Millbank

[Annette Witherby]

I have an Illigitimate child - Alexander BEATTIE who was born at Millbank, Kirkcudbright in 1863.

I am wondering whether Millbank was a home for the poor or perhaps a farm.

I have 2 other children also belonging to Janet Beattie and could perhaps find they all were hers. The others being born in 1856 and 1858.     I have no marriage for Janet.

The signature of the mother for Alexander and William are identical.
Regards,  Annette

[Piglet01]

Hello Anette

What census records do you have for your Janet - if any? Names of the other 2 possible siblings?  I've just had a look on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk 
For the 1871 census there are only 5 Alexander Beatties in all of Scotland in the 7 to 8 year range.  Millbank is a very common name in Scotlands - as elsewhere.  Hopefully someone with census access will be able to help.  When was Janet born, when did she die?

1 1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER M 7 KEITH /BANFF
2 1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER M 8 ST NICHOLAS ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN
3 1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER M 7 ST NICHOLAS ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN
4 1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER M 7 OLD MACHAR ABERDEEN BURGH ABERDEEN
5 1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER M 7 SCOURIE /SUTHERLAND

There is only 1 Alexander Beattie death in Scotland between 1863 and 1871
1871 BEATTIE ALEXANDER     M 8 ST NICHOLAS ABERDEEN CITY/ABERDEEN

Regards,  Steve .

[Annette Witherby]

Hi Steve,

Thankyou for your time spent.
Janet Beattie was born abt. 1839 in Urr. Cannot find a B/C.
She died 13.10.1867 in Durham. I have her D/C. 28yrs.

Cannot find a record for a marriage for her.

Janet worked as a Domestic Servant so I suspect Millbank may have been a farm that she worked on.

The last census I have of her is 1861 where she worked on a farm in Cullinaw.

I do not think that any of the places of death for Alexander tie in with the family.  He would only have been a tiny boy at the time of her death and does not appear with any of her sisters.

Thanks Steve for your input.
Regards,   Annette

[Piglet01]

Hello Annette

I've been having a think.  Your current options - and a few tips   

If you go to www.geograph.org.uk

Enter Millbank in the search box.  You come up with a list - you have 2 possibilities for a Millbank on that site in Dumfries and Galloway.

1.  I assume that you've downloaded the birth entry for 1863 - you'll have 2 other births, what are their addresses?  as they should be local to Millbank - it might help you or others pinpoint it.  Is there a parish name at the top of the entry?

2.  For future research, the National Library of Scotland has an excellent maps section.  The next link allows you to zoom down to your location then transfer to historical mapping.
http://geo.nls.uk/os6inch/google.html

3.  If you can get any family on the 1841 census - it's free at www.freecen.org.uk  The good thing about it is that it allows you to scroll for families either side - which gives their addresses which allows you to pinpoint them using the link above.  (I believe it follows the route the census enumurator took)

Maybe not much help, but it's the best I can do.  Have a good day.  Regards,    Steve     

[KirstyG]

The 1851 census on http://www.dgcommunity.net/historicalindexes/census.aspx has a Janet Beattie aged 12 (which fits with a birth year of 1839) in the Parish of Urr. The address is in Dalbeattie.

On the old maps I found a Millbank a few miles SE of Dalbeattie, near where the Caulkerbush Burn joins the Southwick Water.

It is still there on the modern OS map, just off the A710. It would appear to be a farm.
I don't know if this is the correct place, but it's the nearest I could find.

Hope this helps

Kirsty

[Gadget]

The Millbank on the birth cert is definitely in the parish of Kirkcudbright itself. There are various refs to Mill House, etc. to the SE of the town of Kirkcudbright so it might be in that area but Mill was pretty common 

Have you found the two children born 1856 and 1858 on the 1861 and later censuses?


Gadget

[Annette Witherby]

To Kirsty and Gadget,

Many thanks for your suggestions.

I am off to bed now but tomorrow is Saturday and I have planned a research day so I am hoping for some success.

Thankyou,
Annette

[Callywoods]

Annette
In 1921 Millbank was the name of a house in St Cuthbert's Street, Kirkcudbright. It may still be there, I'm going there on Sunday so will have a look.
A very good site if you are interested in the history of the town is
www.old-kirkcudbright.net.
Best wishes Mary

[Annette Witherby]

Mary, that is amazing.

The birth cert for Alexander simply states that the place of birth is "Millbank, Kirkcudbright".

I would most certainly be interested to know the result of your visit.

Thankyou Mary,
Annette