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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Topic started by: dbrobertson on Friday 13 November 20 20:34 GMT (UK)
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Greetings...
I am making one last effort to find out more about my great grandfather, John McRitchie. He gave his birthdate as 03 May 1837, in Scotland. He also stated that he emigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada in 1840. I was able to pick him up on Canadian censuses starting in 1871 and following on most censuses through 1921 (from these I got date & place of birth). He died in Fernie, BC 06 Nov 1925.
In 1995, it seems, I narrowed birthplace down to Uig, Ross & Cromarty, and also found info that suggested his father's name was Malcolm. IGI suggested his mother's name was Cursty MacDonald and he had a sister Margaret. How good this information is, I don't know - it seems I never was able to verify it. In trying to retrace my research steps of 25-26 years ago I find that a minor stroke and the beginnings of dementia lead to dead ends and frustration.
I'd be content to pass what I have on to the next generation, but I did want to get past this immigrant generation block.
Grateful for any information or advice.
Blessings,
Brian
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If he died in BC, his death certificate should be available, and it should tell you the names of his parents. The index at FamilySearch says that the certificate gives his DoB as 20 March 1838 and his parents' names as Malcolm McRitchie and Christina McDonald.
FS also lists several siblings
Mary, born 1830
Ann, born 1832
Donald, born 1833
Catherine, born 1843
though some of that information is from the 'community contributed' IGI so is definitely not to be trusted. In particular, if John says he emigrated in 1840, aged 2, how could he have a sister born in Scotland, three years later?
There is a baptism of Angus MacRichie, son of Malcolm MacRichie and Cursty Macdonald, on 2 January 1840 in Uig, Ross and Cromarty.
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Thank you Forfarian...
Yes, I had forgotten the death cert: parents Malcolm Ritchie & Christina McDonald according to my great uncle. Also dob 20 Mar 1838 (which is different from what appears on the census).
I should go back over the census and see if Malcolm & Christina appear.
Brian
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I see only one fit on the 1841 census and Malcolm isn’t with them:
089/ 4/ 5 Uig Ross and Cromarty
Christian 75
Christian 30
Mary 10
Ann 8
Donald 5
John 3
Angus 1
Jamjar
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1878 marriage of brother Donald, possibly. Angus was witness:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9N6-82C?i=58&cc=2242886&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AWH8V-CFZM
Jamjar
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Everything else fits - I have to think the family emigrated to Nova Scotia several years later than my great grandad believed. If 1843, he still would have been only 5, so could have been mistaken.
In 1841, Christina (Christian) is 30; could the 75 year-old 'Christian' possibly have been her mother, I wonder?
Brian
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Thank you Jamjar...
That almost has to be John's brothers, Donald & Angus. I've wondered for decades if kin were left behind when John & Sarah moved to BC. Now I have even more to search for.
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Jamjar, Malcolm, his wife & family do appear together in Carnish, Uig, in 1841! Malcolm, 40, is a small tenant.Christian,is 30,Mary, 10,Ann,8,Donald,5,John,3,Angus,1. this is from Freecen. However I don't see 75 year old Christian there.* Correction, I've found her living alone about 5 households away from Malcolm!
flst
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Fist, thanks for this. I'm supposing that 75 year old Christian isn't necessarily related to Malcolm's family?
I have found Malcolm on the 1871 & 1881 Canadian censuses of Little Narrows, Victoria County, Nova Scotia. He is 65 & 76, respectively, a widower and a farmer. Son Angus died at Little Narrows in 1912 (vital stats). So far not much luck finding Donald & Angus on the census or marriages for the 3 girls.
Brian
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I see only one fit on the 1841 census and Malcolm isn’t with them:
089/ 4/ 5 Uig Ross and Cromarty
Christian 75
Christian 30
Mary 10
Ann 8
Donald 5
John 3
Angus 1
Jamjar
Jamjar, Malcolm, his wife & family do appear together in Carnish, Uig, in 1841! Malcolm, 40, is a small tenant.Christian,is 30,Mary, 10,Ann,8,Donald,5,John,3,Angus,1. this is from Freecen. However I don't see 75 year old Christian there.* Correction, I've found her living alone about 5 households away from Malcolm!
I've been scratching my head about this, but FreeCEN has provided the answer. Malcolm is recorded as Malcolm MacRitchie, but his wife and children as McRitchie. So a search for McRitchie would not find Malcolm.
However the reference given in FreeCEN starts with Page 4, not Page 5. And 75-year-old Christian is in a separate household on Page 5.
The SP census index confirms that Malcolm is on Page 4 and the rest of the family are on Page 5.
Which explains why whatever transcription Jamjar was using (presumably Ancestry?) failed to find Malcolm. FindMyPast doesn't include the reference numbers in its census transcriptions so flst would not have found that detail either.
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Thanks Forfarian...
Yes, those variations can be a problem. MacRichey, McRichie, MacRitchie & everything else in between. I'm having to make lists of what variants I've tried.
Might have found a reference to youngest child Catherine. She seemingly married (1865) one Murdoch MacKeigan (1842-1900), gave birth to son Malcolm MacKeigan (1866-1866), then died the following year 07 Nov 1867 at Sidney Mines, Nova Scotia. Marriage registered under MacRitchie.
Brian
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Yes, those variations can be a problem. MacRichey, McRichie, MacRitchie & everything else in between. I'm having to make lists of what variants I've tried.
I used M*cr*ch* in searches on Scotland's People.
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Forfarian, I found Malcolm on Freecen not on Find My Past, and did not use the references to find him. I know the originals can be viewed on scotlandspeople but I like using freecen. It's so easy to check out the neighbours :)
flst
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Forfarian, I found Malcolm on Freecen not on Find My Past, and did not use the references to find him. I know the originals can be viewed on scotlandspeople but I like using freecen. It's so easy to check out the neighbours :)
My apologies, I misread it as FindMyPast.
I agree. FreeCEN is by far the best transcription - it almost sticks to the originals, and it doesn't interpolate supposed years of birth. And, as you say, you can 'walk' round the district and see who the neighbours were. Just a pity that it is a long way from having full coverage as yet.
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At least Aberdeenshire has 100% coverage from 1841 - 1871. :)
flst
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Which explains why whatever transcription Jamjar was using (presumably Ancestry?) failed to find Malcolm. FindMyPast doesn't include the reference numbers in its census transcriptions so flst would not have found that detail either.
I only use free sites. It came from ScotlandsPeople. 😀 I use the ‘fuzzy’ option for names.
I saw a Malcolm, but he had a different reference number, so I didn’t include him.
Jamjar
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Thanks for filling in my gr-great grandfather's family and verifying the connection to Uig. I feel much better about passing this along to grandkids or whomever - there are several new possibilities to research, both in Scotland and after 1843 in Nova Scotia.
Brian
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Hi Brian
Have you got Malcolm and Christina's son Peter's death reg from 1930? www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK99-VVBB
Added: You have this Brian but just adding son John's death cert here for further background www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLL2-419
Monica
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I have found Malcolm on the 1871 & 1881 Canadian censuses of Little Narrows, Victoria County, Nova Scotia. He is 65 & 76, respectively, a widower and a farmer. Son Angus died at Little Narrows in 1912 (vital stats). So far not much luck finding Donald & Angus on the census or marriages for the 3 girls.
Have you considered these alternative census entries for Malcolm and wife Christina?
1871 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4DZ-7B7
1881 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV6J-149
Monica
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Following from Peter's death details, this looks to be his marriage...to another McRitchie ::) www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F2KJ-FLF
Daughter Christy's marriage here www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F2KN-B8C
Daughter Catherine's death www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK99-ZQXM
Monica
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Oh, my goodness - had no idea there were children born after the arrival in Nova Scotia!
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The alternate census looks like them, despite Malcolm being seemingly older than expected. So much to absorb!
Thank you for all this.
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I am glad some of these children are new to you. Gives you new scope for research through the winter months!
I like summaries ;) Just thought to do a small one here of all the children we have so far for Malcolm and Christy:
Mary 1830 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ77-WBF
Ann 1832 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VQ77-H41
Donald c. 1833 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F2L4-H6X
John 1838 www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLL2-4B1*
Angus 1840 on Scotlands People
Catherine c. 1843 in Scotland
Flora c. 1845 in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia
Peter c. 1846 in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK99-VVBY
Christina 10 FEB 1851 in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia
There looks to have been a first born John who must have died and name reused:
John MACRICHIE
Parents MALM. MAC RICHIE/ CURSTY MAC DONALD
04/12/1836
089/10 45
Uig
As we have seen, there are a number of marriage and death regs showing for some of the children on Family Search.
Enjoy your searches :)
Monica
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Thank you so much, Monica. Yes, you are right - ample scope for vital stat searches under name variations and another half-century of census scourings.
My Dad was 21 when his grandfather John died. I don't think he had any idea that his grandpa came from such a large family, or that his mother had all these aunts & uncles.
I won't lack for projects in the coming months!
Brian
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Good! Stay well and safe :)
Monica