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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => East Lothian (Haddingtonshire) => Topic started by: paulsue38 on Sunday 17 January 21 13:52 GMT (UK)
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Good afternoon, my name is Paul from the Wirral. I am looking for information about my 3rd GG Alexander Maitland. He is something of a mystery man!
I think he was born in 1810, in the 1881 census he is living in Hartford in the South of England. He indicates here Musselburgh as place of birth. He died in 1888. No idea who is parents were.
However, the DNA matches I am picking up all have links to Maitland's in Aberdeenshire.
He marries Harriet Walthew in Liverpool in 1834 and they go on to have three children. At his wedding one of the witnesses was a Ann Jaffrey nee Maitland she was born in Newhills, Aberdeen in 1809 and she died in Liverpool in 1841. Was this his sister or a cousin?
Ann was one of a number of Maitland's that settled in Liverpool. One of these Maitland's was John born Aberdeen 1815 died 1881 Liverpool. He was a printer and (wealthy) newspaper proprietor.
Alexander Maitland (my 3rd GG) was a Book Binder / printer my trade. Was he brought to Liverpool to work in a relatives business?
In the 1851 Census Alexander was lodging in Hay on Wye, Mid Wales. This is a centre for books so was he there on business? It appears that he became estranged from his wife and although he indicates that he was a widow I don't believe this to be the case.
I can find no trace of him in the 1861 or 1871 census. Did he go back to Scotland or did he emigrate before finally appearing again in the 1881 census? Some of the Maitland's did leave for New Zealand so did he do the same?
Any help would be gratefully received.
Best wishes
Paul
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In the early 19th century there are two sets of Maitlands recorded as having children in the parish of Inveresk (which includes Musselburgh):
Alexander Maitland and Elizabeth Ewan have William and Agnes in 1808, and Elizabeth in 1810.
James Maitland and Sarah Symon have Jean in 1804 and Hannah in 1806.
There may be other unrecorded children to these couples and other Maitlands whose children's baptisms are unrecorded.
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In the early 19th century there are two sets of Maitlands recorded as having children in the parish of Inveresk (which includes Musselburgh):
Alexander Maitland and Elizabeth Ewan have William and Agnes in 1808, and Elizabeth in 1810.
James Maitland and Sarah Symon have Jean in 1804 and Hannah in 1806.
There may be other unrecorded children to these couples and other Maitlands whose children's baptisms are unrecorded.
Thanks for replying. As an update I have discovered that Alexander remarried in 1853 in London to a Phoebe Packer. On the wedding certificate his Father is listed as John Maitland a Bookseller.
Paul
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There is this possible entry from Family Search for Alexander www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYF4-GM1 Not Musselburgh/Inveresk, Midlothian though as you have for 1881.
Alexander Maitland, chr 29 Jan 1811 in Oyne, Aberdeenshire. Only father John Maitland named. Often happens at this time in the Aberdeenshire area that clerks did not include mother's name when recording christenings/births in the area. You would need to follow up to see if this John was connected to the book trade.
Added: Looking at later censuses, I think the Oyne children look to be connected to farming rather than bookselling.
What other details do you have on your Alexander? Do you have the names of the children born from Alexander's marriage? If he followed Scottish naming pattern, you might get some clues on mother's name. See www.halmyre.abel.co.uk/Family/naming.htm (lots of info links for this online).
Monica
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... At his wedding one of the witnesses was a Ann Jaffrey nee Maitland she was born in Newhills, Aberdeen in 1809 and she died in Liverpool in 1841. Was this his sister or a cousin?
Ann was one of a number of Maitland's that settled in Liverpool....
There are a number of Maitland entries for births and christenings in Newhills, where fathers show as William and George in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
One of these looks to potentially be George, son of William www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFQ-3VW I think this might be this George in a later census:
George Maitland 63 Bookseller Agent b. Newhills
Margaret Maitland 51 wife
Elspet Maitland 22 daughter
Clemintina Eming 22
William Hadee 42
Address: 255 George St, Aberdeen
Possible connection to Ann and/or Alexander?
http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/people/people_report_view.asp?REF_ID=NM123694
Monica
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... At his wedding one of the witnesses was a Ann Jaffrey nee Maitland she was born in Newhills, Aberdeen in 1809 and she died in Liverpool in 1841. Was this his sister or a cousin?
Ann was one of a number of Maitland's that settled in Liverpool....
There are a number of Maitland entries for births and christenings in Newhills, where fathers show as William and George in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
One of these looks to potentially be George, son of William www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFQ-3VW I think this might be this George in a later census:
George Maitland 63 Bookseller Agent b. Newhills
Margaret Maitland 51 wife
Elspet Maitland 22 daughter
Clemintina Eming 22
William Hadee 42
Address: 255 George St, Aberdeen
Possible connection to Ann and/or Alexander?
http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/people/people_report_view.asp?REF_ID=NM123694
Monica
Many thanks Monica. I now believe that Alexanders Father was John Maitland a Book Seller in Liverpool born Aberdeen 1785 and he possibly married Ann Gray b Aberdeenshire 1784.
Thank you so much for taking the trouble to search for me. No idea why Alexander was born in Musselburgh unless they were visiting relatives?
Best wishes
Paul
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Is this Ann's daughter living with them in 1861? www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M75V-XT7
Monica
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Paul, there is a well researched tree for the line of John Maitland and Ann Gray on Ancestry www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/3547560/person/-1243190522/facts You need a subs to view it though which you may not have.
The first born child it has is the son John you have mentioned (newspaper owner) who was born in Newhills in 1815. I can't easily see a marriage for John and Ann in the Old Parish Registers which is not uncommon pre the start of official registration.
You have Alexander born c 1810.
However, I found one document which is promising. I am not familiar with this type of doc, Record of certificates under the Act for providing Relief to the Families of Militia men and men under the Army of Reserve Act, but it states that a John Maitland and wife Ann Gray had three children in 1813 whilst in Aberdeen....so room for Alexander's birth there ::) www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Militia_6_-
_Aberdeenshire_Relief_Certificates_1813-1816_0.pdf
From this earlier document in 1808, www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/sites/default/files/AS-AMil-6-1_(1)_Record_of_Certificates_granted_for_the_relief_of_the_wives_and_families_of_militiamen_0.pdf John and Ann showed with no children.
Monica
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I can't find the FS entry to link, but from the transcript on Ancestry. Note spelling of Maitland:
1861 in St Saviour Southwark:
Alexander Martland 51 b. Scotland
Phebe Martland 55 b. Somerset
Sarah Packer 25 daughter in law
William H Cunall 19 lodger
1871 and he is in Brecon, Wales:
Edward Bayley 51
Susannah Bayley 53
George Wall 53
Alexander Martland 60 widowed lodger b. Musselburgh Scotland
Thomas Jenkins 64
Monica
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I can't find the FS entry to link, but from the transcript on Ancestry. Note spelling of Maitland:
1861 in St Saviour Southwark:
Alexander Martland 51 b. Scotland
Phebe Martland 55 b. Somerset
Sarah Packer 25 daughter in law
William H Cunall 19 lodger
1871 and he is in Brecon, Wales:
Edward Bayley 51
Susannah Bayley 53
George Wall 53
Alexander Martland 60 widowed lodger b. Musselburgh Scotland
Thomas Jenkins 64
Monica
Monica, that's a great find, many thanks for all of your help.
Best wishes
Paul
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As an update to this thread. Alexander Maitland remarried and on his marriage certificate he names his Father as John Maitland Book Seller. I believe that John Maitland was born in Aberdeenshire and relocated to Liverpool as an Agent of the Glasgow publishing firm Blackie and Sons. One of his sons John Jnr became a wealthy newspaper proprietor of the Liverpool Mercury.
Best wishes
Paul
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That second marriage cert certainly helps to firm up Alexander's ancestry. Thanks for confirming :)
Monica
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... At his wedding one of the witnesses was a Ann Jaffrey nee Maitland she was born in Newhills, Aberdeen in 1809 and she died in Liverpool in 1841. Was this his sister or a cousin?
Ann was one of a number of Maitland's that settled in Liverpool....
There are a number of Maitland entries for births and christenings in Newhills, where fathers show as William and George in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
One of these looks to potentially be George, son of William www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XYFQ-3VW I think this might be this George in a later census:
George Maitland 63 Bookseller Agent b. Newhills
Margaret Maitland 51 wife
Elspet Maitland 22 daughter
Clemintina Eming 22
William Hadee 42
Address: 255 George St, Aberdeen
Possible connection to Ann and/or Alexander?
http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/people/people_report_view.asp?REF_ID=NM123694
Monica
Monica, I now think that the George that you found here is John Maitland snr's brother. So another link to the Blackie publishing firm.
Best wishes
Paul
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Hi Paul,
We appear to be researching the same family. I am descended from one of the NZ Maitlands and also a direct descendant of John Maitland (Snr). I have been researching the family for about 30 years and inherited older trees from my grandmother's cousin who did a lot of work. I had suspected Alexander Maitland was an older brother of John. I also believe that he was named after Ann Grey's father as there is a baptism record for her with which fits the date of birth with Alexander Grey as the father.
I have been mainly working in Familysearch and have recently had another look at Alexander Maitland. I have put together the findings and have added him to the tree. The clincher was the mention of his father on his second marriage certificate and his father's occupation. As you are aware there is a strong connection to the publishing firm of Blackie and Sons.
Here is Alexander's link in family search: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LTD6-36C (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LTD6-36C)
I have also been attempting to link the Maitlands and other branches of my family via Find a Grave. I found the record for Alexander's burial and have made the record and links for him just prior to finding this chat. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234162216/alexander-maitland (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234162216/alexander-maitland)
I hope you find this useful.
Regards, David
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Hi David, many thanks for the information. I do have DNA matches to the Maitland's in NZ.
Best wishes
Paul