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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: mark50 on Monday 26 June 17 22:10 BST (UK)

Title: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: mark50 on Monday 26 June 17 22:10 BST (UK)
Hello,

I wonder if anyone would be able to help me. I'm researching a friends family tree for him: he is particularly interested in his Grandfather - Ewan Neil MacKay. I cannot find a birth record for Ewan. I know he was born on 25th Aug 1913, as I have a death record for him that records the fact - he died 23rd Dec 1975. I have a marriage record - he married Bertha Bannett in 1945 and I have various electoral rolls with him recorded on them and an entry in telephone book records. I also have a probate record saying when and where he died...so I know he definitely exists  :)

I am unable to find a birth record for him on Ancestry, FindMyPast, TheGenealogist, FreeBMD, FamilySearch and the GRO website.

Does anyone have any ideas as to where else I could try?

Many thanks for any help given.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: PaulineJ on Monday 26 June 17 22:11 BST (UK)
Which countrie(s) did you search in?

I don't see Scotland's people. I don't see Ireland, I don't see America, the Antipodes or the indian sub-continent.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: PaulineJ on Monday 26 June 17 22:20 BST (UK)
He may be on 1939 register , but he has a later birthyear.
Rest of household may or may not be relevant.

Whom does he name as father on marriage and what names witness?
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: jonwarrn on Monday 26 June 17 22:24 BST (UK)
There's a Ewen Neil Mackay, birth registered 1913, Harris South
On ScotlandsPeople
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: chempat on Monday 26 June 17 22:26 BST (UK)
Just for reference, the death was in Bracknell.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: mark50 on Monday 26 June 17 22:34 BST (UK)
Hi Pauline,

Thanks for your reply. I used the card catalogue on Ancestry, the "all collections" setting, and looked in Scotland, Ireland, England and Canada. I checked Canada because his grandson - who I'm doing the look-up for - was born in the Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow. I saw the 1939 entry for a Ewan MacKay: it could well be him but am unable to open the record due to being skint until payday  :)

Chempat: Yes, I have that - thank you.

I've just noticed your reply jonw65: I'll check that out - thank you.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: chempat on Monday 26 June 17 22:43 BST (UK)
You need Scotlandspeople for births in Scotland.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: jonwarrn on Monday 26 June 17 22:56 BST (UK)
You need Scotlandspeople for births in Scotland.

I already told him.
OK -
Ewen Neil MacKay
Born 25 August 1913 (10 pm?)
Geo-crab, Harris
parents John MacKay, Fisherman
+
Mary MacKay
m.s. Macleod
Married 9 November 1897, Harris

Informant Roderick Morrison, Neighbour, Geocrab

John
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: chempat on Monday 26 June 17 23:00 BST (UK)
No, you said you found him on Scotlandspeople, not that Scotlandspeople was the only place that the records would be found as he believed that Ancestry with Scottish records would do.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: jonwarrn on Monday 26 June 17 23:11 BST (UK)
Dear, oh dear.
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: PaulineJ on Monday 26 June 17 23:13 BST (UK)
It's certainly the only worthwhile place to search, given the lack of coverage on other sites.

Comments would be better directed to the OP to explain how to check what the coverage of (for example scotland births) actually includes.

eg http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=60143  . Not much at all really

Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: barryd on Monday 26 June 17 23:17 BST (UK)
Came into this query a bit late but perplexed about Geocrab. Let Google solve the problem.

https://www.google.com/#q=Geocrab
Title: Re: No birth record found...anywhere
Post by: jonwarrn on Monday 26 June 17 23:19 BST (UK)
They're all ganging up on me now on here!
Well, I've looked up the birth, on ScotlandsPeople, and it appears to be the right one.
So all's well that ends well.