RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Wigtownshire => Topic started by: riversideresearch on Wednesday 15 February 12 13:57 GMT (UK)
-
Can anyone help with McMeekin (there are an unlimited number of spellings) James and Isabella Black (born Dunbar) married 17.11.1823. Stranraer, they then moved to Greenock between 1831 and 1834. James was a shoemaker and they had four children Isabella, Jane, Alexander and John.
Hope you can help.
Riverside Researcher
-
Hi
This is NOT exactly what you were looking for, but the coincidence of the names McMICHAN & BLACK in this memorial inscription may be of some interest to you. Does it fit with any other aspects of your research into these families?
Cheers,
Sy
Location:Dunrod Graveyard, Kirkcudbrightshire
Erected by James Black McMICHAN
In Memory of Isabell Black his daughter, spouse to William ALEXANDER,
who died at Balmea 18th Dec 1839 aged 30 years
Also their daughter Mary, who died in infancy
Also Janet Black his daughter, who died at Balmea 15th Oct 1810 aged 25 years
[Age and/or death year could be incorrect (c.f. parents, siblings)]
Also James and Elizabeth his children, who died in infancy at North Milton
Also Susan Black their daughter, who died at Balmea the 7th Oct 1849 aged 27 years
Also Mary MITCHELL his spouse, who died at Castle Douglas 16th March 1857 aged 72 years
Also the said James Black McMICHAN, who died at Castle Douglas 6th September 1861 aged 72 years
John McMICHAN his son, who died at Balmea, Bowmans Forest, Australia, 5th August 1864 aged 47 years
-
Hi
Many thanks for your interest in my post. It kind of fits in some ways and in lots of others doesn't if you know what I mean!
Isabella Black seems to have been born in Dunbar, but I could be misreading this as Dunrod. One of my problems is that I am not familiar with Scottish placenames and their relationship to one another which doesn't make life any easier. There are certainly a multitude of spelling of McMeekin!!
I will have a good look and see whether there is any firm link.
Many thanks again.
Kind regards
Riverside Researcher
-
Hi
I've checked the register and it says that they were both of the parish when they married, so you must be referring to another source. Where did you see the Dunbar birthplace? Checking the census is proving difficult at the moment. I've got them on the 1841 but not afterwards so far!
Any chance of a snip of the writing of the ? Dunbar to see if we can have a guess.
Dunbar is in East Lothian - the very opposite side of the country :-\
gnu
added - you could check out names beginning with D in Wigtownshire here:
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~leighann/place/d.html
-
Hi,
One suggestion is Dunragit which is about 8 miles from Stranraer.
Jessie
-
Hi Jessie
Where does it say where she was born?
gnu
-
Hi gnu,
On the 1861 census for Greenock it gives Isabella's BP as Dembar Waddington.she is aged 60
She is living at 6, Buccleuch Street Greenock with James a shoe maker b c 1800 Stranraer
Jane aged 30 born Stranraer a bookbinder
John 17 born Greenock an apprentice sail maker
Jane aged 8 grandaughter b Greenock
on 1871 She and James are now living at 33 Vennel Greenock with Jane aged 18 who is now their daughter,
Hopes this helps.
Still learning the ropes.
Jessie
-
Hi Jessie :)
Just looked at the 1861 - it says born Haddington, Dunbar .- Snip attached. Also the same on the 1871.
Haddington was an alternative name for East Lothian
I'll do some more searching and get back later.
gnu
-
Hi gnu ,
What did it give as Jane's occupation on 1861 I think it might be something to do with
shoemaking rather than bookbinding.
Jessie
-
She died 4 Feb 1882, aged 85, but no parents first names given . Just that her father was a fisherman. A grandson in law, Hugh Grattan (?) was the informant
gnu
-
Hi gnu ,
What did it give as Jane's occupation on 1861 I think it might be something to do with
shoemaking rather than bookbinding.
Jessie
Jane's occupation in 1861 was Bootbinder - see snip
gnu
-
Bootbinder:
Bootbinder Operated machines in shoemaking, binding uppers to soles
http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/b2.html
-
Hi
I am just catching up with you, looking at the information I have it does seem that Isabella was born in Dunbar as I first thought, how she somehow managed to get herself from one side of Scotland to the other is a mystery although people were much more mobile that it is generally supposed.
The family seemed to have moved to Greenock sometime between 1831 and 1836 from that point on I have a complete record to the present day.
I suppose my next move will be to try to track down Blacks in Haddington/Dunbar.
You guys seem to be really on the ball and thank you for your efforts on my behalf.
Kind regards
Riversideresearcher
-
No sign of a baptism of Isabella (alts) but here are Black couples having children baptised in Dunbar, 1790-1810
James Black and Isobel Beith
Charles Black and Janet Watson
William Black and Elizabeth Spence
Jame Black and Catharine Clapperton
gnu