RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Westmorland => Topic started by: lesleyhannah on Sunday 05 November 23 16:41 GMT (UK)
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I haven't done any family history for some years, and have actually lost the original tree I had - all a long story. However, I have just received a message from someone who was researching a branch of my family some years ago; I don't have the information he wants, but I remember how helpful rootschatters were to me in the past, so hope someone can help. My direct ancestor was Thomas Macdougal born 1825 in Dumfries. The family were from Ruthwell. I made notes on my paper record that I couldn't find Thomas on the 1871 census, but that he was working (as a servant perhaps) in Kirby Lonsdale in 1878. I have no idea where I got this information from, or whether it was in fact accurate. There were a lot of Macdougals (various spellings) in that area, so it could in fact even be the wrong person.
Any help will be appreciated - it's even made me curious about my old hobby ! Thank you.
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I guess this is the family?
MCDOUGALL THOMAS THOMAS MCDOUGALL/MARY UNDERWOOD 14/06/1825 RUTHWELL
1841 Ruthwell Village. MCDOUGAL family all born Dumfriesshire
Thomas a Blacksmith 53 Mary 46
George 20, Thomas 16, John 14, Mary B. 11, Elizabeth 9, Agness 7, Sopiah 4, Jannet 1.
THOMAS MCDOUGAL MARRIED SUSAN DICKIE 21/12/1852 RUTHWEL
1861 Clarencefield Village, Ruthwell – all born Ruthwell
GRIERSON Annie Head U 65 -
MCDOUGAL Susan Daur Married 34 Ag Lab's Wife
MCDOUGAL Thos Grnson - 7 Scholar
MCDOUGAL David G. Grnson 5 Scholar
MCDOUGAL Walter Phillip Grnson 3
MCDOUGAL Mary Ann Grndau 6m
In 1861 Thomas below is working for Mary Thomson at Spittlereddinghill Farm House, Brydekirk, Annan.
MCDOUGALL Thomas Servnt Married 35 Ploughman Dumfriesshire Ruthwell
Colin
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I do not see Thomas anywhere in England in 1871. There are two in Scotland, the one below is the only one where no other McDougall's appear at that reference number, the original on SP would need to be seen.
MCDOUGALL THOMAS 1871 M 44 685/3 76/ 1 CANONGATE MIDLOTHIAN
1871 RUTHWELL. SUSAN 43, WALTER 13, JAMES 8, SAMUEL C 2, MARYANN 1
1881 Clarencefield Village, Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire - all born there.
Thomas McDougall Head Married 55 1826 Railway surface lab
Susan McDougall Wife Married 54 1827
Samuel McDougall Son - 12 1869 Scholar
Maryanne McDougall Daughter - 11 1870 Scholar
THOMAS MCDOUGALL DEATH 81 MMN = UNDERWOOD 1907 RUTHWELL
SUSAN MACDOUGAL DEATH 88 MMN = GRIERSON 1915 RUTHWELL
Colin
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Thank you Colin - this is definitely my family; DNA results show the connections, which is a bonus I hadn't expected when I started my searches. The connection with Kirby Lonsdale remains a puzzle. It does seem as if Thomas changed his occupation somewhere in the 1870s. The researcher who has contacted me has discovered a connection with Kirby Lonsdale and he would like more details. It's possible that Thomas appeared on a BMD cert and gave the address of his employer. Possibly someone reading this will find a Macdougal surname in their records. That would be a great help - Susan and Thomas obviously got together again later so any names/addresses in the area would be a clue
Thanks again for your help.
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Kirkby Lonsdale census returns 1841, 1861 & 1871 are on freecen, I do not see any McDougall's on the returns for those years and the only Thomas is in Edinburgh, it would be ideal to see if that is he.
Otherwise he may have been in the North of England but maybe he was not recorded there or the record has not survived. In 1861 he was a Ploughman and by 1881 he worked on the Railway's. I wonder if in 1871 he was working as a surface man then?
In 1861 Kirkby Lonsdale's Railway Station Opened, just a thought?
Colin