am i scottish downie

[PrueM]

Hi Lila

No it's not just you, why do you think we are all lurking on Rootschat, we can't stop either 

So William married prior to civil registration, so the way to find him is through parish registers...have you discovered the IGI yet?  It's here at http://www.rootschat.com/links/0bq/ 

I found the William christened in 1785 in Belford on the IGI.  Out of interest, there is a marriage listed on the IGI for a William DOWNAY to Elizabeth LUCKLAY on Holy Island, in 1722 - interesting considering the family story about a connection there...you have a bit of a way to go before you can claim that couple, though! 

If I were you, I would get back to your cousin and obtain all the information they have, including the sources they used to get the info.  Then you will know what has already been searched, and where you can have a look next.

Prue

[PrueM]

Whoops, nearly forgot:  the other place you need to look, if you haven't already, is GENUKI:

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0hb/ 

(That's the page for Northumberland).

Prue

[lila]

thanks for your help   lila

[PrueM]

You're welcome - let us know if you get stuck or you need more help! 

Prue

[cyrox0748]

 :)Hi I am  a distant relative of William Downey/Downie, What sort of info are you looking for?

[Downieabz]

hi i have traced my family back to william downie born 1785 in newbiggin by the sea northumberland died 1866 north shields and dont know how to get back any further or even if i could i know a lot of the downie familys were either scottish or irish and altho its a long shot i was wondering if anyone has come across this fellow in their research he married mary ann cross born 1793 who died aged 90 in 1883 in scotland any little slither of info would be a great help      thanks for looking lila

Hi, Lila.

You are almost certainly descended from John Downie, born 1750 Glenisla, Angus, Scotland:

Glenisla OPR 290-1
1750 February 25 John Son to John Downie in Dalvainy

Family Bible of Downies of Newbiggin, Northumberland
John Downie the Elder was born in Dalmeney in the parish of Glenshe in the Shire of Angus April 15th 1750

I was sent a copy of the flyleaf of the family bible a few years ago by another descendant who unfortunately is now deceased and much of his information has perished with him. I believe it was transcribed from an earlier bible in about 1900 and that the transcriber has misread Glenisla, though in fact Dalvanie is it is spelled today is not very far from Glenshee.

John Downie married Mary Lisle on 21 February 1774 at Bedlington, Northumberland. From the family bible and online records I have been able to piece together quite a number of their descendants, including William, who was a Ship Chandler and Shipowner in Tynemouth.

If you and cyrox0748 would like to contact me by personal message, I would love to share what I have with you. I'm a real Scottish Downie but probably not related. I have another Downie friend whose ancestors came from Glenisla, but we can't link your line with hers (yet?).

Ian Downie, Aberdeen

[cyrox0748]

 :)Hi Ian this is a very welcome reply indeed, this has caused me a great deal of thought for about two years,Downie was my grandmothers maiden name, My link ended at Downie/Mary lisle, I have just joined Roots so Iam unsure how to send a PM, Iwould be very interested in any info you are able to share, the shipping info is of particular interest. I know the Downie side was a shipping family I think for at least a generation. Look forward to your reply.
Many thanks
cyrox

[Downieabz]

To send a personal message to anyone on RootsChat, the simplest way is to click on the member name in a message. That will take you to the member's profile page where there is a link to send a PM.

There are two other ways - see Help/Send a Personal Message (PM).

I've sent you a PM with my email address so we can pass information in a way which is easier to track - anyone else who is interested, please PM me for my email address.

As you are interested in the shipping connection, you may like to know about this death notice, if you have not already seen it:

The Brisbane Courier Friday 24 January 1890 page 4
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3509282

DEATHS.
DOWNIE.- On the 23rd January, at High-street, Toowong, suddenly, of heart disease. James Downie, tailor and shipowner, late of Newbiggln by the Sea, Northumberland, England, aged 71 years, [Home papers please copy.]

The descendants of John Downie and Mary Lisle seem to have mostly been tailors in Newbiggin and nearby towns but to have then branched out into owning ships. I'm reasonably confident (without having found his birth) that this James was the son of John and Mary's son George Downie and his wife Maria, and that he married Sarah Isabella Robson on 28 May 1864 at St Paul, Elswick. George has a similar occupation to James in the 1861 Census but in the two earlier ones his occupation is Tailor (all in Newbiggin).

I have nothing at all after the 1881 Census, when the James who was the husband of Sarah Isabella Robson was listed as a Clothier Tailor. It may be possibly to obtain his death certificate from Queensland - Australian certificates I have seen have shown parents'  names like those from Scotland (plus even more information) but these were from other states.

Ian