Hello "Colliersbairn",
I think that most of us on RootsChat can well understand your frustration. However, I'm sure that most would agree that you are going through quite reasonable steps to resolve the problem. I sat down this morning and took out my own family records with the thought that
maybe if I set out some details from own personal records, it may help. I'm pretty sure that if other ancestors of thse families did the same, we may arrive at an amicable conclusion.(1) My Izatt line ended with
the marriage of Elizabeth (Betty) Izatt to John Strang at Dunfermline in Fife on 16th November, 1804. I am perfectly happy with their descendants who came down to my Grandmother, Elizabeth Livingstone, Maiden Surname, Hepburn. So, the first step is not a problem to me.
(2) There is little doubt in my mind that Elizabeth (Betty) Izatt's parents were William Izatt and Elspeth (Isabel) Couts. I noted, (and I emphasise this)
Elspeth's family, (the Couts), came from the Tulliallan area.(3) How about the Izatt's? Well, this is where I have similar misgivings to your own!
I see the Izatt's being born and marrying at Torryburn, which isn't all that far from Tulliallan in Perthshire, or Culross, which was also in Perthshire.(4) I went back to Thomas Izatt, born about 1656
at Torryburn in Fife and married Bessie Smith
at Torryburn round about 1680. I even checked on Bessie Smith, and she too was a local lass, also being born
at Torryburn.(5) I then looked at their son, John Izatt, and sure enough he was born
at Tulliallan and married Agnes Allan on the 21st November, 1718 at Tulliallan. I did a similar check with John's wife, Agnes Allan. Where was she born?
A mere couple of miles away in that pretty little town of Culross! That looks pretty sound to me.
(6) Now the piggy in the poke!
It is assumed that the William Izatt who married Elpeth (Isabel) Couts was the son of John Izatt and Agnes Allan. The problem for me is, which William Izatt? On my notes, I have very little detail apart from a very brief, "Born about 1730 at ALLOA, CLACKMANNANSHIRE" Of course, it's a possibility, but, as you can see, the chain has been altered from previous generations.
(7) It appears to me that although the marriage of Elspeth and William took place at Tulliallan,
the couple went back to William's birthplace, ALLOA, IN CLACKANNANSHIRE because it was there that their son, William Izatt (Junior) was born on the 5th February, 1758.(
Now it looks as if William Izatt (Junior) met a young lass
from Culross - she had been born there on 31st October, 1745. Her name was Margaret Simpson.
Instead of marrying at ALLOA, CLACKMANNANSHIRE, the couple chose to marry at CULROSS on the 21st August, 1778.(9) Four years later, the couple would appear to have settled
at CULROSS, because their daughter, Elizabeth (Betty) Izatt was born there on the 1st January, 1782. She went on to marry John Strang, a young man from Dunfermline.
the couple married at Dunfermline but it would appear that they chose to live at coaltown of Fordell, Dalgety to the east of Dunfermline. Possibly because the family were coal miners?
(10) John and Elizabeth's daughter, Elizabeth Strang, was born at coaltown of
Fordell, Dalgety about 1817 but married Archibald Cook from a place in Dunfermline called Townhill. Elizabeth eventually died on the 29th of January, 1890
at Fordell, (you can check that fact on the Death Certificate, and whilst about it, check for parent details!) Twenty years previously, her husband Archibald Cook had died in Cowdenbeath. (Again, you can check his Death Certificate and have a look at parent details!) Elizabeth and Archibald had married at the seaside town of Aberdour according to the records, but I often wonder if that is quite correct since some of the locations around Cowdenbeath are sometimes referred to as being in Aberdour!
(11) To be quite frank, I am a little unsure about the precise date of my Great-Grandmother's birth date and birthplace. However, I know very well tht she married my Great-Grandfather, David Hepburn who was born at Leslie -
not all that far from Cowdenbeath and Fordell!Well, there you have it. What is needed is input from other descendants of those individuals so that we can all compare notes. I have tried to give an honest and matter of fact run down on events based on my own personal records. If other people out there are happy to help out, then I'm sure that we would be delighted.
Kind Regards,
Tom.
