RootsChat.Com

WOW  I'm  glad  to  know  I'm  not  alone  having  trouble  even  talking  about  family names  with  older  family  members  they  think  the  dead   should  be  left  dead.  Reading  these  posts  make  me  feel  not  so  alone.

You will find that this trait of "we don't really want to know about our family skeletons" is quite common.

What is equally common is that once YOU do all the hard graft and discover these amazing links and wonderful bits of history they usually change their tune.  Even if there are some unpleasant reminders of their predecessors' indiscretions...

LOL!

I complained of the same problem with my father-in-law who thought that there was no way that his family (miners all) would have had a family crest for me to twin with my own.  Turns out that ALL families have a claim to a crest through association and so there are several for his family!  Just a case of tracing his family back far enough to know which one!  And that is not easy if he doesn't even know when his GRANDPARENTS where born. 

Now take me- I can recite my family back to 1750s due to being German.  In Germany my grandmothers needed to prove their "lineage" before they could even get married!

So good on you to persevere!  May you find all the skeletons and may they be little ones!

His birth certificate is the right one (THANK YOU YET again!) but still no dates for his parents- it is not contained!  Isn't that annoying?

Yes, I was aware of the Woodside in Aberdeen- even found the modern day church of East Parish Church.  LOL!  I suppose he was born in St Nicholas after all and went to live in Ayrshire to return to his own parish to be married...?

Hmm there is a Tarbolton in Ayrshire.  I reckon the 1881 will 'fess up and help.

P

Tarbolton is indeed in Ayrshire- and so is Woodside.  Now to find a James ewen born there.  And his family...? 

So far I DO find a 1881 census record for Lizzie, 21 year old daughter (depending on when the birthday is she could have been 21 already the month they did the census) to a DOROTHY (and not a Margaret) Stephen, widow who originates from "Tullynessie (?)" (the question mark is included).

Could Margaret McGregor have had a middle name of Dorothy?  Also- Lizzie's household was in domestic service (as shown on her marriage licence) and she has a brother called George (as her father was).  Of course the woman Dorothy is 67 the year that Lizzie was 21- what if he had a divorce or even was the father to another woman's child (this Margaret McGregor) and had his wife "adopt" Lizzie?  Grasping at straws here and may well be confusing things too much.

I didn't go to Edinburgh afterall...

Good folk- I am off for a week to Spain (need the holiday SOOO bad!!!) and will maybe get a chance to search some more once I get back.

It has been great fun and I think I may be learning.  Slowly.  Pam- you are the best!  In fact you are all wonderful and I could not imagine this being more fun!

How can I ever repay you?

It could be enough but I have a very regimented approach 

So we need to collect what we can about Florence to work back to her parents.  So we know she was born about 1889.

So in 1901 we have a possible...

RG13/4723
Sunderland 
Monkwearmouth 
ED: 13 Folio: 13 Page: 17
Schedule No:    110


James Mackay Head 42  House Painter bn Scotland
Lizzie Mackay Wife 39  Scotland
Ada Mackay Daughter 15  bn Scotland
Evelyn Mackay Daughter 14  Sunderland, Durham
John Mackay Son 13  Sunderland, Durham
Florence Mackay Daughter 12  Sunderland, Durham, 
Fred Mackay Son 10  Sunderland, Durham
Hetty Mackay Daughter 8  Sunderland, Durham
Mary Mackay Daughter 4  Sunderland, Durham

Does the Marriage cert say what James' occupation is?  I would want another confirmation that this is the right family?

Hmm can't find in 1891 so maybe in Scotland even though their 14 yr old is born in Sunderland.

I presume that Lizzie and James were married in Scotland as there 1st kids were born there.  I would go onto http://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk which is pay per view but very cheap (compared to England & Wales certs (£1.20 per search plus view)) their marriage will give you all 4 parents including maiden names.

To find Lizzie's maiden name I would look for Ada's birth in all of Scotland but  limit it to 1886 plus or minus 2 years.

All the best,
Pam
 

I am dizzy.  Can I buy you?  LOL!  You are good at this.

Of course- I knew as soon as I had posted that the only answer IS being regimental.  I just got carried away on guesswork and the fact that we had already had mention of Easington lane!

Yes, I can confirm that James Ewan Mackay was a Painter JOURNEYMAN and I am reliably told that Florence was visiting the area at the time she met her husband to be in search of work with horses.  It is believed she was born in Scotland but hey- the shoe fits!

FYI- Stephen Minns' dad Michael was a miner according to the marriage licence.

Updated to add:

James Ewen (that is the spelling) Mackay married a Lizzie Darnlie in St Nicholas, Aberdeen in 1884.