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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: JohnSteel on Saturday 25 September 10 21:57 BST (UK)
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On the top row, Robert Steel's father is John Steel. I cannot make out his mother's first name. Last name looks like Rae. This document is from Scotland. Any suggestions? Thanks?
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John,
I've cropped the image (we don't allow full images to be posted here on RootsChat), but the image is really too small to be easily read. Can you post this section but at a higher resolution?
For what it's worth, it does look like Rae.
Nell
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Her is a better photo. I am actually trying to determine her first name.
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Well, it looks like Jack....but that seems too silly.
Ah on second thoughts could it be Janet? :-\
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John Steel Blacksmith deceased.
Jack Steel.
M. S. Rae deceased.
Could it be that the father is entered as both John and Jack and the mother is given her initials and maiden surname.
Looking at other letters on the page it may be H. S. Rae.
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No, "M.S." is the known standard abbreviation for "maiden surname".
Have you considered asking scotlandspeople for a clearer copy? They are very good about doing this.
Nick
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Jack does fit the letters and I wonder if the mother had always been known as Jack and the informant hadn't know her real name?
People with the name Jacqueline usually have their names shortened to Jac/Jack
Jean
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Hi
As this was a 1869 death, I'm not sure that the mother would be Jacqueline!
However, I've seen Jacobina used a few times - and some in Dumfriesshire.
Gadget
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Rather thought the name Jacqeline was too modern. :-\
Jean
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Well - you had the right idea, Jean. Don't worry :)
I'm still wondering about it mind, is that first letter a J :-\
Some of the Jacobinas changed their names because of the anti-Jacobite feelings. There's a thread on here somewhere.
Gadget
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Do you have his birth cert? There's a Robert Steel b 11 Jan 1801 to John Steel in Dryfesdale Dumfries showing on the pilot here
http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html#father.surname=Steel&year=1800&father.givenName=John&collection=fs%3A1771030&searchType=partial&givenName=Robert&mother.surname=Rae&p=recordResults&toYear=1802&surname=Steel
sadly no mother's name on the index but perhaps it would be worth sending for a birth cert to see if that's him?
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That's a great find Fifer ;) Unfortunately, this will be from a parish register entry, so looks to be the way it has been written up, although good to check nevertheless in case anything has been left off the entry.
It may include an occupation for father which would help.
Another post on the Scottish board for this www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,485433.0.html
Monica
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for the replies. I do have the birth certificate, I believe it is the same one Fifer has pointed to. It lists John as a blacksmith and Robert was a blacksmith as well as some of his children and grandchildren. I have not been able to find a marriage certificate. Mother was not listed on birth Certificate. I have subscribed to Ancestry.com and have searched Scotlands People. I have looked for females during this time span in dryfesdale and have found Janets, Jeans, Janes, a Jeills and a Julina. I have searched names that start with other letters than J and have not had much luck.
Once again, thanks
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Did he, or any proven siblings, marry?
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Robert did marry, but I have not been able to find their marriage cert. I have searched Scotlands People. I have not found any siblings either.
Thanks
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What was his wife's name, or is her death date/place known? :)
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Thank you all for your help. My parent's eye sight is not very good and my wife does not like genealogy, she says it interferes with her sex life. I have no idea what she is talking about. It has been great to get some more opinions. I have been blown away by how helpfull everyone has been.
Thanks again.
John