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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: macbaryn on Sunday 15 August 10 06:52 BST (UK)
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Hi all
I'm having trouble with my Alexander law still but have come across this document mu Gt uncle wrote, wondering if anyone can help read what Elspeth's last name says? I think it goes:
Mother used to say Alexander Law was attached in house (something??)with the Earl of Fife. Records say he was a gamkeeper married Elspeth Laurent??? domestic servant so probably in some way both were attached to teh Earl's household & travelled with them.
Any suggestions gratefully recieved
Thank you
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I think it says...." in some position with the Earl of Fife"
Still working on the rest but inclined to think that her surname was LAURENT.
Cheers
Karenlee
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Thank you! That was quick! That makes sense, been loking at it too long I think!
Yes Laurent looks right if it is it's a whole new avenue for me to work on...
Need all the help I can get!
Macbaryn
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Is there any chance that Elspeth's name is LAMONT? Not sure, of course, but might be worth considering if searches for LAURENT draw a blank.
Regards,
Greensleeves
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Thank you Greensleeves I have a Lamont as a middle name in my family tree so this could be where it comes from, unfortunately I can find no record of a marriage for Lamont or laurent I will have a look for any births.
Thanks for the help
macbaryn
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Hi Macbaryn,
Do you have any dates? My thinking is that if both Alexander & Elspeth worked for the Earl of Fife they may show up on a census together in his house.
As far as the surname goes I favour LAMONT.
Jill
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Hi Jill
From family writings Alexander Law would have been around 1780-1840 can't find anything to support either date but I have Alexanders son's wed cert which shows his Father as Alexander law gamekeeper dec'd this was at 1864. His mother is shown as Epspet Winton but i'm pretty sure the name on this document is laurent or lamont not winton.
I've been looking all over the place and Elspet winton is on all the census records and her son David law but no Alexander anywhere, no wed cert and no birth cert for David (1838).
I'm now wondering if he was married at the time of David's birth to the Lamont/Laurent person... really clutching at straws I know.
How would I go about accessing the Earl of Fife's house on census records? I think Alexander may be gone by 1941 but who knows! worth a try!
Thank you
Macbaryn
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Hi Macbaryn,
First a general note you may find interesting or useful. Medieval research I've been doing lately has taught me a few lessons about Earls (of wherever) and their numbers. Earldoms were 'created' and you might get several, numbered 1 - whatever, then the Earldom would lapse. It would often then be recreated at a later date, known as the 2nd Creation, and then the numbering system started again at No. 1 and so on. I've come across numerous Earls with the same number generations apart, all of different Creations.
It would seem (from 'google') that in 1759 the Fife title was recreated and was bestowed upon WILLIAM DUFF.
"In 1759, William Duff, who had served as Member of Parliament for Banff and become Lord Braco of Kilbride, was created Viscount MacDuff and Earl of Fife. A wealthy man, it was he who commissioned the building of the magnificent Duff House in Banffshire".
Duff house is now an hotel but remained in the hands of the Duffs, Dukes of Fife, until 1906:
http://www.bestloved.com/attractions/duff-house-in-banff-scotland-uk.php
Hope this helps a little.
Jill
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Hi Jill
Thanks for the information, I'm thinking my Alexander law would probably have been before Duff House was built, I've been doing a lot of research on google and have found mention of a lot of gamekeepers none of them mine. It may be that he was gamekeeper for James Dewar of Vogrie as I've found an old newspaper article that talks about an Alexander Law gamekeeper in 1799.
I'll keep looking...
Grateful for te help!
karyn
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Seems to me that you are going about this the right way, trying to verify the correctness (or incorrectness) of what a relative wrote down. Your Gr. uncle was writing down something he recalled his mother said. She could have been completely wrong, or he could have remembered it wrong.
You finding a Winton marrying an Alexander Law (especially since the first name is so close) has a higher probability of being correct than Uncle's recollection.
Nick
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Thank you Nick I agree, I know for certain that Alexander Law was shown as a gamekeeper and had a child (David law) by Elspet Winton around 1838 this is supported by census and marriage documents. The old family tree may be wrong with Alexander's dob and dod too so I think perhaps I should just ignore the whole thing and stick to facts I can support.
I think I'll start here again afresh and stick to facts!
Karyn
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Hello Macbaryn
I think it says, 'attacked in some position with the Earl of Fife.'
Later on 'attached'.
Cheers
Danchaslyn
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Thanks Danchaslyn I think you are right, thank you.
Macbaryn