X
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How will I know if the post has been moved.
Please can i order some of the stripey socks Lydart?
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Don't worry Diane's D. As you've posted, you'll get informed by e-mail of any new postings or you can click on
Show new replies to your posts
This is at the top of the screen, third line down.
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I wish I had more information to share with you but my mother died 28th July 1952 the day before my 20th birthday and when you are young you arent really interested in geneology.
Sadly I never knew any of my mothers family dont even know if she had siblings
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I am going to say goodnight now, thank you for your help I will pop in again tomorrow.
I do appreciate all your kindness
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i THINK maybe this was the Aunt as it also mentions the names you posted, so maybe you could track your Mums family from them? so could be your grandfathers brother
always worth when that stuck to search other family and see if it leads you back
scotland census 1901
Donald McLeod 43 (born Lochs, Rossshire)
Kate MacLeod 36
Jean A MacLeod 13
Kathie M MacLeod 11
Donald S MacLeod 11
Murdo MacLeod 10
Lizzie J MacLeod 8
Hector J MacLeod 6
Ishbel MacLeod 4
Barabel MacLeod 2
Norman MacLeod 1
Margaret MacLeod 1
if you then look at some earlier census for Donald born c1858 there are a few options,
maybe if you can find the marriage of Donald and Kate it will shed some light on your Gt Grandparents
ps
looking further, it looks like some one Ancestry has them on a tree, you may already have been in touch or seen this
apology if so, IF it is the same ones then Kate is Kate Webster Rodger,
if their tree is connected then doesn't look like Donald is your Grandfathers brother, but maybe worth contacting if you have not already done so, sorry not to clued up on the areas in Scotland so i may be way off?
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les_looking I really think this family may be the ones that could be of help but I do not understand how to make contact with any descenants, On the 1901 census Donald senior was Minister of Tarbat Church, someone was kind enough to find out for me that Ishbel married but had no issue. As Donald senior seems not to be Grandfathers brother maybe my Grandmother was also a Macleod, sadly I do not know her name or even how Aunt Kate was related to Diane ,either through her mother or father, thank you so much for your interest I am very grateful
DD
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Sadly I do not have access to Ancestery
DD
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Hello all
The death registration for Diane L. ROY (Sep qtr 1952 Weymouth 6a 476) gives her age at death as 47 46. Given that we know she died on 28 July 1952, this suggests a birth between 29 July 1904 and 28 July 1905 29 July 1905 and 28 July 1906.
Anna :)
Amended to correct my failure to read her age correctly!
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Thank you for that, I am not sure but I think Dianes birthday was in June, in those days we did not send birthday cards or make a fuss of birthdays so I cannot be sure. Thank you for your interest
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The family that les_looking found sound interesting I wish I understood how to investigate further
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Hello All
I was waiting to see which bit of Roy's enquiry you were going to focus on before deciding where to move the thread to.
In general it's best to ask just one question at a time, which is specific enough to go on one board, rather than trying to cover a lot of ground in one post.
If you can decide where you want this to be, we can move it - Inverness, R&C, Devon?!?
Also Armed Forces stuff mentioned somewhere if I remember rightly!
Kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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I really think as Diane spent time with her Aunt Kate in Stornoway that Ross and Cromarty would be best
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I really think as Diane spent time with her Aunt Kate in Stornoway that Ross and Cromarty would be best
No sooner said than done!
:D
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Could I just add a word of warning about M(a)cLeods in Lewis - the Island is a McLeod stronghold and the names mentioned are not uncommon. I wouldn't take the family that Les has found as yours without a lot more proof.
Gadget
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I quite agree Gadget but I would like to follow that family if I only knew how as it does seem a possibility
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Who were the witnesses on Diane's marriage certificate? I wonder whether there might be any useful clues there.
Anna
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Hi
What we have is an Aunt Kate and two cousins - Donald and Ishbel - living in Stornoway.
The censuses are available on Scotland's People www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk, which is a pay to view (cheapish though) and Ancestry as an index. The BMDS are available on Scotland's People. Tracing M(a)cleods might be quite expensive on Scotlands People unles you're fairly certain of them.
I can't spend much time today as I have other things on but I'll have a try at finding more info for you this evening unless some one has come along and found them all.
One thing is to check whether Robert McLeod and Donald or Kate/Catherine were related. Alternatively, Kate could have been Diane's mother's sister, etc.
Gadget
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The witnesses on Mum and Dads marriage cert were
Herbert Walter ROY
Emily Maud ROY
My fathers parents.
These my grandparents always found Diane to be a mystery they never knew any of her family or if she had siblings.
My Grandma Roy did tell me that up until the time of her marriage my mother received a private income from where or how it was paid I do not know
Thank you for your interest
DD
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Hi
I've just found a WW1 medal card for a Capt A R Mcleod, 5th Bat Seaforth Highlanders. Address was Helmsdale, Sutherland so I'm not sure :-\
Gadget
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Thank you for your interest gadget, I cant help a lot as all I know of him is what is on Mum and Dads marriage cert and the little that she told us, I wish I knew when he died also wish I knew who her mother was.
Sometimes wonder if Diane was illegitimate and made up this identity, the private income points that way or could it be an army pension, my mind boggles
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Going back to the beginning....
He looks like he may have been originally 2nd bn....
1881 Bengal
1888 Hazara
1891 Hazara
1892 Kuldana
1894 Ferozepore
1895.Mar Chitral expedition
1895.Aug Ferozepore?
1897 UK
1899. Oct: South Africa 3 Inf Bde
1903. Jan Ireland: Dublin
1909 Scotland: Edinburgh
1912 England: Shorncliffe 10 Bde
1914. Aug: France and Flanders
The 1st bn were in Egypt at the end of the 19th century, so I have discounted them.
The Regt depot was at Fort George, and officers were sent as Permanent Staff to train recruits.
It is not impossible that he moved bns during WW1 due to the very high attrition rate amongst the officer cadre.
As an offficer, he would have been mentioned by name in the Regt War dairies, maybe worth a look...Also the Regt Museum may be useful, as old Newsletters will carry the obits of deceased officers
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maybe register for ancestry under their free 14 day trial,
or i THINK its free to add your tree on there, i assumed you had a tree on there
or is it a relative of yours? because if you enter Diane Macleod
it only brings up one result on a public tree Diane Leslie Macleod
and all the info is similar to what you have told us, hence i went looking for the other names you mentioned, like anything i don't expect what i post to be taken as gospel hence i said maybe contact
someone who MAYBE researching the same family
also the death index for Diane actually gives her age as 46
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My son and I went to Fort George to the Seaforth Highlanders museum and were told that they had no relevant records as they had all been destroyed by fire.
Thank you all for your interest and help .My mother was certainly a mystery
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When was the fire??
I'm sure that the Regt themselves would have had copies of the Newsletters/ Journals...
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I don't see anything in the London Gazette for Diane's father which is strange :-\
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Just throwing in various bits and pieces -
If she went to secondary school in Stornoway, it would have been the Nicolson Institute:
http://www.take2theweb.com/pub/westernisles/nicolsoninstitute/
Contact details - http://www.take2theweb.com/pub/westernisles/nicolsoninstitute/b.html
I did some research on someone who lived Stornoway 1890s-1920s and that's where he went.
It might be wort hwriting/phoning to see if they have an 'old pupils' listing with addresses, etc.
Gadget
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I sadly have no idea what age Diane was when she was in Stornoway or which school she attended
the only thing I can be sure of is that she did exist as I lived with her for 18 years, but she sure was a mystery
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I don't see anything in the London Gazette for Diane's father which is strange :-\
The Gazette is really poor to navigate...I did a search on a RAMC doctor yesterday whom I know won the MC at Arnhem....I have handled the actual MC and he was the family GP....But trace of it I could find none
Perhaps the Army Lists of the time would be a better idea...Fort George cannot have lost them as well!!!
(Methinks it was a bad day for them, and they didn't want to dig)
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I sometimes wonder if Major Robert Macleod ever existed or was he a figment of mothers imagination.
I am thinking the illegitemate word might fit
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I sadly have no idea what age Diane was when she was in Stornoway or which school she attended
the only thing I can be sure of is that she did exist as I lived with her for 18 years, but she sure was a mystery
It's worth a letter or phone call to them though, I'd think. It's was the only secondary school in Stornoway.
They might even have some suggestions even if she's not in their files.
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I agree it is well worth investigating.
Somehow I still feel that Tarbat family are the answer to my quest
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But Tarbat is a way south of Stornoway - it's in the Harris part of the Long Isle :-\
Oops - no it's not it's on the east coast. I was thinking of Tarbert :-\
Tarbat is here: Even less likely
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=296380&y=887320&z=130&sv=296380,887320&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=625&ax=296380&ay=887320&lm=0
and
http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=16606
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I sometimes wonder if Major Robert Macleod ever existed or was he a figment of mothers imagination.
I am thinking the illegitemate word might fit
Never say never.... ;D
The ideations I put up are well worth following up....Esp The Regt Journals.
Did the museum say when the fire was?? Or was it about service records and the Blitz in WW2??
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I dont recall the date they gave for the fire, I think I had expected too much from the visit and was rather downhearted at the time,the gentleman we spoke to was very kind and would obviously liked to help but he said there were no records available
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The family were in Tarbat on 1901 census and could have moved by the time Diane joined them couldnt they?
Its just that family keep drawing me back, I could of course be VERY wrong
I really dont think we will ever find Dianes roots and at 77 I feel time is running out
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also the death index for Diane actually gives her age as 46
Hmmm... you're absolutely right! Don't know how I managed to read it as 47 before ::)
Will amend above.
Anna
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Anna, I have forgiven you
DD
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i take it you don't know who on Ancestry has listed these?
dewland, margaret 10 Apr 1917 - Portland, Dorset Engalnd
macleod, diane leslie 1904 - 1950 - Weymouth, Dorset, England
morgan, tecwyn cole 17 Jun 1912 - May 2003 - Dorset
roy, herbert robert john
still think you need to try and contact the people listing the Macleod families on there
even if it is to eliminate them
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Yes I know who's tree that is, it will be my nephew Neal there will also be another tree started by his brother Adam, they both got their information from me so sadly they will be no help. But many thanks to you for finding that info.
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Well DD, you seem to have raised a lot of interest!
I've been looking at the school site mentioned above and there is an email address where you could send an enquiry. Just click on the link in the post above.
Also, I notice it has a link to Stornoway Historical Society - may be worth a go.
Anything is worth a go if we are going to find your mother!! R.
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Royd
I have just sent an email to the nicolson institute.
IThanks for your help have been in touch with historical society before and they were very nice but could not help at all
DD
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Another possible line is to write to the Stornoway Gazette giving your story.
Someone there might recognise the family and come forward.
The link is on the same website but here's a direct one:
http://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/
Gadget
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I have already been in contact with the Gazette, they also were very helpful and published a letter for me sadly with no results
DD
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There has been no reply from the Nicolson Institute yet, I will let you know if I hear from them, thank you all for your help
DD
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Sadly still no reply from the Nicolson Intstitute, so Diane is still missing
DD
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Do you know anything else about Robert? I just looked up family.org and there was a Robert Macleod born in Lochs, Isle of Lewis 7/10/1872. Could link with earlier family in Lochs
sl
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I only know what I have already posted about Robert
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A friend is looking for ancestors in Lochs by searching a site named http://www.hebrideanconnections.com.Says he found old pictures of relations.Might be worth a look.
Good Hunting.
Fransmoi
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Thank you for that Fransmoi. I hope my friend sees this. She hasn't been very well lately but I have offered to do what I can to help. Regards. R. :)
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Sadly there has been no progress on this search so I am doubtful that we will ever solve the problem, certainly seem s like we have hit a brick wall. Thank you all for your interest and help in this matter
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One more stab at it then. How about the India Office Family History Search ?
I did not get a result right away but there are contact details to follow up.
http://indiafamily.bl.uk/UI/Home.aspx
Fingers crossed by many of us Silver Surfers.(I have just met my South African
cousins after a 50 year search.)
Good Hunting.
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Sadly there is still no progress in my search for my motheres roots