Craik Family in Forfar 1800's

[MonicaL]

Hi Hector99

Is there some confusion on Mary's mother's name, maybe an error on her death cert details?

Her birth, which you have I think, shows mother as Janet Howe https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XB8H-9JQ  There is also a possible sister to Mary, a Helen, but mother's name is not included on the index here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XB8H-H92 (I think possibly this Helen married a John Inverarity in Forfar in later years, so this can be confirmed).

Charles Craik marriage in 1812 seems to show to a Janet Howe https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTVL-1Q5

A maybe to keep very much in pencil for now for Janet Howe https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XB8Z-TL3

Monica 

[MonicaL]

From Mary Craik Gardner's death cert that someone has kindly made available online, I think her father Charles showed on that as a Master bootmaker (as reported by son Charles Gardner)?

This Will & Testament entry on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk might be worth looking at:

Charles Craik, Shoemaker in Forfar, 9 January 1841, Forfar County Court, SC47/40/13 - 10 pages. Not clear what kind of document this is from the index.

Monica

[Hector99]

Thank you, Monica, for the information. I shall follow up when I can.   The reason I am confused is as follows:

On her daughter Mary's birth certificate, the mother's maiden surname is Janet Howe.
In the Census of 1841 she is Helen aged 55.
In the 1851 Census she is also Helen aged 66, and Charles Craik is 70 (1851 census used accurate ages).
In Mary's death certificate her mother's name is Helen Howe.

 I can only assume that she changed her name.  Mary's mother on her birth certificate is "Janet Howe" and "Helen Howe" on her death certificate. 

Speculatively, I wondered whether Janet had a sister Helen, Janet had died and Charles had married Helen.  But I can find no record of an early death for Janet.

Oddly, on the 1841 Census there is a Janet Craik age 30 at another house in the same street.

[MonicaL]

In the Census of 1841 she is Helen aged 55.
In the 1851 Census she is also Helen aged 66, and Charles Craik is 70 (1851 census used accurate ages).
In Mary's death certificate her mother's name is Helen Howe.......

Oddly, on the 1841 Census there is a Janet Craik age 30 at another house in the same street.

Why do you think that George Craik and wife Helen is connected to your Mary  This is the entry you mean from 1841?

Chas Craik 55 Brown Linen H L W (hand loom weaver)
Helen Craik 55
John Craik 30
Cathrine Craik 30
James Craik 25

Address: Well Gate, Kirriemuir Angus

From Mary's death cert in Edinburgh in later years, her father George showed as Master Bootmaker. We have a likely death year for him from a possible will & testament entry on SP:

From Mary Craik Gardner's death cert that someone has kindly made available online, I think her father Charles showed on that as a Master bootmaker (as reported by son Charles Gardner)?

This Will & Testament entry on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk might be worth looking at:

Charles Craik, Shoemaker in Forfar, 9 January 1841, Forfar County Court, SC47/40/13 - 10 pages. Not clear what kind of document this is from the index.

Your Mary's father wouldn't show on the 1841 census if the above details from SP are the correct ones. I don't think the 1841 and 1851 census entries you have for a George and Helen are connected to your Mary.

I think likely there has simply been a mistake on Mary's death cert when reported by her son Charles. Close family often made mistakes like this, it is pain though. The name Helen is not random though. It is likely to be Mary's maternal grandmother name if this entry (still very much in pencil!) is correct https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XB8Z-TL3

Your Mary did have also a sister Helen (which adds weight to the maternal grandmother entry above).

Monica