Sinclair / Macdonald...need help

[Jane Hollenbeck]

Where do I look that up? is it on Scotlands people?

[Gadget]

ScotlandsPeople and Ancestry (index only)  have the 1841-1901 censuses.

On a quick look through, I don't see her in Halkirk. If you can't find her, I'llcheck later but am out this evening.


Gadget

[kris47]

Hi Jane,
     I think this could be your Helen Sinclair on 1851 census.
Burn of Halkirk Macdonald William Head U M 41 Farmer of 8 Acres b Halkirk
                        Macdonald Hellen Widow F 80 Farmer's mother b Halkirk
                        Macdonald Iso. sister U F 34 Working on farm b Halkirk

1841 Census Sibster Halkirk
                        Macdonald Willm.   M 30 Labourer b Caithness
                        Macdonald Helen   F 60                 b Caithness
                                         Isabella F 20                 b Caithness

from IGI children of George McDonald & Helen Sinclair all baptised Halkirk
29 Oct 1800 Christian
28 Jul 1803 George
7 Jan 1806 William
7 Feb 1809 Isobel
30 Jun 1810 John
13 Jul 1815 Isobel

1851 Census Burn of Halkirk
Macdonald George        Head M 47 Farmer of 7 Acres     b Halkirk Caithness
Macdonald Williamina    Wife F 30                                   b Sutherland
Macdonald Mary            Dau  F  5                                     b Halkirk
Macdonald Christy         Dau  F  3                                     b Halkirk
                                      Dau  F 14w  infant unbaptises   b Halkirk

1861 Census Halkirk
Macdonald George         Head  M  50  Carter                   b Halkirk
Macdonald Williamina     Wife   F   35                               b Sutherland  Strathy
Macdonald Christina       Dau    F   10                                  Halkirk
Macdonald Johannah      Dau    F    8                                   Halkirk
Macdonald George          Son    M   6                                    Halkirk
Macdonald Barbara         Dau   F    2                                    Houstry

I got them on Freecen
http://freecen.rootsweb.com/cgi/search.pl

Kris

[Jane Hollenbeck]

thank-you Kris.
This is such a learning curve ! I have to think it becomes somewhat harder to search back from this point on. Some of the families have quite large numbers of children; thereby creating diversity further on down the line.How does one make connections with other folks whose family history ties back to the same family? And does it make sense at some point in the search to seek a professional geneologist?
Jane.

[kris47]

Hi Jane,
      I would suggest you join Caithness Family History Society, it only costs £10 per year  and with all those Caithness names I'm sure you would find family connections.

Kris

[Jane Hollenbeck]

 Awesome..... thanks again. I've printed an application. pity they don't do online; I'm in Canada!...hope to make the trip to Caithness next summer when I'm back.
Jane.

[Jane Hollenbeck]

Hi
It's taken me awhile to figure this out, and I would appreciate anyone's help finding a missing link.
From Scotland's People website, I've printed copies of the birth registrations for the children of Helen Sinclair and George Macdonald. married 1799.
The following people are listed as birth/baptism witnesses:-
Margaret McKay,
Janet Sinclair & Margaret McKay,
Christian Henderson,
Donald Bain & Elizabeth Gunn,
George Sinclair &Christian Henderson.

I decided to look for a family connection, so searched out children of George Sinclair & Christian Henderson. Witnesses included Andrew Henderson, William Sinclair & Margaret McKay.

Searched children of William Sinclair & Margaret McKay and witnesses included George Sinclair, Helen Sinclair,Andrew Henderson, Christian Henderson, George Sinclair &Christian Henderson.

Would I be correct to presume a pattern is emerging which somehow connects Helen Sinclair with George Sinclair (& Christian Henderson) , and William Sinclair (& Margaret McKay). And can anyone help me with this?

Jane.

[piero]

Hallo, I know this is a long time after your chat about Helen Sinclair and you've probably sorted it all out by now, but I read your discussion, which I now can't find, about the witnesses to her children's births/baptisms.  I am descended from George Sinclair and Christian Henderson of Framside, George being a contender for Helen's father. George and Christian were married on 30/10 1781 and had their first child Andrew on 22/9/1782. I am descended from a younger brother John born 28/6/94 who begat William born 1824 by Jean Sinclair. Could Helen be the first born either before the marriage or after, but not registered? Unfortunately I've only just joined the forum and cannot refer back to see if you know Helen's birthdate.
If Helen is George's daughter, strong circumstantial evidence suggests that he was the son of George Sinclair and Elizabeth McKay (she's from Thurso) and had George on 28/2/1761, Henrietta on 21/3/60 and William on 12/4/62. This ties in with the McKay witness.
This is my paternal line and I hope to research back as far as I can go.
Anyway good luck and I hope this is interesting or helpful.

[Jane Hollenbeck]

Thankyou for posting.

I eventually hired a researcher to help me look into this as the circumstantial evidence became overwhelming.
You are welcome to contact me privately.

Jane.