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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Aberdeenshire => Topic started by: lynnungarian on Wednesday 12 August 15 16:04 BST (UK)
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Hello
I am attempting to research my daughter's grandmother as we know very little about her. Her name is Mary Jane DUGUID, born in 1927 in, we believe, the city of Aberdeen. She married James Welsh GAY, the son of James Welsh GAY and Isabella SHEARER, in Edinburgh in 1947. Mary Jane, known to us as "May", immigrated to Canada shortly after her marriage to James. "May" died in 1976 in Edmonton, Alberta.
The only thing that we know about her is that she had a spinster aunt by the name of Eliza Jeannie Duthie DUGUID, who died in Largs, North Aryshire in January 1986. We knew her as "Auntie Jean". At the time of Auntie Jean's death she was a retired school teacher and resided at #60 Haco Street. We have a copy of her will, and her wishes were to be buried in her mother's grave - Lair No. 209 in the village Churchyard, Longside, Aberdeenshire. There are some very good leads provided in the will and we are following up on it.
Any information would be most appreciated.
Best regards
Lynn
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There was an Eliza Jeanie Duthie Duguid born in Peterculter East, Aberdeenshire in 1896. You can see the birth registration online at the Scotland's People website (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk) for a modest fee - it should give you the names of both her parents, along with where and when they were married.
Unfortunately Mary Jane Duguid was born too recently for her birth record to be available online, but it should be in the index, and you can order a copy if you wish.
Hope that helps - good luck with your search :)
Ruth
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This is the only potential match that I can find for Aunt Jeanie.
1901: Belvedere House, Longside, Aberdeen
M J Milne Duguid 35 b St Fergus. Farmers wife
Eliza Jane Duguid 4 dau b Cults, Aberdeen
Edward L Duguid 2 son B Cults, Aberdeen
John Robertson Anderson 37 b Peterhead ( there is a transcription issuie but possibly says Bro in Law)
Edit:
The birth of the child named Edward was also registered in Peterculter in 1898
Birth Name: Edward Lumsden Duguid
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There's a Mary Jane Milne, b. St Fergus, 16 Jun 1865 to William Milne and Mary Pratt.
And a Mary Jane Milne married James Duguid in Old Machar in 1887...
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Just to add , https://www.deceasedonline.com/ has Eliza J D Duguid buried 2nd September 1986 Longside(Aberdeenshire).
ev
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Many thanks Ruth, Anne and Ev.
I did find the 1901 Census data for M.J.Milne DUGUID, and like you, thought it the most likely. However, based on naming conventions of the time, I did expect to find the name "Duthie" (Eliza Jane 'Duthie') somewhere in my search. And, the absence of that name in various other searches caused doubts. And now, with the brother, the name 'LUMSDEN' is thrown into the mix.
On my first search through SP for Mary Jane (my mother in law), I came up with several MJ's, and at the time did not know her birth year or place. In fact I am still not certain as to her year of birth or place of birth - my estimated year being based on her age at death. I will follow through on MJ MILNE; perhaps DUTHIE is on the DUGUID side. I did find a record of marriage for my Mary Jane and James GAY, but haven't ordered the extract as yet - I suppose that is the best way to begin.
Once again, many, many thanks.
Kind regards
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The marriage certificate is the best source of information!
flst
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As soon as I saw the name James Welsh GAY I suspected a connection to Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife, and Scotlandspeople has proved me right. I know this is not the main object of your research, but hopefully the following will be of interest.
James Welsh GAY and Isabella SHEARER were married in 1920. He was the son of Alexander GAY, miner, and Caroline WELSH, in Dysart, Fife, who were married in 1895.
Alexander GAY was the son of Alexander GAY, fisherman in Pittenweem, and Catherine SMITH of Cellardyke in the parish of Kilrenny, my home town, who were married in 1874.
Alexander GAY senior was the son of Alexander GAY, seaman, and Jane SCOTT in Pittenweem.
Catherine SMITH was the daughter of George SMITH, fisherman in Cellardyke, and Helen MUIR.
George was the son of George SMITH and Catherine GAY, and Helen was the daughter of Thomas MUIR and Elspeth ROBERTSON, all in Cellardyke.
You are probably begging for mercy by now, so I'll draw to a close. George SMITH(GAY) was drowned in 1844 when the "William" of Cellardyke was lost with all hands, and Thomas MUIR(ROBERTSON) was drowned in 1846 when the "Nancy" went down with her crew. The skipper of the latter boat had lost three brothers just four years earlier when the "Lord Melbourne" was lost with all hands, and the eighth member of the crew of the "Nancy" only escaped death in 1846 because he was at home nursing a sore hand, while two of his brothers were drowned. Cellardyke's local historian whom I am quoting called the 1840s "the Black Decade".
Harry
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Hi Harry.
Nice to hear from you. I never tire of your history lessons or your stories.
Many thanks for the information on James Welsh GAY - it filled in many gaps. I will private message you on this later.
I must say, to all, I am quite thrilled with the response I am getting on RootsChat.
Best regards,
Lynn
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Many thanks Ruth, Anne and Ev.
I did find the 1901 Census data for M.J.Milne DUGUID, and like you, thought it the most likely. However, based on naming conventions of the time, I did expect to find the name "Duthie" (Eliza Jane 'Duthie') somewhere in my search.
Think I've found the Duthie connection ;D
Mary Jane Milne m. James Duguid in Old Machar in 1887 (as I mentioned previously). James Duguid was the son of James Duguid, b. Old Meldrum abt. 1818, and Jean/Jane Logan, b. Cruden in 1829 - James Duguid senior had a sister, Martha Duguid (so she was James junior's aunt), who married William Duthie, b. 1820 in St Cyrus - the Duthies were living in Peterculter around the time of Eliza Jane Duthie Duguid's birth. Martha Duthie (nee Duguid) died in 1899 in Peterculter, and her husband William died in 1903.
I've had a number of instances in my own tree where children have been named after the spouses of either a sibling or aunt/uncle - so looking sideways is always a good idea ;) No sign of a Lumsden yet though...
Ruth
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Hi Lynn,
When I was at the GRO today I forgot to look at the Duguid/Gay marriage .
( can't believe I forgot!)
Eliza Jeanie Duthie Duguid was born 14 Aug 1896
Edward Lumsden Duguid was born om 2 Jul 1898
Their ancestry is exactly as provided by Ruthhelen (above)
They were the ONLY children born to James Duguid and Mary Jane Milne.
They appear on the 1911 census in Longside, Aberdeen
James Duguid is not in the household but Mary Jane ( age 45) is entered as married, 2 children born and both still living.
Edward married Maggie (looks like middle name is Ellen) Milne in Edinburgh on 30 Jun 1926.
Maggie was a 34yr old widow, previous married name was Stewart.
Daughter of James Milne and Rachel Slattie.
As you described Eliza JD Duguid as a spinster aunt, it's likely that Edward was the father of Mary Jane Duguid who married James Gay?
If so, she was possibly born in Edinburgh
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Many thanks to you both. This is far more information than I expected and I am excited to take this further. My apologies for the very late reply; we have just returned from vacation and I have been off the air for past two weeks. Let me digest what you have found and I will get back to you very soon.
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Hello!!
I am Tara McSkimming-McFadyen. James Welsh Gay and Isabella Shearer were my husbands grandparents.
Thank you all for sharing/confirming the info I had.
Harry; I just love the history lessons about my family. You say that Cellardyke is your home town. Is it easy and convenient to find more info on the Gay family? I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am interested in finding out if Catherine Gay (wife of George Smith) is one of "My" Gays?
My mother-in-law, had a brother named George Smith Gay! He was born in Aug of 1933 in Edinburgh and he passed away in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in May of 2012. Just had lunch with his son last month!!
Many Thanks for the stories and helpful posts and I look forward to many more!
Tara
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Hello Tara. I said quite a lot about the Gays and Smiths in my post of Friday, 14th August 2015 on this thread. I mentioned George Smith, drowned in 1844, who was married to Catherine Gay. George was the son of George Smith and Janet Scott of Cellardyke. Catherine was born in 1797 in Pittenweem to Philip Gay, linen weaver, and Christian Melville. I haven't been able to find this couple's marriage, but the entry for their daughter's birth doesn't say she was illegitimate. Can't find Philip Gay's death in the records either. The name Philip Gay has survived into modern times in the area. The surname Gay is still current in Pittenweem, and there were other Gays about 5 miles away in Crail, but I don't think the two extended families were related. Of course there has been a lot of intermarriage between people in adjacent villages in the East Neuk of Fife so you find the same surnames in all of them.
Harry