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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:08 BST (UK)

Title: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:08 BST (UK)
Hi
My Great Grandfather was Robert Mcdougall  born  Dumfries Scotland 1873 His parents were James and Agnes nee Rutherford, he had a son Robert (my grandfather, mother Mary Elder) he left his son in Scotland and emmigrated to New Zealand 1910 ish  I believe he was a sheep farmer and went on to have two more children. He died 1958 ish. my grandfather recieved a letter saying he had a shared inheritance of a sheep farm but he decllined it. Thats all I know  not much and i would appreciate any help.
Thanks Angi
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1973-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:18 BST (UK)
Hi Angi

Always hard to know how people want to initially start their research.

What info have you found so far? Have you found the family on the censuses? Have you got the relevant BMD certs downloaded from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

If you can give us a little more detail, we can help further in filling in the gaps you might have.

Monica  :)
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:24 BST (UK)
To help avoid duplication on searches and so we can hopefully add new info here on RC, this is a post from late 2012 on another site www.GenesReunited.co.uk/boards/board/ancestors/thread/1314455

Monica
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:35 BST (UK)
Hi
i know he was born in dumfries scotland 1873  his parents were james and agnes mcdougall nee rutherford.  he is listed on the 1911 census as living with his parents and my grandfather in scotland. he then emmigrated to new zealand.  On my grandfathers (his son) marriage certificate it states his mother was mary elder, but i dont know if she emmigrated with robert senior or not. with the original information ive given thats all i have on him.
its been a long family mystery and one im trying to solve lol

Thanks

Angi :)
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:37 BST (UK)
Angi, that is great that you have at least father and son, living with paternal grandparents in 1911. Where did Robert Jnr show as being born?

From your grandfather Robert Jnr.'s death:

1993 MCDOUGALL ROBERT JOHN ELDER ELDER M 89 DUMFRIES /DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

Have you viewed this? If young Robert's parents were not married when he was born (and things seems to be pointing that way), sometimes marriage or death certs may include mother's married surname (from later years) which at least can help trying to figure out the maternal side.

Monica
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 18:46 BST (UK)
he was born in hexham england but his birth was never registered so no cert for that.  It caused many a headache when he retired lol
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 19:02 BST (UK)
Angi, for that year, his birth very likely registered. Just a question of how (what surname etc.) and where....!

Monica
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:08 BST (UK)
I've just found what i think is a baptism,  registered under catholic births/ baptisms it states he was born october 1904, baptised st marys new abbey 8/01/1905. his mothers name says marie elder and father robert mcdougall.   i will now start searching marie elder.

Angi
 :D
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:12 BST (UK)
Well done, Angi  ;) That is great news. So he was born in Scotland afterall (he showed Hexham in 1911?).

Have you a note on the family being RC?

Don't worry too much about searching for a Marie. The RC registers would often use more Latin spellings. Searching for a Mar* Elder will help (excluding the Margarets!).

Monica



Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:28 BST (UK)
grandad told me he was born in hexam but maybe that was wrong.  i will look up mar elders  see what i can find.  i know for sure he was in dumfries scotland with his father and grandparents but no mention of his mother,
many thanks
angi
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:30 BST (UK)
in 1911 that is lol
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: aghadowey on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:33 BST (UK)
The 1911 census should list your great-grandfather's marital status (married, widowed, divorced) which might help.
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: MonicaL on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:37 BST (UK)
Given the gap between birth (october 1904) and the baptism in Jan 1905, he could well have been born in Hexham, given what he said and if this also shows on his 1911 entry.

Monica
Title: Re: brick wall- robert mcdougall 1873-1958
Post by: angib on Wednesday 08 May 13 20:46 BST (UK)
it shows robert senior as single. they lived in constantinople, troqueer dumfries.  thats where my great great grandparents lived till they died.