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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Aberdeenshire => Scotland => Aberdeenshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Hollyhocker on Tuesday 10 May 22 18:47 BST (UK)
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Hi, I am looking to find the death certificate of Miss Isabella Stephen.
Birth details as follows...
Isabella Stephen 21st March, 1874
Address: 67, Upper Denburn, Aberdeen.
Mother: Margaret Stephen (Nee Falconer)
Father: William Stephen Cabinet Maker (journeyman) married Dec 31st Old Machar, Aberdeen 1858
Informant: William Stephen, father (Present)
Registered: April 10
She lived at 126, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, from 1920-1937. Then her name appears at 331, Great Western Road in 1946 following the death of her sister Eliza Tulloch. The family grave puts her death date as 10th February, 1947, aged 73.
But I can't find a death certificate for her in Scotland ANYWHERE! I'm tearing my hair out here! Can anyone help? Or suggest where to look?
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Are you sure Isabella never married? There is always the possibility she died outside of Scotland - on holiday etc
Eliza Ann Tulloch nee Stephen died 1942 aged 78
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Have you checked with the cemetary whether she is actually buried in the family grave?
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Almost certain. There's a newspaper article dated 28 Oct 1939 in the Aberdeen Press and Journal which details a donation to Aberdeen Infirmary of £3 6/-: Mrs Tulloch on behalf of Miss Isabella Stephen. 126 Great Western Road.
I'm wondering why this donation was made by her sister (Mrs Tulloch) on Isabella's behalf? Any ideas? Had she emigrated? Which is why I can't find a death cert?? Or another reason??
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Have you checked with the cemetary whether she is actually buried in the family grave?
Yes Carole. She is not.
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She appears on the electoral roll for Aberdeen at 126, Great Western Road, Aberdeen in 1937.
No records for 1938-45 (which I assumed was just because of ww2)
Then she shows up at 331, Great Western Road in 1946.
Grave stone says she died 1947.
I just can't work out where she disappeared to!
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Well, it wasn't England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or New Zealand.
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Have you checked out the Isabella Stephen death in 1938 aged 63 - could tie in with a bequest in 1939
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Carole...that's definitely a good shout!
STEPHEN ISABELLA 63 - 1938 - 168/3 437 Aberdeen Eastern District
Annie
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Looking at the valuation rolls, Miss Isabella Stephen is tenant of 126 Great Western Road in 1915, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940.
Press and Journal 14-7-1928 (in list of donations to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary):
Miss Isabella Stephen, 126 Great Western Road (Ward 14), £1
Press and Journal 3-2-1940 (in list of donations to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary):
Miss Isabella Stephen, 331 Great Western Road (Massage and Electrical Department), 10/-
These lists of donations to ARI include ones made by groups (eg church congregations) and individuals. Where a specific ward or department is mentioned it is likely that the donor or someone they knew well had recently been there as a patient.
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Have you checked out the Isabella Stephen death in 1938 aged 63 - could tie in with a bequest in 1939
Thanks Annie, Carol. Yes I have checked this record and it's not the same Isabella. This one is married and has different parents.
I'm actually looking for my grandmother (Gertrude Ross Nee Stephen). Isabella was her Auntie and looks like she brought her up. (Gertrude was living with Isabella in the 1911 census and was married from Isabella's house in 1925). I thought if I found Isabella, it might lead me to Gertrude.
But both seemed to have completely disappeared! I thought Gertrude may have signed Isabella's death certificate. Also less likely that Isabella remarried, so thought Isabella might lead me to Gertrude.
Tearing my hair out here 😂
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Well, it wasn't England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland or New Zealand.
Thanks so much for checking! Where the heck has she disappeared?!?!
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I too have a great, great grandmother, Isabella Stephen, born 1849, who completely vanishes after 1876. I wouldn't be surprised if aliens have been gradually abducting all the Isabella Stephens.
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I'm actually looking for my grandmother (Gertrude Ross Nee Stephen). Isabella was her Auntie and looks like she brought her up. (Gertrude was living with Isabella in the 1911 census and was married from Isabella's house in 1925). I thought if I found Isabella, it might lead me to Gertrude.
But both seemed to have completely disappeared! I thought Gertrude may have signed Isabella's death certificate. Also less likely that Isabella remarried, so thought Isabella might lead me to Gertrude.
Can you give us a timeline for Gertrude please as her name should hopefully prove easier to find than Isabella.
Does Gertrude have a middle name?
Do you have an ancestry online tree which might get hints?
Annie
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Out of frustration for you & thinking the inscription may have been done years after the event, I thought possibly a mix up with dates (which I have in my own family), I checked this one out but sorry, not your Isabella...
STEPHEN ISABELLA 76 - 1948 - 168/2 165 Aberdeen Southern District
The only thing I can think of (apart from emigrating) is, she'd possibly drowned, body never recovered i.e. no DC?
Have you looked in newspapers?
Annie
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Background for Gertrude here, Annie www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859799.0
Monica
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Background for Gertrude here, Annie www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859799.0
Monica
Thanks Monica. Still on with it! It's been a mixture of tearing my hair out and hitting my head against a brick wall! 😂
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Out of frustration for you & thinking the inscription may have been done years after the event, I thought possibly a mix up with dates (which I have in my own family), I checked this one out but sorry, not your Isabella...
STEPHEN ISABELLA 76 - 1948 - 168/2 165 Aberdeen Southern District
The only thing I can think of (apart from emigrating) is, she'd possibly drowned, body never recovered i.e. no DC?
Have you looked in newspapers?
Annie
Hi yes. I've tried trawling the newspapers but mainly concentrated on the Aberdeen area. Could only really find those donations to the hospital in there, the later ones made on her behalf made by her sister Eliza Tulloch. I can not for the life of me work out where she has gone! My only other thought is if she were put in an asylum etc but there would still be a death certificate with that noh?
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I, too, looked for Isabella Stephen in local newspapers, with no luck. I wondered if anyone has looked in old telephone directories, even if there were less home phones at that time. If I remember correctly, these can be found in Aberdeen’s Central Library and I have always found the staff there very helpful.
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Background for Gertrude here, Annie www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859799.0
Monica
Thank you Monica!
I see I contributed to that thread too ::)
Hollyhocker...
It's always best to post links to threads which have details connected i.e. info. previously researched to save duplication of effort which is evident here.
Annie
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Sorry...Link was meant for the other thread & got mixed up, too late at night/early morning ::)
Done now!
Annie
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I, too, looked for Isabella Stephen in local newspapers, with no luck. I wondered if anyone has looked in old telephone directories, even if there were less home phones at that time. If I remember correctly, these can be found in Aberdeen’s Central Library and I have always found the staff there very helpful.
Regardless, if she died in Aberdeen where she seems to have lived all her life, there should be a DC which there isn't unless she drowned or vanished (out on walk in the hills) & body not found?
Annie
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I, too, looked for Isabella Stephen in local newspapers, with no luck. I wondered if anyone has looked in old telephone directories, even if there were less home phones at that time. If I remember correctly, these can be found in Aberdeen’s Central Library and I have always found the staff there very helpful.
Regardless, if she died in Aberdeen where she seems to have lived all her life, there should be a DC which there isn't unless she drowned or vanished (out on walk in the hills) & body not found?
Annie
It’s funny though because the headstone has a definite death date. If she had drowned or gone missing, the death date wouldn’t be so precise would it?
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Have you looked for her sister Eliza’s 1942 will. As she seems to have had a considerable estate, leaving I see quite a sum to a local hospital, I wondered if she might also have had family members listed. If Isabella died in 1947, she might be a recipient. Another longshot would be to contact the Solicitor who dealt with the above will.
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Had the following reply from the lovely folk at Scotland's People today and still no dice! 😬
I have checked and like you cannot find a Death Registered in Scotland for Isabella.
I found her sister, Eliza's Death in 1942 and note that it was her brother John who registered her passing. I have also found John's Death, but nothing relating to Isabella.
I have checked all possible spellings of forename & surname, without success.
The fact that her date of death is shown on the grave, but she is not interred there may indicate that she died outside Scotland.
I have had a quick look at Ancestry, but again could find nothing relating to a Death of Isabella, although I did find something on a couple of trees indicating that she died in South Dakota. Are you certain she was unmarried at the time of her passing, as any Death would be registered under her married name.
I am sorry I can help no further, as based on the information supplied Isabella did not pass in Scotland.
Good luck with resolving the mystery.
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Have you looked for her sister Eliza’s 1942 will. As she seems to have had a considerable estate, leaving I see quite a sum to a local hospital, I wondered if she might also have had family members listed. If Isabella died in 1947, she might be a recipient. Another longshot would be to contact the Solicitor who dealt with the above will.
Yes I have looked into that aspect. I found out that the family home at 331, Great Western Road was sold soon after John Stephen's death in 1953 by Alexander Stronach, who I believe was the family solicitor. I asked if they still had any records on file pertaining to John's will or that of his sisters Isabella Stephen and Eliza Ann Tulloch. However, they told me they don't hold any records as the Law Society dictates that they must be destroyed after 10 years.
Is there any other way I could try and find out information on their wills?
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Are you certain she was unmarried at the time of her passing, as any Death would be registered under her married name.
If she had died in Scotland her death would have been indexed under both her maiden and her married surnames.
South Dakota sounds as likely as anywhere else.
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Ref. Scotlands People:
Wills registered between 1925 and 1997 have not been digitised and may only be consulted in the Historical Search Room at the National Records of Scotland. The printed Calendar of Confirmations is the yearly index to these wills. See the National Records of Scotland's guide on wills and testaments for further information.
Maybe some kind Scottish person is on hand to look in Edinburgh. It may be the request has to be made to see the record before the visit.
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Maybe some kind Scottish person is on hand to look in Edinburgh. It may be the request has to be made to see the record before the visit.
A request prior may not be essential although recommended to save time.
It would be an idea to email SP with the details you have to ask for a ref. no. etc. for anyone who may be able to look at the will.
Once you have a ref. no. if no-one here on RC can help, it may be worth contacting...
https://www.scottishindexes.com/
They're well known to many of us here on RC & you can email them with enquiries as they're very helpful, something maybe worth considering?
Annie
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Regardless, if she died in Aberdeen where she seems to have lived all her life, there should be a DC which there isn't unless she drowned or vanished (out on walk in the hills) & body not found?
It’s funny though because the headstone has a definite death date. If she had drowned or gone missing, the death date wouldn’t be so precise would it?
[/quote]
This to me indicates she either didn't die in Scotland or if she did die in Scotland & her body wasn't found, they've taken the date from when she was last known to have been alive/seen.
Annie
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Maybe some kind Scottish person is on hand to look in Edinburgh. It may be the request has to be made to see the record before the visit.
A request prior may not be essential although recommended to save time.
There is no 'maybe' about it. Wills after 1925 are not held in General Register House, so if you want to see one, it is necessary to order it in advance.
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Ref. Scotlands People:
Wills registered between 1925 and 1997 have not been digitised and may only be consulted in the Historical Search Room at the National Records of Scotland. The printed Calendar of Confirmations is the yearly index to these wills. See the National Records of Scotland's guide on wills and testaments for further information.
Maybe some kind Scottish person is on hand to look in Edinburgh. It may be the request has to be made to see the record before the visit.
Thanks so much. I have written to Scotland's People so let's see what they say! Will keep you posted
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Maybe some kind Scottish person is on hand to look in Edinburgh. It may be the request has to be made to see the record before the visit.
A request prior may not be essential although recommended to save time.
It would be an idea to email SP with the details you have to ask for a ref. no. etc. for anyone who may be able to look at the will.
Once you have a ref. no. if no-one here on RC can help, it may be worth contacting...
https://www.scottishindexes.com/
They're well known to many of us here on RC & you can email them with enquiries as they're very helpful, something maybe worth considering?
Annie
Thanks Annie. Really useful. I have emailed Scotland's People with the details of name, address and death dates for Isabella Stephen, John Stephen and Eliza Tulloch. Maybe if they had a will and I can see the details then this might help shed some light on things! Once I get the reference numbers I can go from there. Will keep you posted. Thanks again!
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💪🏴WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY! 🏴💪
I've found her!!! Just heard back from Scotland's People and they have found a will for Isabella Stephen and discovered that she died on February 5th, 1947 (so the gravestone was 5 days out) in JERSEY!!! Currently getting in touch with the Jersey Heritage Research Centre to see if I can get a death certificate! Thanks so much all for your help and advice along the way.
Here is more information I found out from Scotland's People about the will requests I recently made...
Because the relevant information is available on site only, I have conducted a brief search on you behalf. I am happy to report that I have found records relating to wills for all three of the persons you mention: Eliza Tulloch, John Stephen and the elusive Isabella Stephen.
I have found an entry in the 1942 Calendar of Confirmations for Eliza Tulloch (d. 1/1/1942). She died testate (in other words, she left a will).
Confirmation was granted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 6 February 1942; the executors were John Stephen (of the same address) and Junor James Watt. Her estate was valued at £6123: 8: 7.
I would expect to find the relevant records in the following volumes:
SC1/35/81 (Register of Confirmations)
SC1/36/249 (Register of Inventories)
SC1/37/174 (Register of Wills)
The Will should be in the Register of Wills.
You may also be interested in the Inventory (list of the deceased’s estate) and Confirmation (legal appointment of her Executor).
I have found an entry in the 1947 Calendar of Confirmations for Isabella Stephen. She died testate (the entry records her death being on 5 Feb 1947, not 10 Feb).
Confirmation was granted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 16 May 1947; the executor was her brother John Stephen (of the same address). Her estate was valued at £411: 13: 11.
I would expect to find the relevant records in the following volumes:
SC1/35/88 (Register of Confirmations)
SC1/36/270 (Register of Inventories)
SC1/37/185 (Register of Wills)
Finally, I have found an entry in the 1954 Calendar of Confirmations for John Stephen (d. 14 Nov 1953). He died testate.
Confirmation was granted at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on 11 Jan 1954; the executor was Harry Forbes, Advocate. His estate was valued at £207: 12: 9.
I would expect to find the relevant records in the following volumes:
SC1/35/102 (Register of Confirmations)
SC1/37/206 (Register of Wills)
There appears to be a gap in the Register of Inventories for this year, with records beginning only from 14th Jan, but the inventory for John Stephen may be recorded in SC1/36/297.
Obviously I've still not found Gertrude yet but I'm hoping that if I can see these wills and Isabella's death certificate, then it's going to help me in my search! 🤞🤞🤞
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Great news!!
Monica
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Great news Holly!
I'm astounded with the response, they've gone above & beyond, well done SP!
As mentioned for research, https://www.scottishindexes.com/ are well worth considering.
Keep us informed & good luck in finding Gertrude through this next step!
Annie
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Great news Holly!
I'm astounded with the response, they've gone above & beyond, well done SP!
As mentioned for research, https://www.scottishindexes.com/ are well worth considering.
Keep us informed & good luck in finding Gertrude through this next step!
Annie
Thanks so much Annie. Some of the people I've met through the Scottish Indexes Facebook Page have been invaluable to me in my research! Such a great community. Thank you everyone for your help.
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Just wanted to mention on this thread that I have found Gertrude!!
Here's a link to the orginal post and an update
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=859799.new#new
Thanks again for all your help!