Fergusons of Lairg/Clyne early 1800s

[ronashill]

Can anybody help with ancestors of George Egerton Ferguson, my great-great-grandfather? He was born on 20 Feb 1845 to John Ferguson and Anne Ferguson (MacLeod). I think John was born on 20 Aug 1813 to Hugh and Margaret (Munro).

Thanks
John

[MonicaL]

Hi John

A big Christmas welcome to RootsChat 

As always with these things, verification of someone's parents, in this case from John Ferguson's death certificate, is important to be 100% sure that you have the correct parents.

Supporting your theory however is the 1851 Census entry for John and Ann:

John Ferguson    37, Gamekeeper, b. Clyne, Sutherland
Anne Ferguson    31,`b. Clyne, Sutherland
Hugh Ferguson    8, b. Lairg, Sutherland
George Ferguson 6, b. Lairg, Sutherland
Margaret Ferguson 4, b. Lairg, Sutherland
Elizabeth Ferguson  2, b. Lairg, Sutherland
Neil Ferguson    1 Month, b. Lairg, Sutherland
Elisabeth Mathesen    20, house servant, b. Dornoch, Sutherland
Hugh Sutherland  65, visitor, blacksmith, b. Clque (?), Sutherland

Certainly,  if they followed Scottish naming paterns, you would expect Ann McLeod's parents to be called George and Elizabeth perhaps. Again, if you have a look at Ann's death cert., this would confirm her parents' names.

Regards.

Monica

[MonicaL]

From the 1841 Census, this is the closest matching entry for John Ferguson. Everyone showing as born in the County:

John Ferguson, 25-29, Gamekeeper
Merson (female) Ferguson, 20-24
Angus Ferguson, 11

Address: Lairg Village, Lairg, Sutherland

The 1841 Census does not show relationships within a household. Ages for everyone over 15 are also rounded down to the nearest 5, ie John shows as born 1816 for example. Children under 15 are supposed to be written down with their actual age.

Regards.

Monica

Just realised I omitted the address for John and family on the 1851 Census: Wester Lairg, Lairg, Sutherland

[MonicaL]

The family are still at Western Lairg in 1861:

John Ferguson    47, gamekeeper
Ann Ferguson    39
George Ferguson 16
Margaret Ferguson 14
Betsy Ferguson    12
John Ferguson    10
Neil Ferguson    10
Janet Ferguson    8
Francis Ferguson 3
Henrietta Gordon 20, domestic servant

Regards.

Monica
   

[MonicaL]

From IGI, births/christening entries for John and Ann's children. All entries in Lairg:

1. HUGH FERGUSON  Christening: 15 APR 1842
2. NIEL FERGUSON FERGUSON Birth: 18 JUL 1843
3. GEORGE EGERTON FERGUSON Birth: 21 JAN 1845/ Christening: 20 FEB 1845
4. MARGARET FERGUSON Birth: 23 SEP 1846/ Christening: 10 OCT 1846
5. ELIZABETH FERGUSON Birth: 18 NOV 1848/ Christening: 01 DEC 1848
6. NEIL FERGUSON Birth: 02 SEP 1850/ Christening: 11 SEP 1850 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland
7. JANET FERGUSON Birth: 18 FEB 1853/ Christening: 10 MAR 1853 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland
8. WILLIAM FERGUSON  Birth: 14 JAN 1855 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland/ Death: 03 JUN 1856
9. FRANCIS EGERTON FERGUSON Birth: 01 JUN 1857 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland
10. JOHN FERGUSON Birth: 03 JUN 1860 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland
11. ANN ISABELLA FERGUSON Birth: 16 JUL 1863 Lairg, Sutherland, Scotland 

With these details, and additional early births, a possible name change for Ann's father to Neil!

You have an 1855 birth cert. showing there (William's). The first year of official registration in Scotland and for one year only, the entries ran over two pages of the register with a wealth of additional info. In respect of birth certs, it will include ages of parents, when they married, father's occupation, where they were from, number of children they'd had up (alive/deceased)..... If you are going to view any birth cert. on Scotlands People, that's certainly one to go for!

Regards.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

Every piece of info helps to build the picture 

There is an entry on IGI, an actual extract from the OPRs that would fit for Ann:

ANN MC LEOD  Birth: 10 JAN 1820  Clyne, Sutherland, Scotland
Parents: Father: NEIL MC LEOD    Mother: ELISABETH ROSS

Possible siblings showing on IGI:

1. JOHN MACLEOD  Birth: 05 FEB 1835 Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland
2. HUGH MACLEOD Birth: 03 OCT 1830 Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland
3. WILLIAM MC LEOD Birth: 22 DEC 1822/ Christening: 24 DEC 1822 Clyne, Sutherland, Scotland
4. ISABELLA MAC LEOD Birth: 05 AUG 1837 Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland
5. ELIZABETH MACLEOD Birth: 25 MAR 1833 Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland
6. JAMES MACLEOD Birth: 28 JUL 1828 Golspie, Sutherland, Scotland

Monica

[MonicaL]

Neil and Elizabeth in 1851 Census:

Niel MacLeod    66, maron (?transcription) master, b. Dornock, Sutherland
Elizabeth MacLeod 53, b. Clyne
Elizabeth MacLeod 17, b. Golspie
Isabella MacLeod 14 b. Golspie

Address: Main Street, Golspie, Sutherland

And in 1861:

Neil MacLeod 76, mason (that's better!), b. Golspie
Elizabeth MacLeod 61, b. Clyne
Isabella MacLeod 24, b. Golspie
Elizabeth G Lanson 27, lodger, teacher

Address: Macleods, Golspie, Sutherland

Given that they lived past 1855 and the start of official registration, you will be able to find hopefully their death certs. to confirm their parents' names......first of all though, you have to confirm that these are Ann's parents 

Regards.

Monica

   

   

[ronashill]

Monica

thanks for all of this. As you can tell, I'm a beginner at this! This should keep me busy for a while! What's IGI by the way?

Cheers
John

[MonicaL]

Hi John

To help you when starting out researching in Scotland, you should have a look at the two links here on Rootschat which explain what is available and also how to get the best out of Scotlands People, the official pay to view BMD and census site. Give a shout if you need any help.

www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24468.0.html

www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,43916.0.html

IGI stands for International Genealogical Index and isto be found on the LDS site, family search, at www.familysearch.org . The site is free to use and particularly good in Scotland for the period 1855 (the begining of official registration in Scotland) until 1875. Entries before this date are from the Old Parish Registers (OPRs) and mostly from the established Church of Scotland (Presbyterian). Be aware that members submit some entries which whilst useful need to be verified from other sources (they can be plain wrong!).

Regards.

Monica